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Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act

USA119th CongressHR-6166| House 
| Updated: 11/20/2025
Frank Pallone

Frank Pallone

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (49)
John W. Mannion (Democratic)April McClain Delaney (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Laura Friedman (Democratic)Steny H. Hoyer (Democratic)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Julie Johnson (Democratic)Robert Garcia (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Jennifer L. McClellan (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Greg Landsman (Democratic)Laura Gillen (Democratic)Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Maxine Dexter (Democratic)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Angie Craig (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)John B. Larson (Democratic)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)LaMonica McIver (Democratic)Adelita S. Grijalva (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Sharice Davids (Democratic)Richard E. Neal (Democratic)Lateefah Simon (Democratic)Josh Riley (Democratic)Jim Costa (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Maxine Waters (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Emily Randall (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Lauren Underwood (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Education and Workforce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act" proposes significant changes to prescription drug pricing and consumer costs across various health insurance markets. A primary goal is to expand the existing drug price negotiation program under Medicare, increasing the number of drugs subject to negotiation from 20 to 50. Crucially, the bill extends the application of these negotiated "maximum fair prices" to individuals covered by group health plans and individual market health insurance, provided these plans voluntarily agree to participate. To further enhance price control, the legislation mandates that the Secretary consider the average international market price of a drug when conducting negotiations, using data from countries like Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom. This aims to benchmark U.S. drug prices against those in other developed nations. Additionally, the bill repeals certain changes made to the drug price negotiation program by Public Law 119-21, restoring prior provisions. Beyond negotiation, the bill seeks to apply prescription drug inflation rebates , currently limited to Medicare, to drugs furnished in the commercial market. This means drug manufacturers would owe rebates if their drug prices increase faster than inflation for commercial sales, similar to existing Medicare rules. The bill also refines the methodology for calculating these rebates, particularly for Part D drugs, by adjusting how units are counted and excluding those already subject to other rebates or discounts. A key consumer protection measure is the establishment of out-of-pocket spending limits for prescription drugs under private health insurance, effective for plan years beginning in 2027. This includes an overall annual out-of-pocket limit for all cost-sharing, tied to existing Affordable Care Act limits, and a specific annual cap of $2,000 for prescription drug expenses for self-only coverage, with double that amount for other coverage. These limits will be adjusted annually for inflation. Finally, the bill introduces specific requirements for insulin cost-sharing . Starting in 2027, group health plans and health insurance issuers must cover selected insulin products without a deductible. Cost-sharing for these products will be capped at the lesser of $35 per 30-day supply or 25% of the negotiated price, and these payments will count towards an individual's overall deductible and out-of-pocket maximums.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4895
Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act
Nov 20, 2025
Introduced in House
Nov 20, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, 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.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4895
    Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act


  • November 20, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • November 20, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, 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.

Health

Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act

USA119th CongressHR-6166| House 
| Updated: 11/20/2025
The "Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act" proposes significant changes to prescription drug pricing and consumer costs across various health insurance markets. A primary goal is to expand the existing drug price negotiation program under Medicare, increasing the number of drugs subject to negotiation from 20 to 50. Crucially, the bill extends the application of these negotiated "maximum fair prices" to individuals covered by group health plans and individual market health insurance, provided these plans voluntarily agree to participate. To further enhance price control, the legislation mandates that the Secretary consider the average international market price of a drug when conducting negotiations, using data from countries like Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom. This aims to benchmark U.S. drug prices against those in other developed nations. Additionally, the bill repeals certain changes made to the drug price negotiation program by Public Law 119-21, restoring prior provisions. Beyond negotiation, the bill seeks to apply prescription drug inflation rebates , currently limited to Medicare, to drugs furnished in the commercial market. This means drug manufacturers would owe rebates if their drug prices increase faster than inflation for commercial sales, similar to existing Medicare rules. The bill also refines the methodology for calculating these rebates, particularly for Part D drugs, by adjusting how units are counted and excluding those already subject to other rebates or discounts. A key consumer protection measure is the establishment of out-of-pocket spending limits for prescription drugs under private health insurance, effective for plan years beginning in 2027. This includes an overall annual out-of-pocket limit for all cost-sharing, tied to existing Affordable Care Act limits, and a specific annual cap of $2,000 for prescription drug expenses for self-only coverage, with double that amount for other coverage. These limits will be adjusted annually for inflation. Finally, the bill introduces specific requirements for insulin cost-sharing . Starting in 2027, group health plans and health insurance issuers must cover selected insulin products without a deductible. Cost-sharing for these products will be capped at the lesser of $35 per 30-day supply or 25% of the negotiated price, and these payments will count towards an individual's overall deductible and out-of-pocket maximums.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4895
Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act
Nov 20, 2025
Introduced in House
Nov 20, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, 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.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4895
    Lowering Drug Costs for American Families Act


  • November 20, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • November 20, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, 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.
Frank Pallone

Frank Pallone

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (49)
John W. Mannion (Democratic)April McClain Delaney (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Laura Friedman (Democratic)Steny H. Hoyer (Democratic)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Julie Johnson (Democratic)Robert Garcia (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Jennifer L. McClellan (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Greg Landsman (Democratic)Laura Gillen (Democratic)Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Maxine Dexter (Democratic)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Angie Craig (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)John B. Larson (Democratic)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)LaMonica McIver (Democratic)Adelita S. Grijalva (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Sharice Davids (Democratic)Richard E. Neal (Democratic)Lateefah Simon (Democratic)Josh Riley (Democratic)Jim Costa (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)Maxine Waters (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Emily Randall (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Lauren Underwood (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Education and Workforce Committee

Health

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted