Monthly Updated Report Data Sets

The latest data sets of prescription drug cost transparency reports are available for download. The data sets are comprised of the reports submitted to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI).

CTRx Program Overview

Program Operations

CTRx’s primary responsibility is to implement §§ 127675 – 127686 of the Health and Safety Code. Specifically, the program oversees the online system through which manufacturers submit required reports to Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI).

  • Reports to HCAI of specified wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) increases and related information on a quarterly basis
  • 3-day notices to HCAI of specified new drugs being introduced to the California market
  • Reports to HCAI of information related to specified new drugs being introduced to the California market.

CTRx works with the prescription drug manufacturers to ensure submissions are accurate and comply with reporting requirements. For more detailed information on the types of reports submitted to HCAI, link to the price (WAC) increase report page or the new drug report page

Note, prescription drug manufacturers are also required to provide 60-day advance notices of specified WAC increases to registered, qualified purchasers. CTRx provides online a downloadable list of registered, qualified purchasers and their contact information for manufacturers to use. For more information on purchasers and the 60-day advance notice, link to the purchasers page.

The program releases report data monthly, as submitted, on the Open Data Portal maintained by California Health and Human Services (CHHS) Agency, the parent agency of HCAI. 

In addition to providing support to prescription drug manufacturers with their reporting, CTRx staff are available to answer general questions.

Staff are available 8am to 5pm PT/PDT, Monday through Friday, with the exception of state holidays.

The program can be reached at ctrx@hcai.ca.gov.

To receive regular informational updates about the program, subscribe to the CTRx mailing list.

California Health and Safety Code (HSC) §§ 127675 – 127686 (Division 107, Part 2, Chapter 9)

Senate Bill (SB) 17 was enacted on October 9, 2017, with the relevant provisions captured in §§127675 – 127686 of the Health and Safety Code . The statute established the reporting requirements of prescription drug manufacturers to HCAI and purchasers.

The law also includes separate provisions that are implemented by the Department of Managed Health Care and the California Department of Insurance.

January 1, 2018, HCAI makes available a registry of public and private purchasers for purposes of the 60-day advance notice requirement for specified increases in the wholesale acquisition cost of a prescription drug. Public and private purchasers may register with HCAI beginning December 1, 2017 on this website.

January 1, 2019, regulations were adopted.

January 1, 2019, drug manufacturers must notify HCAI within three days of introducing a new drug at a wholesale acquisition cost that exceeds the specified threshold. Within 30 days of this notification, manufacturers must submit additional information to HCAI. HCAI will publish this information on its website quarterly.

After January 1, 2019, drug manufacturers are required to submit to HCAI information on the rationale for cost increases for existing drugs that fall under the reporting requirement. HCAI will collect this information beginning April 2019 and publish on its website within 60 days of receipt from each manufacturer on a quarterly basis.

Read Senate Bill 17

Read the Statute

Read the Regulations

Read the Data Submitter Workshop Presentation

Read the Data User Workshop Presentation

Read the Data User Workshop Summary

December 21, 2023, proposed revisions to CTRx regulations were approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and filed with the Secretary of State. These revisions will be effective April 1, 2024.

Notice of Approval of Regulatory Action (OAL File No. 2023-1113-01S)

FAQs

What is wholesale acquisition cost (WAC)?

Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) is defined in the U.S. Code as “…the manufacturer’s list price for [a] drug or biological to wholesalers or direct purchasers in the United States, not including prompt pay or other discounts, rebates or reductions in price…”

Does the law cover all prescription drugs?

No. The law only pertains to human prescription drugs that are marketed and sold in California, regardless of a drug’s location of manufacture, packaging, or wholesale distribution. Radiologicals, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API’s), and compounded prescriptions drugs are excluded from the reporting requirements.

Prescription drugs sold in medical delivery devices (e.g., syringes, injection pens, and transdermal patches) are subject to reporting. Medical delivery devices sold without a prescription drug included are not subject to reporting.

Where can I get copies of the 60-day advance notices of WAC increases?

Manufacturers send the 60-day advance notices of WAC increases directly to purchasers. HCAI makes available a list of purchasers who are eligible and have registered to be on the list.

The purchasers page provides more detailed definitions of the types of eligible purchasers.

There is an active lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the statute. Do manufacturers need to comply with the law while the lawsuit is active?

Yes. Unless a court issues an order preventing HCAI from implementing law, manufacturers must comply with law. No order is in place at the present time.

Additional Resources

FDA-Approved Drugs

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval information of prescription drugs can be found on the drug database located on the Drugs@FDA site that is maintained by the FDA .

Prescription Drug Annual Reports

In addition to the quarterly reports HCAI collects to increase prescription drug cost transparency, SB 17 requires the  Department of Managed Healthcare and California Department of Insurance to compile and publish annual reports with data from health plans and health insurers, containing the following information by October 1, 2018 and annually thereafter:

  • 25 most frequently prescribed drugs
  • 25 most costly drugs by total annual plan spending
  • 25 drugs with the highest year-over-year increase in total plan spending
  • Other aggregate data on the impact of drug costs to large group health care plans and health insurance policies 

National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP)

The National Academy for State Health Policy is a nonpartisan forum of policymakers throughout state governments, learning, leading and implementing innovative solutions to health policy challenges.