A Democratic bill with 12 Democratic cosponsors · See all 13 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Lower Drug Costs for Families Act" aims to amend the Social Security Act regarding prescription drug inflation rebates. It seeks to apply these rebates to drugs that are furnished in the commercial market. The bill also includes provisions to change the base year used for rebate calculations. These changes apply to both Part B and Part D drugs. Specific effective dates are established for these amendments to take effect.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +7
Does this lower the price of prescription medicines?
The bill expands the application of inflation rebates to drugs in the commercial market and adjusts base years to potentially increase rebate amounts.
- Scored +6
Would retired people be better off under this?
The bill specifically targets prescription drug costs, which is a major expense for retirees.
- Scored +5
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill lowers prescription drug costs which directly benefits seniors relying on Medicare Part B and D.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Application of rebates to the commercial market: The bill amends the Social Security Act to apply prescription drug inflation rebates to drugs furnished in the commercial market for both Part B and Part D drugs. (Section 2(a)(1) and Section 2(b)(1)).
-
Changes to rebate calculation base years: The bill modifies the base years used for calculating rebates, moving dates from 2020/2021 back to 2015/2016 for various sections of the Social Security Act. (Section 2(a)(2) and Section 2(b)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exclusion of certain units for Part D drugs: Starting in plan year 2026, the Secretary will exclude units for which the manufacturer provides a discount under the section 340B program of the Public Health Service Act from the total number of units used to calculate the average manufacturer price. (Section 2(b)(1)(A)(i)(B)(i)(iii)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets prescription drug costs, which is a major expense for retirees. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill lowers prescription drug costs which directly benefits seniors relying on Medicare Part B and D. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Lower drug costs can reduce the financial burden on low-income families. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Lower drug costs can reduce the financial burden on middle-class families.
- Healthcare
- Does this lower the price of prescription medicines? — The bill expands the application of inflation rebates to drugs in the commercial market and adjusts base years to potentially increase rebate amounts.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill extends inflation rebates to the commercial market, which serves as a form of consumer protection against rising drug prices.
- 6/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/1/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/27/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 11 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat · Michigan
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont