Bills · S 927
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 927Health
Protecting Pharmacies in Medicaid Act
INTRO MAR 11· LAST ACTION MAR 11
READING
17MIN
COSPONSORS
3BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it addresses concerns about transparency and fairness in prescription drug pricing within the Medicaid program, which is funded by taxpayers. Currently, there's a lack of clear data on the true costs of drugs, leading to accusations that some intermediaries, like Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), may buy drugs at a low price, charge Medicaid a higher price, and keep the difference (known as 'spread pricing'). This practice can lead to higher costs for taxpayers and potentially underpay pharmacies for their services.
If this bill becomes law, the public would gain access to clearer data on what pharmacies truly pay for drugs, which could help ensure that taxpayer money spent on Medicaid prescriptions is used more efficiently. It could also help stabilize payment for pharmacies, particularly smaller independent ones, by pushing for more accurate reimbursement based on actual costs. If the bill doesn't pass, the current system of opaque drug pricing and potential 'spread pricing' practices under Medicaid would likely continue, leaving questions about the fairness of payments to pharmacies and the efficiency of how taxpayer dollars are spent.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct monthly surveys of retail and non-retail pharmacies to determine the actual costs they pay for drugs.
This establishes a consistent way to measure pharmacies' true drug expenses, aiming for more accurate Medicaid payments.
PROVISION 02
Mandates that states require all pharmacies receiving Medicaid payments to respond to these drug price surveys.
This ensures comprehensive data collection from all pharmacies participating in Medicaid programs, regardless of their payment source.
PROVISION 03
Requires that the collected drug acquisition cost information, including details on non-compliant pharmacies, be made publicly available.
This increases transparency in drug pricing, allowing for public oversight and potentially influencing policy decisions and market behavior.
PROVISION 04
Establishes civil money penalties of up to $100,000 per violation for pharmacies that fail to respond to surveys, provide false information, or otherwise fail to comply.
This provides a strong enforcement mechanism to ensure pharmacies adhere to the new mandatory survey requirements.
PROVISION 05
Requires the survey data to differentiate between retail and various types of non-retail pharmacies and to include available information on discounts, rebates, and other price concessions.
This ensures a more detailed and accurate understanding of drug costs across different pharmacy business models and captures all relevant price adjustments.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 3
D· Vermont
YRS IN OFFICE
19
BILLS LED
83
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 66%
DEM 1 REP 2 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSMAR 11
Introduced in Senate
MAR 11
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 927
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedMar 11, 2025
Last actionMar 11, 2025
READER REACTIONS
OVERALL SENTIMENT
No reactions yet. Be the first to weigh in.
Discussion
Loading comments...
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FINANCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED MAR 11, 2025
Senate BillS 927Health
Protecting Pharmacies in Medicaid Act
INTRODUCED MAR 11, 2025· LAST ACTION MAR 11, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
17 min
COSPONSORS
3
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
