Reality Check: New Report Confirms TrumpRx is Not Lowering Prescription Drug Prices

Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats released a new staff report today fact checking President Trump’s claims about the new TrumpRx platform. The report finds—despite claims of historically low prices—that in many cases the platform offers discount prices already available, fails to disclose cheaper generic alternatives, and in some instances offers prices that are much higher than patients would pay if they used discounts available directly from the manufacturer. 

“TrumpRx is all hype and no true action,” Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) said. “Despite claiming to offer ‘the world’s lowest prices on prescription drugs,’ this new report confirms that TrumpRx continues the president’s long history of scamming consumers. At best, the platform offers discount coupons that are readily available elsewhere. At worst, it appears to intentionally withhold information about more affordable generic alternatives and in some instances even charges consumers more than if they purchased the drug directly from the manufacturer.

“TrumpRx is not a serious effort to lower prescription drug prices. If Trump was serious about making prescriptions more affordable, he’d work with Democrats to expand Medicare drug price negotiation, make those prices more widely available to Americans with private health insurance, prevent unfair price hikes, and cap out-of-pocket costs. Instead, he’s going to tout TrumpRx’s sham offerings at the State of the Union like the snake oil salesman he’s always been,” Pallone concluded.   

Key Findings in the Report: 

• For nearly half of the 43 drugs listed on the platform, there is either little to no change to a pre-existing discounted price for the drug or a cheaper generic is available but not disclosed on TrumpRx.
• For at least 15 drugs, a less expensive generic version is available, but is not disclosed on the platform.  
• At least seven medications on TrumpRx have pre-existing coupons on GoodRx at the same or nearly same price.
• In some cases, TrumpRx offers a direct-to-consumer price that is higher than the price patients would pay by using coupons available directly from the manufacturer.

Read the full report HERE. 

###