Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3353
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2020-02-27
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Digestive and metabolic diseases

Drug therapy

Government studies and investigations

Health care coverage and access

Health promotion and preventive care

Medicare

Organ and tissue donation and transplantation

Prescription drugs
Latest action: action_date: 2020-02-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-02-27
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of </strong><b>2020</b></p> <p>This bill indefinitely extends Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients for individuals who do not have other coverage. Under current law, Medicare coverage is limited to 36 months following a transplant.</p> <p>Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must report on the bill's implementation, including any related program integrity issues.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3353 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 27, 2020 Mr. Cassidy (for himself, Mr. Durbin , Ms. Ernst , Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Whitehouse , and Mr. Young ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for extended months of Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2020 . 2. Extended months of coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients and other renal dialysis provisions (a) Medicare entitlement to immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients (1) In general Section 226A(b)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 426–1(b)(2) ) is amended by inserting (except for eligibility for enrollment under part B solely for purposes of coverage of immunosuppressive drugs described in section 1861(s)(2)(J)) before , with the thirty-sixth month . (2) Individuals eligible only for coverage of immunosuppressive drugs (A) In general Section 1836 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395o ) is amended— (i) by striking Every and inserting (a) In general.—Every ; and (ii) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (b) Individuals eligible for immunosuppressive drug coverage (1) In general Except as provided under paragraph (2), every individual whose entitlement to insurance benefits under part A ends (whether before, on, or after January 1, 2022) by reason of section 226A(b)(2) is eligible to enroll in the insurance program established by this part solely for purposes of coverage of immunosuppressive drugs in accordance with section 1837(m). (2) Exception if other coverage is available (A) In general An individual described in paragraph (1) shall not be eligible for enrollment in the program for purposes of coverage described in such paragraph with respect to any period in which the individual, as determined in accordance with subparagraph (B)— (i) is enrolled in a group health plan or group or individual health insurance coverage, as such terms are defined in section 2791 of the Public Health Service Act; (ii) is enrolled for coverage under the TRICARE for Life program under section 1086(d) of title 10, United States Code; or (iii) (I) is enrolled in the patient enrollment system of the Department of Veterans Affairs established and operated under section 1705 of title 38, United States Code; (II) is not required to enroll under section 1705 of such title to receive immunosuppressive drugs described in this subsection; or (III) is otherwise eligible under a provision of title 38, United States Code, other than section 1710 of such title to receive immunosuppressive drugs described in this subsection. (B) Eligibility determinations (i) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security, shall establish a process for determining whether an individual described in paragraph (1) who is to be enrolled or deemed to be enrolled in the insurance program described in such paragraph meets the requirements for such enrollment under this subsection, including the requirement that the individual not be enrolled in other coverage as described in subparagraph (A). (ii) Attestation regarding other coverage The process established under clause (i) shall include, at a minimum, a requirement that— (I) the individual provide to the Commissioner an attestation that the individual is not enrolled in such other coverage; and (II) the individual notify the Secretary within 60 days of any change in the insurance coverage of the individual. . (B) Conforming amendment Sections 1837, 1838, and 1839 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395p , 42 U.S.C. 1395q , 42 U.S.C. 1395r ) are each amended by striking 1836 and inserting 1836(a) each place it appears. (b) Enrollment for individuals only eligible for coverage of immunosuppressive drugs Section 1837 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395p ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (m) (1) Any individual who is eligible under section 1836(b) to enroll in the medical insurance program established under this part for purposes of coverage of immunosuppressive drugs may enroll only in such manner and form as may be prescribed by regulations, and only during an enrollment period described in this subsection. (2) An individual described in paragraph (1) whose entitlement for hospital insurance benefits under part A ends by reason of section 226A(b)(2) prior to January 1, 2022, may enroll beginning on the first day of the third month before the month in which the individual first satisfies section 1836(b). (3) An individual described in paragraph (1) whose entitlement for hospital insurance benefits under part A ends by reason of section 226A(b)(2) on or after January 1, 2022, shall be deemed to have enrolled in the medical insurance program established by this part for purposes of coverage of immunosuppressive drugs. (4) The Secretary shall establish a process under which an individual described in paragraph (1) whose other coverage described in section 1836(b)(2)(A), or coverage under this part (including the medical insurance program established under this part for purposes of coverage of immunosuppressive drugs) is terminated voluntarily or involuntary may enroll or reenroll, if applicable, in the medical insurance program established under this part for purposes of coverage of immunosuppressive drugs. . (c) Coverage period for individuals only eligible for coverage of immunosuppressive drugs (1) In general Section 1838 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395q ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (g) In the case of an individual described in section 1836(b)(1), the following rules shall apply: (1) In the case of such an individual who is deemed to have enrolled in part B for coverage of immunosuppressive drugs under section 1837(m)(3), such individual’s coverage period shall begin on the first day of the month in which the individual first satisfies section 1836(b). (2) In the case of such an individual who enrolls (or reenrolls, if applicable) in part B for coverage of immunosuppressive drugs under paragraph (2) or (4) of section 1837(m), such individual’s coverage period shall begin on January 1, 2022, or the month following the month in which the individual so enrolls (or reenrolls), whichever is later. (3) The provisions of subsections (b) and (d) shall apply with respect to an individual described in paragraph (1) or (2). (4) In addition to the reasons for termination under subsection (b), the coverage period of an individual described in paragraph (1) or (2) shall end when the individual becomes entitled to benefits under this title under section 226(a) or 226A or is no longer eligible for such coverage as a result of the application of section 1836(b)(2). (5) The Secretary may conduct public education activities to raise awareness of the availability of more comprehensive, qualified health plans for beneficiaries eligible under this subsection. . (2) Conforming amendments Section 1838(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395q(b) ) is amended, in the matter following paragraph (2), by inserting or section 1837(m)(3) after section 1837(f) each place it appears. (d) Premiums for individuals only eligible for coverage of immunosuppressive drugs Section 1839 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395r ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following new sentence: No increase in the premium shall be effected for individuals who are enrolled pursuant to section 1836(b) for coverage only of immunosuppressive drugs. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (j) Determination of premium for individuals only eligible for coverage of immunosuppressive drugs The Secretary shall, during September of each year (beginning with 2021), determine and promulgate a monthly premium rate for the succeeding calendar year for individuals who enroll only for the purpose of coverage of immunosuppressive drugs under section 1836(b). Such premium shall be equal to 35 percent of the monthly actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and over, determined according to paragraph (1), for that succeeding calendar year. The monthly premium of each individual enrolled for coverage of immunosuppressive drugs under section 1836(b) for each month shall be the amount promulgated in this subsection. Such amount shall be adjusted in accordance with subsections (c), (f), and (i), but shall not be adjusted under subsection (b). . (e) Government contribution Section 1844(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; plus ; (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph: (4) a Government contribution equal to the estimated aggregate reduction in premiums payable under part B that results from establishing the premium at 35 percent of the actuarial rate under section 1839(j) instead of 50 percent of the actuarial rate for individuals who enroll only for the purpose of coverage of immunosuppressive drugs under section 1836(b). ; and (3) by adding the following sentence at the end of the flush matter following paragraph (4), as added by paragraph (2) of this subsection: The Government contribution under paragraph (4) shall be treated as premiums payable and deposited for purposes of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1). . (f) Ensuring coverage under the Medicare savings program Section 1905(p)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396d(p)(1)(A) ) is amended by inserting or an individual who is enrolled under part B for the purpose of coverage of immunosuppressive drugs under section 1836(b) after section 1818 . (g) Part D Section 1860D–1(a)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–101(a)(3)(A) ) is amended by inserting (but not including an individual enrolled solely for coverage of immunosuppressive drugs under section 1836(b)) before the period at the end. 3. GAO study and report (a) Study The Comptroller General of the United States (in this section referred to as the Comptroller General ) shall conduct a study on the implementation of coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients under the Medicare program pursuant to the provisions of, and amendments made by this Act. Such study shall include the identification, after implementation of such coverage, of any leakage in the eligibility, enrollment, and coverage processes relating to such coverage in order to address program integrity issues. (b) Report Not later than January 1, 2024, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.