Trump Administration Launches TrumpRx Prescription Drug Price Portal

The Trump administration launched TrumpRx on Feb. 5, a prescription drug website intended for consumers to find medicine at a cheaper rate. The White House called it "a transformative new government platform that gives Americans direct access to dramatically lower prices on dozens of common, high-cost brand-name prescription drugs."

The site does not sell drugs directly to consumers and instead just displays lower prices. It works as a portal so that users can find medication at a cheaper cost.

Anyone can use TrumpRx, provided they have a prescription. For now, however, the platform doesn't accept insurance and is limited to patients who buy medications out of their own pocket. The vice president and director of KFF's patient and consumer protections program noted, "It might be a good thing for some people, but for most folks they are paying less through insurance."

As of right now, users of TrumpRx have access to 43 different drugs from brand name manufacturers, that range from aiding conditions like diabetes to infertility. However, it does not list or provide any abortion related medications in its database, such as mifepristone and misoprostol.

When clicking on a potential product to buy on trumprx.gov, the site specifies, "This is an out-of-pocket price. If you have insurance, check your co-pay first—it may be even lower."

In reality, clicking on the link on TrumpRx redirects the user to the manufacturer's website to see if the buyer qualifies for hardship discounts. These discounts are available regardless of whether TrumpRx is involved.

A lot of these drugs are older and there are generic alternatives for these medications. The pharmaceutical companies that are participating were not looking to give discounts on their bestsellers, their newest drugs. So, in many cases, these are drugs where there might have already been discounts available.