Is the trump rule to post prices in TV ads a good idea for consumers??

[Bill]

Drug makers sue to block Trump rule to post prices in TV

By Tami Luhby, CNN

(CNN)Three drug makers, along with an industry group, filed a lawsuit Friday to stop the Trump administration from requiring pharmaceutical companies to include their list prices in television ads.

In the suit, filed in US District Court for the District of Columbia, Merck, Eli Lilly, Amgen and the Association of National Advertisers say the rule will mislead patients about how much they have to pay for medication and that the Department of Health and Human Services overstepped its authority.

"The impetus for the lawsuit is drug prices in TV ads, but the crux of it is HHS not having the authority to mandate this action," said Eli Lilly in a statement. "Not only does the rule exceed the department's statutory authority and raise freedom of speech concerns, the focus on a medicine's list price creates confusion because it's not the price most patients will pay."

Lowering drug prices has been a central focus of President Donald Trump, as well as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Experts, however, have questioned the usefulness of providing the list prices of medicine in ads, as most people with insurance pay far less. They fear that advertising list prices may scare patients away from drugs they could actually afford with their health insurance coverage.

Health Secretary Alex Azar served as president of Lilly USA, the company's largest affiliate, before joining the Trump administration. He has since lambasted his former industry peers for high drug costs.

"If the drug companies are embarrassed by their prices or afraid that the prices will scare patients away, they should lower them," Caitlin Oakley, an HHS spokeswoman, said in response to the lawsuit. "President Trump and Secretary Azar are committed to providing patients the information they need to make their own informed health care decisions."

The rule, announced last month, is the first to be implemented from the administration's blueprint to lower drug costs, which was released a year ago. It mandates that drug makers include the price for any medication that costs more than $35 for a month's supply or the usual course of treatment. The agency picked that price because it's roughly the average copay for a preferred brand-name drug.

"Requiring the inclusion of drugs' list prices in TV ads is the single most significant step any administration has taken toward a simple commitment: American patients deserve to know the prices of the health care they receive," Azar said at the time.

While the new rule does not have an enforcement mechanism, Azar said failing to include the price would be considered a deceptive trade practice and could prompt lawsuits by industry rivals.

[Gonzomin]

Seems like a good idea. An honestly informed consumer can be a smarter consumer. Of course, the real prices would shock viewers.

[ThatOwlWoman]

Seems like a good idea. An honestly informed consumer can be a smarter consumer. Of course, the real prices would shock viewers.

This rule is Trump's bread crumbs thrown at us to make us think the administration is trying to do something about the insanity of American pharmaceutical prices.

[canceled.2021.2]

It is a dumb idea.

What price are they going to publicize? WAC? What a pharmaceutical company charges a wholesaler has no bearing on what you pay. Every insurance plan is different with different out of pocket copays

Newsflash there is not one common chronic disease that can’t be treated with an inexpensive generic drug.

True story bro

Now cue the sob stories trying to argue some “exception”. Bring it on bitches. But I warn you. You don’t want to duck with me on this. Also make sure you read what I wrote very carefully before you jump in the deep end.

[jimmymccready]

HHS has the authority to make the companies announce their prices in ads, yes.

[canceled.2021.2]

HHS has the authority to make the companies announce their prices in ads, yes.

The prices they would announce mean nothing

[Bill]

It is a dumb idea.

What price are they going to publicize? WAC? What a pharmaceutical company charges a wholesaler has no bearing on what you pay. Every insurance plan is different with different out of pocket copays

Newsflash there is not one common chronic disease that can’t be treated with an inexpensive generic drug.

True story bro

Now cue the sob stories trying to argue some “exception”. Bring it on bitches. But I warn you. You don’t want to duck with me on this. Also make sure you read what I wrote very carefully before you jump in the deep end.

trump idea dumb????

[dukkha]

it's a good idea in theory, but the devil is in the details

[Bill]

it's a good idea in theory, but the devil is in the details

What are you trying to say?? trump don't know the details???

[tsuke]

It is a dumb idea.

What price are they going to publicize? WAC? What a pharmaceutical company charges a wholesaler has no bearing on what you pay. Every insurance plan is different with different out of pocket copays

Newsflash there is not one common chronic disease that can’t be treated with an inexpensive generic drug.

True story bro

Now cue the sob stories trying to argue some “exception”. Bring it on bitches. But I warn you. You don’t want to duck with me on this. Also make sure you read what I wrote very carefully before you jump in the deep end.

the point is not really to inform consumers. Consumers get like 0 viable information from this. The point is to shame the company into lowering prices. No one wants to put an ad saying they charge 20000 per pill or something.

I support this.

[Centerleftfl]

There is a much higher chance they will publish the length of their 'johnsons' first.

[dukkha]

the point is not really to inform consumers. Consumers get like 0 viable information from this. The point is to shame the company into lowering prices. No one wants to put an ad saying they charge 20000 per pill or something.

I support this.

excellent..thanks for the explanation

[PostmodernProphet]

What are you trying to say?? trump don't know the details???

no......he's saying you are in the details........

[Bill]

no......he's saying you are in the details........

If you grow up in the next week or so, pls attempt to reply to the OP....

[Truth Detector]

Is the trump rule to post prices in TV ads a good idea for consumers??

I'm not sure how it is good. Do share why this is good for consumers? Is driving drug companies out of business good for consumers?