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Bill

SB 436

AN ACT CONCERNING COST TRANSPARENCY IN LEGEND DRUG ADVERTISEMENTS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Saud Anwar

Connecticut bill mandates prescription drug ads disclose retail prices or link to pricing information, increasing consumer awareness of medication costs before doctor consultations.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON General Law
#advertising #pharmaceuticalmanufacturingcompanies
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Bill Summary · SB 436

Legislative bill overview

SB 436 requires pharmaceutical companies to disclose pricing information in direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs ("legend drugs"). The bill mandates that ads include the drug's retail price or, if unavailable, direct consumers to easily accessible pricing information. This applies to advertisements in all media formats.

Why is this important

Prescription drug costs remain a major driver of healthcare expenses and financial hardship for patients. Currently, pharmaceutical ads often highlight benefits without mentioning cost, making it difficult for consumers to understand affordability before discussing medications with doctors. Price transparency in ads could enable more informed healthcare decisions and prompt earlier conversations about generic alternatives or treatment costs.

Potential points of contention

  • Industry opposition: Pharmaceutical companies may argue that drug pricing varies significantly by insurance plan, pharmacy, and region, making single price displays misleading or practically impossible
  • Implementation complexity: Determining what price to display (manufacturer suggested retail price, average wholesale price, or negotiated rates) could be contentious, as different metrics tell different stories about actual patient costs
  • First Amendment concerns: The pharmaceutical industry may challenge price disclosure mandates as compelled commercial speech, citing precedent that advertisers have limited obligations to include information

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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