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HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urges real-time prescription price checks to lower costs
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Summary
In a recorded address, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., identified in the transcript as the Department of Health and Human Services secretary, urged health IT vendors and medical providers to adopt software that shows patients’ prescription prices in real time so prescribers can choose affordable alternatives and speed prior authorization; he said the rule takes full effect in 2027.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., identified in the transcript as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, urged health IT vendors and medical providers to adopt technology that displays patients’ prescription prices in real time before they leave the exam room.
Kennedy framed the change as a direct response to medication affordability problems that, he said, contribute to serious harms. "Medication nonadherence kills 125,000 Americans every year and drives up to $300,000,000,000 in avoidable health care costs," he said, adding that the system is "broken, and we are fixing it." The remarks were given in a short, recorded message produced by HHS.
The policy Kennedy described would require prescribers to see a patient's out-of-pocket price based on their actual insurance plan when a prescription is written. "When your doctor writes you a prescription, they're gonna see the price in real time based upon your actual insurance plan before you ever leave the exam room," he said. Kennedy said that visibility would let prescribers choose medications patients can actually afford and allow patients to make informed decisions without a surprise at the pharmacy counter.
He also said the technology can reduce delays tied to prior authorization: "If a drug requires prior authorization, doctors could get an answer immediately or prescribe an effective alternative that doesn't require delays," Kennedy said, arguing that would cut unnecessary trips and reduce the chance that patients are turned away at the pharmacy.
Kennedy offered concrete savings examples, saying diabetes patients could save "over a $130 a month" and patients on specialty medications could save "more than $800 a month" when clinicians select lower-cost, equally effective options.
On timing, Kennedy said the rule "takes full effect in 2027, but we don't have to wait." He urged vendors and providers to adopt the tools immediately, saying the technology already exists and many providers are already using it. He closed by saying HHS would "use every lever to lower cost, increase transparency, and deliver better care for the American people." The recording was credited as produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The announcement identifies a federal rule and a target year for full implementation; Kennedy urged voluntary, immediate adoption by vendors and clinicians and described projected patient-level savings and workflow benefits as reasons to move quickly.
