EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES’ PROPOSED RULE TO REDUCE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES AND OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS. On January 31, 2019, the United States Department of Health and Human Services proposed a new rule that would replace the current system of rebates with a system that directly provides discounts to patients at the pharmacy. The new rule, which applies to certain Medicare and Medicaid prescription drug plans, will lower out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries who rely heavily on prescription drugs. According to the chief actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, under the new rule, households will save $93 billion in out-of-pocket spending for prescription drugs over the next decade.