I’m the CEO of GoodRx. A new era of access demands smarter design for direct-to-consumer drug pricing

The national conversation around prescription drug pricing is back in full force. From the recent Most Favored Nation (MFN) executive order to President Trump’s letter urging pharmaceutical companies to offer direct-to-consumer (DTC) pricing for brand medications, it’s clear we’re at a pivotal moment for American healthcare. It’s a moment that demands more than just rhetoric; it demands innovation, pragmatism, and above all, deep collaboration across the industry.

For too long, the cost of prescriptions has been shrouded in mystery. Patients show up at the pharmacy counter only to be blindsided

A well-structured DTC pricing model offers a way forward.

To be clear, this isn’t a radical new idea. At GoodRx, we’ve been offering cash discount prices for nearly 15 years and have an unmatched presence at more than 70,000 pharmacies nationwide. In this time, we’ve processed billions of prescriptions and seen firsthand that when patients are offered an affordable, transparent price (particularly for expensive brand medications) they often choose to pay a cash discount price over using their insurance. Doing this at scale offers real potential. 

But designing a DTC strategy that truly works for patients, and for the larger healthcare ecosystem, requires more than simply announcing a lower price. Drug pricing is complex and deeply interconnected. It requires the right infrastructure and collaboration between manufacturers, pharmacies and PBMs to create scalable solutions. 

At GoodRx, we believe the reach and scale of our trusted platform is unrivaled in the industry. With over 300 million site visits in 2024 alone, we enable pharma manufacturers to put savings directly in the hands of the patients who need them. Currently, we have more than 80 point-of-sale cash prices on our platform where the manufacturer buys down the price of a brand medication via GoodRx so it’s more affordable for the consumer. 

Based on our experience, here’s what we’ve learned are three essential elements for getting DTC pricing models right:

At the same time, while a DTC strategy has the power to improve the healthcare system, it’s important to acknowledge that not every proposed policy aimed at reducing drug costs is without risk. The order might reduce list prices for certain drugs, but not all patients will benefit equally. Those with percentage-based coinsurance could see reduced out-of-pocket costs, but patients with fixed-dollar copays may see little to no change in what they pay. Patients who stand to lose coverage due to policy changes could pay prices in the hundreds or thousands per month even with the new lower DTC prices from manufacturers.  

Overall, the power of direct-to-consumer solutions for expensive drugs is real. But policymakers and industry leaders must work together to make this vision a reality in a realistic way. It’s not about dismantling the system, it’s about evolving it. Direct-to-consumer pricing, if done right, can complement insurance and unlock new pathways to access for millions of Americans. At GoodRx, we are actively advocating for policies that will expand access to affordable medications.

It’s time for a smarter, more transparent approach that meets patients where they are and puts affordability within reach for everyone.