[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 171 (Tuesday, October 29, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF DRUG DISCOUNTS AND REAL-TIME BENEFICIARY DRUG COST 
                                  ACT

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                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 28, 2019

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
H.R. 2115, the ``Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act.''
  H.R. 2115 will require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
(CMS) to publish certain payment information regarding pharmacy benefit 
managers (PBMs) and prescription drugs.
  H.R. 2115 also requires the CMS to publish certain information, as 
reported by PBMs, relating to generic dispensing rates, drug discounts 
and rebates, and payments between PBMs, health plans, and pharmacies, 
in accordance with specified confidentiality requirements.
  In Harris County, 17.7 percent of the population is on Medicaid and 
7.5 percent of the population is on Medicare.
  H.R. 2115 will increase transparency within the aggregate rebates, 
discounts, and price concessions that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) 
negotiate with drug manufacturers.
  This bill will also implement an electronic, real-time benefit tool 
that can integrate with at least one prescriber's electronic 
prescribing system or electronic record so beneficiaries can have 
better information about their drug plan at the point of prescribing.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 
2115 to help federal agencies streamline information collection to 
beneficiaries of Medicare and Medicaid.

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