Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2021

The Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2021 directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a comprehensive study into the business practices of pharmaceutical supply chain intermediaries, specifically Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). The bill requires the FTC to investigate whether these entities engage in anticompetitive behavior—such as steering patients toward certain pharmacies or using complex rebate schemes—that may artificially inflate the cost of prescription drugs.

For everyday citizens, this legislation aims to provide greater transparency into how drug prices are set and whether middleman practices are preventing lower-cost medications from reaching consumers. By requiring the FTC to provide policy recommendations to Congress, the bill seeks to identify and address the underlying market factors that contribute to high out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy counter.