Lower Drug Costs for Seniors During COVID-19 Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-6649
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Introduced: 2020-05-01
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health care costs and insurance

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Medicare

Prescription drugs
Latest action: action_date: 2020-05-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-05-01
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Lower Drug Costs for Seniors During COVID-19 Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services to establish a process for prescription drug plans under Medicare and Medicare Advantage to allow enrollees to make coinsurance payments in periodic installments, if the enrollee chooses to obtain the entire prescribed supply of a covered drug in a single fill. Current law allows an enrollee, during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), to&nbsp;obtain the entire prescribed supply of a covered drug in a single fill or refill, up to a 90-day supply.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6649 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 1, 2020 Ms. Schakowsky (for herself and Ms. Judy Chu of California ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means , 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 A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for cost-spreading for certain fills and refills of drugs under part D of the Medicare program during the COVID-19 emergency.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Lower Drug Costs for Seniors During COVID-19 Act of 2020 . 2. Providing for cost-spreading for certain fills and refills of drugs under part D of the Medicare program during the COVID-19 emergency (a) In general Section 1860D–4(b)(4) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–104(b)(4) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) Spreading cost sharing The Secretary shall establish by guidance or otherwise a process under which a prescription drug plan or an MA–PD plan shall, in the case of a part D eligible individual that obtains in a single fill a total day supply (not to exceed a 90-day supply) of a covered part D drug pursuant to subparagraph (A), provide such individual with the option to make the coinsurance payment required under section 1860D–2(b)(2)(A) in the form of periodic installments during the period for which the fill is made. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 1860D–2(b)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–102(b)(2)(A) ) is amended by inserting and section 1860D–4(b)(4)(C) after Subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D) .