Senate panel to consider ban on prescription drug 'gag clauses'

The Hill: The Senate health committee plans to vote on a bill next month banning "gag clauses" that can hide potential savings on prescriptions from consumers at the pharmacy counter.

Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said Tuesday he hopes the panel will vote on the bill, authored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), June 20.

Specifically, Collins' bill would ban clauses in contracts between pharmacies, insurers and middle men that keep pharmacies from proactively telling customers they could save money on a prescription if they paid out of pocket instead of through insurance.

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