The "Drug-price Transparency for Consumers Act of 2025" seeks to amend the Social Security Act by requiring direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs and biological products to include pricing information. Specifically, these ads must clearly and conspicuously disclose the Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) for a 30-day supply or typical course of treatment. This mandate applies to products for which payment is available under Medicare or Medicaid and that are already required to disclose information on side effects, contraindications, and effectiveness. An exemption is provided for drugs with a WAC of less than $35 for a 30-day supply or typical course of treatment. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is tasked with promulgating final regulations by July 1, 2026, to implement these requirements, including establishing standards for visual and audio components of disclosures and timelines for updating WAC changes. The bill aims to enhance consumer transparency, enable more informed purchasing decisions, and mitigate wasteful expenditures within federal healthcare programs, with non-compliant manufacturers facing civil money penalties of up to $100,000 per violation.
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCivil actions and liabilityDepartment of Health and Human ServicesHealth care costs and insuranceMarketing and advertisingPrescription drugs
DTC Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-229| Senate
| Updated: 1/23/2025
The "Drug-price Transparency for Consumers Act of 2025" seeks to amend the Social Security Act by requiring direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs and biological products to include pricing information. Specifically, these ads must clearly and conspicuously disclose the Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) for a 30-day supply or typical course of treatment. This mandate applies to products for which payment is available under Medicare or Medicaid and that are already required to disclose information on side effects, contraindications, and effectiveness. An exemption is provided for drugs with a WAC of less than $35 for a 30-day supply or typical course of treatment. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is tasked with promulgating final regulations by July 1, 2026, to implement these requirements, including establishing standards for visual and audio components of disclosures and timelines for updating WAC changes. The bill aims to enhance consumer transparency, enable more informed purchasing decisions, and mitigate wasteful expenditures within federal healthcare programs, with non-compliant manufacturers facing civil money penalties of up to $100,000 per violation.
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCivil actions and liabilityDepartment of Health and Human ServicesHealth care costs and insuranceMarketing and advertisingPrescription drugs