Affordable Insulin for the COVID–19 Emergency Act
Bill: H.R.2179 | Sponsor: Rep. Waters, Maxine (D-CA)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Affordable Insulin for the COVID-19 Emergency Act
This bill eliminates cost-sharing under the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicare Advantage for insulin and associated medical supplies during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The bill also allows beneficiaries to receive their insulin and supplies via mail order during the emergency period.

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to eliminate cost-
 sharing with respect to coverage of insulin as a covered part D drug 
  and associated medical supplies and to provide mail order access to 
 insulin and such supplies under the Medicare program during the COVID-
                          19 emergency period.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Affordable Insulin for the COVID-19 
Emergency Act''.

SEC. 2. ELIMINATING COST-SHARING WITH RESPECT TO COVERAGE OF INSULIN AS 
              A COVERED PART D DRUG AND ASSOCIATED MEDICAL SUPPLIES 
              UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM DURING THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY 
              PERIOD.

    (a) In General.--Section 1860D-2 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395w-102) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``The 
                coverage'' and inserting ``Subject to paragraph (8), 
                the coverage'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting after 
                        ``Subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D)'' the 
                        following: ``and paragraph (8)'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking 
                        ``paragraph (4)'' and inserting ``paragraphs 
                        (4) and (8)''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (D)(i), by striking 
                        ``paragraph (4)'' and inserting ``paragraphs 
                        (4) and (8)'';
                    (C) in paragraph (4)(A)(i), by striking ``The 
                coverage'' and inserting ``Subject to paragraph (8), 
                the coverage''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(8) Elimination of cost-sharing for insulin and 
        associated medical supplies during the covid-19 emergency 
        period.--The coverage does not impose any deductible, 
        copayment, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing for insulin (as 
        described in subparagraph (B) of subsection (e)(1)) or medical 
        supplies associated with the injection of insulin (as described 
        in such subparagraph) during the emergency period described in 
        section 1135(g)(1)(B).''; and
            (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(4) Same elimination of cost-sharing for certain covered 
        part d drugs during the covid-19 emergency period.--The 
        coverage is in accordance with subsection (b)(8).''.
    (b) Elimination of Cost-Sharing for Insulin and Certain Associated 
Medical Supplies Furnished to Part D Eligible Individuals Who Are 
Subsidy Eligible Individuals.--Section 1860D-14(a) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-114(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (D)--
                            (i) in clause (ii), by striking ``In the 
                        case of'' and inserting ``Subject to 
                        subparagraph (F), in the case of''; and
                            (ii) in clause (iii), by striking ``In the 
                        case of'' and inserting ``Subject to 
                        subparagraph (F), in the case of''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(F) Elimination of cost-sharing for certain 
                covered part d drugs during the covid-19 emergency 
                period.--Coverage that is in accordance with section 
                1860D-2(b)(8).''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``The 
                substitution'' and inserting ``Subject to subparagraph 
                (F), the substitution'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (E), by inserting after 
                ``Subject to'' the following: ``subparagraph (F) and''; 
                and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(F) Elimination of cost-sharing for certain 
                covered part d drugs during the covid-19 emergency 
                period.--Coverage that is in accordance with section 
                1860D-2(b)(8).''.

SEC. 3. MAIL ORDER ACCESS OF INSULIN AND ASSOCIATED MEDICAL SUPPLIES 
              UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM DURING THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY 
              PERIOD.

    Section 1860D-4(b)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395w-104(b)(4)(A)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``subject to subparagraph (B)'' and 
        inserting ``subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) Mail order.--A prescription drug plan or MA-
                PD plan shall permit such part D eligible individual 
                enrolled in such plan to obtain such fill or refill of 
                insulin (as described in subparagraph (B) of section 
                1860D-2(e)(1)) or medical supplies associated with the 
                injection of insulin (as described in such 
                subparagraph), at the option of such individual, by 
                mail order to the home of such individual.''.
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