A growing number of state legislatures are pushing bills for drug makers to disclose costs, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
In the last few weeks, lawmakers in a handful of states extending from California to Massachusetts have introduced such bills, according to the report.
The report notes that the bills differ, as some would require drug makers to report profits and numerous operational costs for any medicine with a cost of more than $10,000 a year, while others would apply to all medicines no matter the price.
"We need to have some transparency," Rep. Tony DeLuca (D-Allegheny), who chairs the Pennsylvania House Insurance Committee and who introduced one such bill earlier this week, said in the report. "Some of the sticker prices are outrageous. I'm hoping it achieves lower healthcare costs."
The legislation is receiving the backing of business groups, consumer advocates and health insurers. But drug makers argue that the bills not only involve heavy obligations, but make demands that they say can't be met, according to the report.
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