House passes bills to promote access to drug price data

The House of Representatives yesterday passed two bills that would prohibit health plans from restricting a pharmacist’s ability to inform enrollees when a drug would cost less without using their insurance. One bill (S. 2554) applies to private health plans and the other (S. 2553) to patients in Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans. Both bills passed the Senate this month and now go to the president for his signature. Some health insurance contracts prevent pharmacists from informing patients when the cash price for their prescription costs less than their insurance cost-sharing arrangement unless the individual asks.