ASCO submitted comments to a U.S. House Energy & Commerce health subcommittee hearing entitled, “Improving Drug Pricing Transparency and Lowering Prices for American Consumers." The hearing focused on several bills aimed at increasing transparency around drug prices and lowering out-of-pocket costs for patients. ASCO’s comments offer the oncology community’s perspective on several of the bills discussed during the hearing and focus on improving access to affordable cancer care.  

“ASCO appreciates the Committee’s ongoing efforts to examine prescription drug pricing and consider solutions to lower costs for patients,” said ASCO President Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, FACS, FASCO, in the comments. “ASCO shares your concern about the rising cost of prescription drugs and stands ready to work with you on real solutions that address the affordability of cancer drugs.”

In its comments, ASCO conveyed support for these bills moving forward through the legislative process:

• The “Fair Accountability and Innovative Research Drug Pricing Act” (H.R. 2296) and the “Drug Price Transparency Act” (H.R. 2087), bills that aim to increase drug price transparency throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain.
• The “Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act” (H.R. 2115) and the “Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2019” (H.R. 2376), which aim to better understand the practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs).
• The “Creating Lower Cost Alternatives for Your Prescription Drugs Act” (H.R. 2757), which aims to lower patient out-of-pocket costs.

ASCO also commented on the “Sunshine for Samples Act” (H.R. 2064), which would require manufacturers of certain drugs, devices, biologics, and medical supplies to report on product samples provided to doctors and other clinicians. In its comments, ASCO stressed that such legislation must not impede patient access to samples in a physician’s office.

Aside from weighing in on relevant legislation, ASCO provided its perspective on the need for greater transparency regarding the actions of PBMs. ASCO’s position statement, “Pharmacy Benefit Managers and Their Impact on Cancer Care," as well as the “American Society of Clinical Oncology Policy Statement on the Impact of Utilization Management Policies for Cancer Drug Therapies”—both of which were shared with the subcommittee—relay ASCO members’ experiences with delayed or denied patient care due to utilization management techniques used by PBMs, especially prior authorization and step therapy.

Read the full comment letter.

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