Bill · H.R. 3391· House(119-HR-3391)
End Price Gouging for Medications Act
- Introduced
- 5/14/2025
- Last activity
- 7/2/2025 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Sponsored by
- Debbie Dingell
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "End Price Gouging for Medications Act" requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create annual reference prices for prescription drugs. These prices act as a cap, ensuring that the retail list price for drugs does not exceed the established reference price for various Federal health programs. The Secretary determines these prices based on the lowest retail price among specific reference countries or through other determined criteria. This cap applies to programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and Veteran's Affairs. Additionally, manufacturers must offer drugs at these reference prices to all individuals, including those without insurance. The bill includes civil penalties for manufacturers that fail to comply with these pricing requirements.
Yes· 3 of 19
Does this lower the price of prescription medicines?+10
The bill establishes annual reference prices to cap the cost of prescription drugs.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+8
The bill directly benefits seniors through Medicare by capping drug prices.
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+8
The bill provides significant cost savings for veterans through VA healthcare.
The opposite
Would billionaires be better off under this?-5
The bill imposes high civil penalties on large drug manufacturers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Price Caps for Federal Programs: Under Section 2(a), the retail list price for a drug cannot exceed the established reference price for enrollees in Federal health programs. This provides a limit on how much can be charged for drugs under programs like Medicare, Medicaid, TRicaRE, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (Section 2(c)).
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Affordability for Uninsured and Private Insurance Holders: According to Section 2(d), drug manufacturers must offer prescription drugs at the reference price to all individuals, including those who are uninsured or covered under group or individual health insurance.
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Support for Medical Innovation: Under Section 2(e)(2), the money collected from civil penalties against non-compliant manufacturers is transferred to the Director of the National Institutes of Health to be used for conducting drug research and development.
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Consistent Pricing Criteria: Section 2(b)(1) establishes a specific method for setting prices, looking at the lowest retail list price among reference countries like Canada, France, and Germany, or basing it on factors like therapeutic effect and patient access.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Civil Penalties for Manufacturers: Under Section 2(e)(1), drug manufacturers that do not comply with the pricing requirements face a civil penalty equal to five times the difference between their actual sales and what they would have received if they had complied with the law.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Reduces Prescription Drug Costs+10Improves Healthcare Access+7Improves Veterans Healthcare+7Increases Research Funding+7Increases Medicaid Funding+5Increases Medicare Funding+5Reduces Private Insurance Premiums+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Retirees+8Good For Seniors+8Good For Veterans+8Good For Low Income Households+7Good For Native Americans+7Good For Children+5Good For Middle Class Households+5Good For Billionaires-5
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+7
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+7
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+7
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+5
- 10/3/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/2/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 5/14/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, Veterans' Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan