This measure directs the Federal Trade Commission to study how middlemen in the prescription drug supply chain — mainly pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs — affect what patients and insurers pay for medication. Within one year, the FTC must report to Congress on whether PBMs charge insurers more than they pay pharmacies, steer patients toward PBM-owned pharmacies, misuse competing pharmacies' business data, or push higher-cost drugs onto formularies over cheaper options; an interim report is due after 180 days. The agency must also report separately on complaints about anticompetitive conduct by manufacturers of sole-source drugs — medications made by only one company — and on whether the FTC has the legal tools to act against them. The bill itself changes no rules or prices; it is meant to give Congress the evidence needed to decide whether new drug-pricing legislation is warranted.
Transparency & Accountability
- FTC reporting requirement — Agency must study and report to Congress on pharmacy benefit manager business practices within 1 year, with an interim report at 180 days
- FTC reporting requirement — Agency must also report to Congress on complaints and enforcement options against sole-source drug manufacturers
Congressional Summary
Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2025This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report about anticompetitive practices and other trends within the pharmaceutical supply chain that may impact the cost of prescription drugs.The report must address whether pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) (1) reimburse pharmacies owned by the PBM at a higher price than other pharmacies, and (2) implement formulary designs to increase the market share of higher-cost prescription drugs or depress the market share of lower-cost prescription drugs.The FTC also must provide recommendations to increase transparency in the supply chain, prevent anticompetitive practices, and ensure that consumers benefit from cost savings or efficiencies that result from mergers and consolidations.Additionally, the FTC must report the number and nature of complaints the FTC receives relating to an allegation of anticompetitive conduct by a manufacturer of a sole-source drug.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-02-11
- Date Added
- 2026-07-02
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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