Gianforte Advances Bipartisan Bills to Lower Prescription Drug Prices

Statement

Congressman Greg Gianforte and lawmakers on the Energy and Commerce Committee recently passed six bipartisan bills related to lowering prescription drug prices out of the committee.

"Too many Montanans struggle to pay for the prescription drugs they need, and they're looking for lawmakers to work together to bring down drug prices," Gianforte said. "We took steps in the right direction with these six bipartisan bills to lower prescription drug prices by bringing more generic competition to the market. I'll continue working with lawmakers from both parties to lower prescription drug prices and get these bills across the finish line."

Gianforte introduced one of the six bipartisan bills, the Payment Commission Data Act, with Reps. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Tom O'Halleran (D-Ariz.), Tom Rice (R-S.C.), and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.). The legislation will provide access to greater drug pricing data for the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee (MedPAC) and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment Advisory Committee (MACPAC). Access to the data will allow for more comprehensive drug pricing analysis, improving information lawmakers can use to address rising drug prices.

MedPAC and MACPAC are independent, nonpartisan think tanks that advise Congress on health issues, much like the Congressional Budget Office advises Congress on fiscal and budgetary issues.

The other bipartisan bills Gianforte supported that cleared the Energy and Commerce Committee include the BLOCKING Act, the Purple Book Continuity Act, the Orange Book Transparency Act, the Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act, and the CREATES Act.

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