S. 527 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Feb 11, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryRequires FTC study of drug pricing competition
This bill asks the Federal Trade Commission to investigate how pharmacy benefit managers and drug makers might be using anticompetitive practices that drive up prescription drug costs. The FTC would examine whether pharmacy benefit managers give better prices to their own pharmacies than to competitors, and whether they steer people toward more expensive drugs. The agency would also track complaints about sole-source drugs (medications with only one manufacturer) and suggest ways to make the supply chain more transparent and competitive.
How it affects you
If you take prescription drugs, this could eventually help you by shining a light on practices that may be making your medications more expensive than they need to be. The bill itself doesn't change drug prices or regulations right away, but the FTC's findings and recommendations could inform future decisions about how the drug market works.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Feb 11, 2025)
Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 20 25
This 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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 527
A BILL
Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) · Introduced Feb 11, 2025 · Commerce · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Apr 10, 2025: “Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 42.”
Sections
The wording of this bill hasn’t changed across its 2 official versions.