CSRxP Statement On HHS DTC Advertising Announcement

CSRxP issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) announcement on direct-to-consumer (DTC) television advertisements:

“Today, the Trump Administration made real progress toward ensuring consumers have the information they need to make the health care decisions that are best for them.  Consumers have the right to know how much medicines cost, and providing drug pricing in advertisements will do just that.  We must build off this and accelerate efforts to ensure affordable drug prices for American patients.”

Background

The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing (CSRxP) is a nonpartisan coalition of organizations committed to fostering an informed discussion on sustainable drug pricing and developing bipartisan, market-based solutions that promote competition, open and honest pricing, and value to improve affordability, while maintaining patient access to innovative prescription drugs.  Our members represent organizations, including consumers, hospitals, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, employers, pharmacy benefit managers and insurance providers.

CSRxP has long supported increased open and honest pricing in direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising, including the disclosure of the list price of the drug being advertised, in order to give consumers the information that they need to make informed decisions.

• CSRxP proposed this policy in 2016, recognizing the fact that DTC advertising has the potential to lead to over utilization of high-cost drugs.
• CSRxP issued strong support for the administration’s decision to require drug makers to disclose prices in DTC advertising.
• CSRxP sent a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer urging the inclusion of the DTC advertising amendment, sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin and Chuck Grassley, in the Senate’s Labor-HHS Appropriations bill, which would provide the necessary funding for the provision.
• CSRxP applauded Senate action and sent a letter urging the U.S. House to include the provision in the final bill.