Can Drug Price Transparency Keep Costs Down?

Will forcing drugmakers to disclose big price hikes and new high-cost treatments help keep medications affordable for consumers? That's the premise behind legislation considered this year in roughly a dozen states, including California. In addition, President Barack Obama proposed in his 2017 budget that the Department of Health and Human Services require drugmakers to disclose their research and development costs.

But some researchers and consumer advocates say these “drug price transparency” measures likely won't bring spiraling costs down by themselves — other policy changes will be needed.