Press Releases

Congressman Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-Ga.) today applauded House passage of legislation to ban "gag clause" provisions. 

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved two Senate companion bills to Carter's Know the Cost Act. These bills prohibit "gag clause" provisions in Medicare as well as in group or individual health plans. 

Currently, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are able to include requirements in contracts that prevent pharmacists from providing advice to their patients on the best and cheapest out-of-pocket alternatives to medications covered under insurance. This is commonly known as a "gag clause." As a result, patients may be paying more for their prescriptions than is warranted.

As the only pharmacist in Congress, Carter has been a leader in the fight to eliminate "gag clause" provisions. 

"The end of this unfair, unacceptable practice is near," said Carter. "Patients should be getting the best deal on their prescriptions, whether they use insurance or not. Having experience with gag clause provisions firsthand as a pharmacist for more than 30 years, I am thrilled a ban is now heading to President Trump to be signed into law. 

"While banning gag clause provisions is critical, our work to lower prescription drug pricing is far from over. We must focus on additional common sense measures that will have real results for American patients."

The Know the Lowest Price Act introduced by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mi.) and the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act introduced by Senator Susan Collins (R-Me.) passed the House today. The Know the Lowest Price Act prohibits "gag clause" provisions in Medicare while the Patients to Know Drug Prices Act prohibits "gag clause" provisions in groups and individual health plans. The bills now head to President Trump to be signed into law.