Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 2024

Bill: 118-hr-1691
Sponsor: Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2]
Introduced: 2023-03-22 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health technology, devices, supplies
Home and outpatient care
Hospital care
Medicare

Summary:
action_date: 2023-03-22
text: 

Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 

2023

 
This bill provides for Medicare coverage of medical devices that are approved under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Breakthrough Devices Program. (Under the program, manufacturers work with the FDA to expedite the review and approval of certain medical devices that provide for more effective treatment or diagnosis of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating human diseases or conditions.)
 
The bill allows designated medical breakthrough devices to be temporarily covered under Medicare during a four-year transitional period. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must assign payment codes for such devices within three months of FDA approval. The CMS must also establish a process to allow for continued coverage after the transitional period has expired, taking into account any additional evidence or data the CMS deems necessary.
 
The CMS must also provide for temporary and, where appropriate, permanent Medicare coverage of breakthrough devices for which there is no existing benefit category (i.e., classification).


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-12-24
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 801.
action_date: 2024-12-24
text: Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
action_date: 2024-12-24
text: Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
action_date: 2024-12-24
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 118-952, Part I.
action_date: 2024-12-24
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 118-952, Part I.
action_date: 2024-06-27
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 36 - 5.
action_date: 2024-06-27
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2023-11-15
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 21 - 6.
action_date: 2023-11-15
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2023-03-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2023-03-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-03-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-03-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-03-22
text: Introduced in House