Skip to main content
S. 2543 116th Congress Senate

Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019

Official title: An original bill to amend titles XI, XVIII, and XIX of the Social Security Act to lower prescription drug prices in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, to impr… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: An original bill to amend titles XI, XVIII, and XIX of the Social Security Act to lower prescription drug prices in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, to improve transparency related to pharmaceutical prices and transactions, to lower patients' out-of-pocket costs, and to ensure accountability to taxpayers, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 25, 2019 Introduced by: Chuck Grassley Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
Health Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAppropriationsCongressional oversight
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Department of Health and Human ServicesDrug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulationDrug therapyFraud offenses and financial crimesGeneticsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth care qualityHealth technology, devices, suppliesHome and outpatient careHospital careIndian social and development programsInflation and pricesIntergovernmental relationsManufacturingMedicaidMedical ethicsMedicareMinority healthPrescription drugsPublic contracts and procurementPublic participation and lobbyingRetail and wholesale tradesSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsState and local government operations
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 25, 2019
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 225.
Sep 25, 2019
Committee on Finance. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Grassley. With written report No. 116-120.
Sep 25, 2019
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action September 25, 2019

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 225.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019

This bill alters several programs and requirements relating to the prices of prescription drugs under Medicare and Medicaid.

Among other things, the bill

  • requires drug manufacturers to issue rebates to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for certain drugs covered under Medicare for which the average manufacturer price increases faster than inflation;
  • requires drug manufacturers to issue rebates to the CMS for discarded amounts of certain single-dose drugs covered under Medicare, based on information reported by providers;
  • reduces the annual out-of-pocket spending threshold, and eliminates beneficiary cost-sharing above this threshold, under the Medicare prescription drug benefit;
  • requires the CMS to publish certain information, as reported by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), relating to drug discounts and rebates, and payments between PBMs, health plans, and pharmacies;
  • requires pass-through pricing models, and prohibits spread-pricing, for payment arrangements with PBMs under Medicaid; and
  • increases the maximum rebate payable by drug manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program.
 Related & companion bills 11
  • HR 4629 Star Rating for Biosimilars Act
  • HR 5281 Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act of 2019
  • HR 1264 Payment Commission Data Act of 2019
  • HR 1781 Payment Commission Data Act of 2019
  • HR 3029 Improving Low-Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act of 2019
  • HR 4649 Capping Drug Costs for Seniors Act of 2019
  • S 801 A bill to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and…
  • S 1999 Improving Low Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act of 2019
  • HR 5882 GENE Therapy Payment Act
  • S 4199 Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2020
Show all 11 related billsShow fewer related bills
  • S 1505 Medicare Prescription Drug Fraud Prevention Act of 2019
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2543: Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-2543/
MLA
"S. 2543: Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-2543/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2543, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-2543/.
Markdown link
[S. 2543: Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-2543/)
Report a problem