Gallego Backs Legislation to Cap the Cost of Prescription Medication

The Capping Prescription Costs Act would cap annual out-of-pocket prescription drug costs per year at $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for families
WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)is backing theCapping Prescription Costs Act, legislation that would lower prescription drug costs for millions of Americans by placing annual caps on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs at $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for families with private insurance.
“No one should have to choose between putting food on the table and filling a prescription,”said Senator Gallego.“But right now, too many Arizonans are forced to skip doses, cut pills in half, or make impossible financial decisions that risk their health because medication is just too expensive. I’m proud to support this bill to put a cap on out-of-pocket costs and make lifesaving medicine more affordable for every family.”
Over 60 percent of American adults take at least one prescription drug, with 25 percent of adults taking four or more. Yet Americans often pay more for the same prescription drugs than people in other countries, and due to the cost burden, American patients often cannot afford their medications as prescribed. This results in patients skipping doses, cutting doses in half, or taking over-the-counter medications instead of their prescriptions. One study found that 31 percent of patients did not take their medications as prescribed due to cost. The new $2,000 cap on cost-sharing for individuals and $4,000 for families will apply to all of the 173 million Americans who have private health insurance.
Full text of the legislation is availableHERE.
Senator Gallego has long fought to lower prescription drug costs. Last week, he called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to take immediate action toprevent steep increasesin Medicare Part D prescription drug premiums for 2026. Earlier this year, he backed theLower Drug Costs for Families Actto punish drug companies for raising prescription drug prices in the commercial market faster than inflation, which he alsochampioned in the House. In the House, heintroduced a package of billsto pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), andbackedthePromoting Access to Treatments and Increasing Extremely Needed Transparency (PATIENT) Actto make drug pricing more transparent.
8/26/25