Medical Innovation Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-5031
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Welch, Peter [D-VT-At Large]
Introduced: 2019-11-08
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations

Civil actions and liability

Department of Health and Human Services

Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation

Executive agency funding and structure

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Health technology, devices, supplies

Medical research

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Prescription drugs

Research administration and funding
Latest action: action_date: 2019-11-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-11-08
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Medical Innovation Act of 2019 </b></p> <p>This bill requires certain drug manufacturers to make payments to fund research supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).</p> <p>A drug manufacturer with over $1 billion in net income in a fiscal year that has entered into a relevant settlement agreement regarding specified violations must pay 0.75%-1.5% of its net income to the Department of Health and Human Services for each of its covered blockbuster drugs. A covered blockbuster drug is a drug that has at least $1 billion in net sales in a year and was developed, in whole or in part, through federal investments in medical research.</p> <p>Payments are divided between the FDA and the NIH in proportion to the discretionary funding of those agencies, excluding FDA user fees. Payments are not disbursed if appropriations for the FDA or the NIH are lower than in the prior fiscal year. Priorities for payments must include advancing regulatory science for medical products and research related to diseases that disproportionately account for federal health care spending.</p> <p>A covered blockbuster drug for which a manufacturer has not made a required payment is considered misbranded and subject to prohibitions on introducing or receiving misbranded drugs in interstate commerce. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5031 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 8, 2019 Mr. Welch introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To authorize the collection of supplemental payments to increase congressional investments in medical research, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medical Innovation Act of 2019 . 2. Authority to assess and use supplemental payments to increase congressional investments in medical research (a) In general Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 241 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (i) Authority To assess and use supplemental payments To increase congressional investments in medical research (1) Definitions For purposes of this subsection: (A) Covered blockbuster drug (i) In general The term covered blockbuster drug means any product— (I) for which the covered manufacturer reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission on a form, including form 10–K or form 20–F, or is otherwise determined by the Secretary to have received, at least $1,000,000,000 in net sales in the previous calendar year; and (II) that was developed, in whole or in part, through Federal Government investments in medical research, as the Secretary determines in accordance with clause (ii). (ii) Determination of Federal Government investment In determining under clause (i)(II) whether a product was developed, in whole or in part, through Federal Government investments in medical research, the Secretary shall consider whether information included in any patent that claims the covered blockbuster drug or that claims a method of using such covered blockbuster drug and with respect to which a claim of patent infringement could reasonably be asserted if a person not licensed by the owner engaged in the manufacture, use, or sale of the covered blockbuster drug, or any element of the covered blockbuster drug— (I) relates to, or is based upon, prior science conducted, in whole or in part, by a person that is or was funded by the Federal Government; (II) relates to, acts upon, or is based upon knowledge of a signaling pathway, cellular receptor, ion channel, protein, DNA or RNA sequence or mutation, virus, or any other scientific information discovered, in whole or in part, through research funded by the Federal Government; or (III) relates to, or is based upon, through the manufacturing process or testing process of the covered blockbuster drug, technology derived, in whole or in part, through research funded by the Federal Government. (B) Covered manufacturer The term covered manufacturer means a person— (i) that holds an application approved under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or a license under section 351 of this Act for a covered blockbuster drug; or (ii) who is a co-licensed partner of the person described in clause (i) that obtains the covered blockbuster drug directly from a person described in this clause or clause (i). (C) Covered settlement agreement (i) In general The term covered settlement agreement means a settlement agreement (including a consent decree), and except as provided under clause (ii)— (I) that is between an agency and a covered manufacturer; (II) that relates to— (aa) an alleged violation of, or a penalty under, section 1128A of the Social Security Act or section 1128B of the Social Security Act; (bb) an alleged violation under subchapter III of chapter 37 of title 31, United States Code (commonly known as the False Claims Act ); (cc) an alleged violation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; or (dd) an alleged violation of any other Federal civil or criminal law; and (III) under the terms of which a covered manufacturer is obligated in an amount not less than a total of $1,000,000, including civil or criminal penalties with respect to any parties, including governmental and private entities. (ii) Exception for settlements not affecting taxpayers or public health The term covered settlement agreement does not include any settlement agreement that the Secretary determines— (I) does not involve an alleged criminal violation; and (II) does not to relate to— (aa) allegations of fraud resulting, or potentially resulting, in a loss of taxpayer dollars; or (bb) allegations of conduct having an adverse impact, or a potentially adverse impact, on the health of the public. (D) Person The term person has the meaning given such term in section 201(e) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. (E) Product The term product means a drug approved under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or licensed under section 351, and subject to section 503(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. (2) Supplemental payments to increase congressional investments in medical research (A) Supplemental payment assessment and collection Beginning with the first fiscal year that begins at least 60 days after the date of enactment of the Medical Innovation Act of 2019 , and each subsequent fiscal year, the Secretary shall, in accordance with this paragraph, assess and collect supplemental payments to increase congressional investments in medical research from each covered manufacturer described in subparagraph (B). (B) Criteria for assessing payments A covered manufacturer that meets both of the following criteria for a calendar year (referred to in this subparagraph and subparagraph (D) as the applicable calendar year ) shall be assessed a supplemental payment under subparagraph (A) for the fiscal year beginning in the proceeding calendar year: (i) A covered manufacturer that, during the 5-year period immediately preceding the date on which the payment is assessed, but not before the date of enactment of the Medical Innovation Act of 2019 , entered into a covered settlement agreement. (ii) A covered manufacturer that reported net income of at least $1,000,000,000 to the Securities and Exchange Commission on a form, including form 10–K or form 20–F, or that the Secretary otherwise determines to have had net income of at least $1,000,000,000— (I) during the applicable calendar year; or (II) during the calendar year in which the covered manufacturer entered into a covered settlement agreement, as described in clause (i). (C) Payment amount (i) In general A covered manufacturer described in subparagraph (B) shall be assessed a supplemental payment to increase congressional investments in medical research for a fiscal year equal to the applicable percentage of the net income of the covered manufacturer, as reported or determined as described in subparagraph (B)(ii), for the previous calendar year, multiplied by the number of covered blockbuster drugs of the covered manufacturer for that year. (ii) Applicable percentage For purposes of determining the amount of a supplemental payment under clause (i), the applicable percentage of the net income of a covered manufacturer is— (I) 0.75 percent, in the case of a covered settlement agreement under the terms of which the total obligation of a covered manufacturer is in an amount that is less than $500,000,000; (II) 1 percent, in the case of a covered settlement agreement under the terms of which the total obligation of a covered manufacturer is in an amount that is at least $500,000,000 but less than $1,000,000,000; or (III) 1.5 percent, in the case of a covered settlement agreement under the terms of which the total obligation of a covered manufacturer is in an amount that is at least $1,000,000,000. (D) Annual limitation In the case of a covered manufacturer that entered into more than 1 covered settlement agreement during an applicable calendar year, such covered manufacturer shall be assessed a supplemental payment under subparagraph (C) only with respect to the covered settlement agreement under which the total amount obligated of the covered manufacturer, as described in paragraph (1)(C)(i)(III), is the highest. (E) Publication of payments Beginning with the first fiscal year that begins at least 60 days after the date of enactment of the Medical Innovation Act of 2019 , and not later than 60 days before the start of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register, with respect to the next fiscal year— (i) a list of covered manufacturers subject to the payment under this paragraph; (ii) a list of the covered blockbuster drugs of each such covered manufacturer; (iii) the total payment amount assessed to each such covered manufacturer; and (iv) the manner in which payments assessed under this paragraph will be collected. (F) Crediting and availability of supplemental payments (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), payments authorized under this paragraph shall be collected and available for obligation only to the extent and in the amount provided in advance in appropriations Acts. Such payments are authorized to remain available until expended. (ii) Collections and appropriations Acts (I) In general The payments authorized by this paragraph— (aa) subject to subclause (II), shall be collected and available in each fiscal year in an amount not to exceed the amount specified in appropriation Acts, or otherwise made available for obligation, for such fiscal year; and (bb) shall be available to the Secretary to distribute, as described in paragraph (3). (II) Provision for early payments Payments authorized under clause (iii) for a fiscal year, prior to the due date for such payments, may be accepted by the Secretary. (iii) Authorization of appropriations For the first fiscal year that begins at least 60 days after the date of enactment of the Medical Innovation Act of 2019 and for each subsequent fiscal year, there is authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of making distributions under paragraph (3) to meet the priorities described in paragraph (4), an amount equal to the total amount of supplemental payments assessed for such fiscal year under this paragraph. (G) Remitting payments A covered manufacturer assessed a supplemental payment under subparagraph (A) shall remit the payment no later than the first business day on or after October 1 of each fiscal year, or the first business day after the date of enactment of an appropriations Act providing for the collection and obligation of supplemental payments for such fiscal year. (H) Collection of assessed payments that are not remitted In any case where the Secretary does not receive a supplemental payment assessed under subparagraph (A) within 30 days after it is due, such supplemental payment shall be treated as a claim of the United States Government subject to subchapter II of chapter 37 of title 31, United States Code. (I) Supplement not supplant Payments collected under this paragraph shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal funds made available to carry out the priorities described in paragraph (4). (3) Distribution of payments to agencies to increase congressional investments in medical research (A) Distribution to agencies Subject to subparagraph (C), for the purposes described in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall distribute the amounts appropriated under paragraph (2)(F)(iii) during a fiscal year to— (i) the Food and Drug Administration, to be used in accordance with paragraph (4)(A); and (ii) the National Institutes of Health organized under title IV, to be used in accordance with paragraph (4)(B). (B) Distribution ratio between agencies The amount that the Secretary distributes to an agency under subparagraph (A) during a fiscal year shall bear the same relation to the total amount appropriated under paragraph (2)(F)(iii) for such fiscal year as the amount of discretionary funds appropriated to such agency for such fiscal year bears to the total amount of discretionary funding appropriated to both agencies listed in subparagraph (A) for such fiscal year. (C) Ensuring stable congressional investments in medical research (i) In general Supplemental payments collected in accordance with paragraph (2) shall not be distributed under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year unless appropriations to both of the agencies listed in such subparagraph for the fiscal year are equal to or greater than appropriations to such agencies for the prior fiscal year. (ii) Delayed distribution If, in accordance with clause (i), the Secretary does not distribute payments collected in accordance with paragraph (2) during any portion of a fiscal year, and, at a later date in such fiscal year, the appropriations to the agencies listed in subparagraph (A) become equal to or greater than the amount of appropriations for the prior fiscal year, the Secretary may distribute such payment at any time in such fiscal year. (D) Considerations In determining amounts appropriated for purposes of subparagraphs (B) and (C)— (i) the Secretary shall not consider any amounts appropriated in accordance with paragraph (2)(F)(iii); and (ii) with respect to the Food and Drug Administration, the Secretary shall not consider amounts appropriated in accordance with subchapter C of chapter VII of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (relating to user fees collected by the Secretary). (4) Prioritizing urgent needs in medical research The Secretary shall ensure that the payments distributed under paragraph (3) are used to meet urgent needs in medical research, including priorities as follows: (A) FDA With respect the Food and Drug Administration, the priority use of the distributions shall include carrying out the goals of the strategy and implementation plan for advancing regulatory science for medical products under section 1124 of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act ( 21 U.S.C. 393 note), and other such research activities in order to promote the public health and advance innovation in regulatory decisionmaking, as determined by the Secretary. (B) NIH With respect to the National Institutes of Health, the priority use of the distributions shall include supporting— (i) research that fosters radical innovation, including— (I) research on diseases or conditions for which treatments exist but are inadequate; (II) research on diseases or conditions for which there are unmet medical needs; (III) research on diseases for which treatments exist but the side effect profiles of such treatments limit the therapeutic potential of such treatments; (IV) research on new approaches to treatment or diagnosis of a disease using a drug, device, or therapy that, at the time of distribution, is not used or is underused; or (V) research to identify new biomarkers; (ii) research that advances fundamental knowledge and technology even if it does not provide immediate or near-term clinical or therapeutic benefits, including research and technology that advances the understanding of biochemistry, biology, protein science, immunology, genetics, virology, microbiology, or neurology; (iii) research related to diseases that disproportionally account for Federal health care spending, including spending under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act, the State Children's Health Insurance Program under title XXI of the Social Security Act, the TRICARE program under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, and the hospital services and medical care provided through the Veterans' Administration under chapters 17 and 18 of title 38, United States Code, and tax credits made available through the amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 made by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( Public Law 111–148 ), such as research relating to— (I) diseases that dis­pro­por­tion­al­ly impact older individuals; (II) degenerative diseases, and (III) chronic conditions; and (iv) early career scientists by— (I) awarding research project grants that support discrete, specified, circumscribed projects to be performed by the investigator in an area representing the specific interests and competencies of such investigator, to investigators— (aa) who are within 10 years of completing a terminal research degree; or (bb) who are within 10 years of completing a medical residency; (II) awarding grants that support career development experiences that lead to earlier research independence; and (III) awarding grants that support innovative training programs that, in addition to scientific training, provide additional training to enhance employment opportunities, including training in management and business, to— (aa) graduate students; (bb) post-doctoral fellows; (cc) individuals within 10 years of completing a terminal research degree; or (dd) individuals within 10 years of completing a medical residency. (5) Annual reports (A) Secretary of Health and Human Services Not later than 180 calendar days before the end of a fiscal year in which the Secretary has assessed supplemental payments under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, which shall include a description of supplemental payments assessed, collected, and distributed under this subsection for such fiscal year, and a list of the covered manufacturers that were assessed supplemental payments and the amount of such assessments. (B) FDA and NIH For each fiscal year in which amounts are distributed under paragraph (3), the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health shall report on the use and impact of such amounts in the annual budget submission of such entity. . (b) Effect of failure To remit payment Section 502 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 352 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (ee) If it is a drug that is a covered blockbuster drug (as defined in section 301(i)(1) of the Public Health Service Act) for which any payment assessed under section 301(i)(2) of such Act has not been paid in accordance with such section, until such payment is made. . (c) Severability If any provision of this section, any amendment made by this section, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the provisions of this section, the amendments made by this section, and the application of such provisions or amendments to any person or circumstance shall not be affected.