A prominent physician voice in the House of Representatives has introduced a new bill that would compel insurers to apply the cost for drugs purchased from direct-to-consumer platforms to deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.
North Carolina Republican Greg Murphy, M.D., on Tuesday unveiled the Every Dollar Counts Act, a bill that aims to lower patients’ out-of-pocket costs for pharmaceuticals. Murphy, a consistent critic of insurers and pharmacy benefit managers, notes in an announcement that consumers have increasingly embraced DTC offerings as costs rise.
Using these platforms, patients can often find prices that cost far less out-of-pocket, especially for branded drugs, per Murphy’s office.
As many health plans do not count these purchases toward annual deductibles or out-of-pocket limits, it can lead some patients to face higher financial burdens and access challenges, Murphy said.
“Direct-to-patient platforms have the potential to radically transform the drug marketplace, applying much-needed downward pressure on the extraordinary cost of lifesaving medicines,” Murphy said in his announcement. “However, patients who are set to benefit most cannot apply their expenditures on drugs purchased through these platforms to their health insurance out-of-pocket contribution requirements.”
“By making this possible, we are putting patients first and promoting competition to drive down costs further,” he said.
DTC drug platforms gained more mainstream attention after the White House’s launch of TrumpRx in February. Through the platform, President Donald Trump has inked multiple deals with leading drugmakers that provide most-favored nation pricing for certain drugs.
Axios, which first reported on Murphy’s bill, posted that he had consulted with the White House on the policy.
