ANNE THOMPSON REPORTS THE NEW LAW MAY HELP REDUCE THE PRICE YOU
THE NEW LAW MAY HELP REDUCE THE PRICE YOU PAY AT THE DRUG STORE.
REDUCE THE PRICE YOU PAY AT THE DRUG STORE. >> Reporter: IT IS A
PAY AT THE DRUG STORE. >> Reporter: IT IS A PRACTICE THAT
>> Reporter: IT IS A PRACTICE THAT INFURIATED MANY
PRACTICE THAT INFURIATED MANY PHARMACISTS LIKE STEVE
INFURIATED MANY PHARMACISTS LIKE STEVE HOFFER, SOMETHING
PHARMACISTS LIKE STEVE HOFFER, SOMETHING CALLED A GAG CLAUSE
HOFFER, SOMETHING CALLED A GAG CLAUSE THAT PROHIBITED THEM
CALLED A GAG CLAUSE THAT PROHIBITED THEM FROM TELLING CUSTOMERS
THAT PROHIBITED THEM FROM TELLING CUSTOMERS WITH SOME INSURANCE
FROM TELLING CUSTOMERS WITH SOME INSURANCE PLANS ABOUT THE LOWEST
WITH SOME INSURANCE PLANS ABOUT THE LOWEST PRICE FOR A
PLANS ABOUT THE LOWEST PRICE FOR A PRESCRIPTION DRUG.
PRICE FOR A PRESCRIPTION DRUG. >> IT’S EXTREMELY HARD
PRESCRIPTION DRUG. >> IT’S EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE A PATIENT SPEND
>> IT’S EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE A PATIENT SPEND MORE THAN WHAT THEY
TO SEE A PATIENT SPEND MORE THAN WHAT THEY REALLY SHOULD BE.
MORE THAN WHAT THEY REALLY SHOULD BE. >> Reporter: SO HARD
REALLY SHOULD BE. >> Reporter: SO HARD TEXAS PHARMACIST
>> Reporter: SO HARD TEXAS PHARMACIST RISKED HIS CAREER AND
TEXAS PHARMACIST RISKED HIS CAREER AND BUSINESS LAST YEAR
RISKED HIS CAREER AND BUSINESS LAST YEAR SPEAKING OUT TO NBC
BUSINESS LAST YEAR SPEAKING OUT TO NBC NEWS.
SPEAKING OUT TO NBC NEWS. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR
NEWS. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR THERE ARE INSTANCES
SO JUST TO BE CLEAR THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE YOU CANNOT TELL
THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE YOU CANNOT TELL THE PATIENT THERE’S A
WHERE YOU CANNOT TELL THE PATIENT THERE’S A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE.
THE PATIENT THERE’S A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE. >> YES, IT’S IN THE
CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE. >> YES, IT’S IN THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE
>> YES, IT’S IN THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE SAYING WE’RE NOT
CONTRACT LANGUAGE SAYING WE’RE NOT ALLOWED TO DIVULGE
SAYING WE’RE NOT ALLOWED TO DIVULGE THAT INFORMATION, IT’S
ALLOWED TO DIVULGE THAT INFORMATION, IT’S PROPRIETARY AND WE
THAT INFORMATION, IT’S PROPRIETARY AND WE CANNOT SHARE IT.
PROPRIETARY AND WE CANNOT SHARE IT. >> Reporter: AN NBC
CANNOT SHARE IT. >> Reporter: AN NBC NEWS INVESTIGATION
>> Reporter: AN NBC NEWS INVESTIGATION FOUND IT HAPPENS ON A
NEWS INVESTIGATION FOUND IT HAPPENS ON A WIDE NUMBER OF AGAIN
FOUND IT HAPPENS ON A WIDE NUMBER OF AGAIN RINGS ON CERTAIN
WIDE NUMBER OF AGAIN RINGS ON CERTAIN INSURANCE PLANS.
RINGS ON CERTAIN INSURANCE PLANS. FOR A COMMON
INSURANCE PLANS. FOR A COMMON ANTIBIOTIC IT CAN BE
FOR A COMMON ANTIBIOTIC IT CAN BE $18 MORE TO USE
ANTIBIOTIC IT CAN BE $18 MORE TO USE INSURANCE THAN PAY OUT
$18 MORE TO USE INSURANCE THAN PAY OUT OF POCKET AND $OTHER
INSURANCE THAN PAY OUT OF POCKET AND $OTHER DIFFERENCES THAT
OF POCKET AND $OTHER DIFFERENCES THAT PROMOTED OUTRAGE IN
DIFFERENCES THAT PROMOTED OUTRAGE IN CONGRESS.
PROMOTED OUTRAGE IN CONGRESS. >> LAST NIGHT "NBC
CONGRESS. >> LAST NIGHT "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" RAN A
>> LAST NIGHT "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" RAN A PIECE ON A DRUG
NIGHTLY NEWS" RAN A PIECE ON A DRUG INVESTIGATION FOUND
PIECE ON A DRUG INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT INSURANCE PLANS
INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT INSURANCE PLANS ARE ACTUALLY CHEAPER
THAT INSURANCE PLANS ARE ACTUALLY CHEAPER WHEN THE CONSUMER PAYS
ARE ACTUALLY CHEAPER WHEN THE CONSUMER PAYS OUT OF POCKET.
WHEN THE CONSUMER PAYS OUT OF POCKET. THE THAT MAKES NO
OUT OF POCKET. THE THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.
THE THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. >> Reporter: SO
SENSE TO ME. >> Reporter: SO SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS
>> Reporter: SO SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS AND REPRESENTATIVE
SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS AND REPRESENTATIVE BUDDY CARTER EACH
AND REPRESENTATIVE BUDDY CARTER EACH SPONSORED BILLS
BUDDY CARTER EACH SPONSORED BILLS BANNING GAG CLAUSES.
SPONSORED BILLS BANNING GAG CLAUSES. >> THIS IS THE FIRST
BANNING GAG CLAUSES. >> THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN WHAT WE HOPE
>> THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE OUR PROCESS OF
STEP IN WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE OUR PROCESS OF LOWERING DRUG PRICES.
WILL BE OUR PROCESS OF LOWERING DRUG PRICES. >> Reporter: THE
LOWERING DRUG PRICES. >> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE
>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE BAN INTO LAW LAST
PRESIDENT SIGNED THE BAN INTO LAW LAST WEEK, FREEING
BAN INTO LAW LAST WEEK, FREEING PHARMACISTS LIKE
WEEK, FREEING PHARMACISTS LIKE HOFFER WHO HELP
