AMA Commends Final CMS Rule for Requiring Pricing Information in TV Drug Ads
Today, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced a final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that will require direct-to-consumer television advertisements for prescription pharmaceuticals covered by Medicare or Medicaid to include the list price—the Wholesale Acquisition Cost—if that price is equal to or greater than $35 for a month’s supply or the usual course of therapy.
Barbara L. McAneny, MD, President of the American Medical Association (AMA), issued the following statement today on the rule:
The Trump Administration has taken a step in the right direction by requiring pricing information in direct-to-consumer television advertising of prescription drugs. Last year, the AMA called for regulations requiring the ads to include the manufacturer’s list price of those drugs, and we have supported similar legislative efforts. This small dose of transparency will help patients have a more complete picture when faced with prescription drug ads. While current ads outline the potential benefits and side effects of a drug, a crucial factor for patients—the drug’s price—is not included. Patients—especially those who pay a drug’s list price or whose cost-sharing is based on the list price—will now have another tool in their toolbox as they work with their physicians to determine their prescription drug regimens. That’s a notable change.
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.
