Affordable Insulin for the COVID–19 Emergency Act

Bill: 117-hr-2179
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
Introduced: 2021-03-23
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Digestive and metabolic diseases

Drug therapy

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health care coverage and access

Health technology, devices, supplies

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Medicare

Prescription drugs
Latest action: action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-03-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Affordable Insulin for the COVID-19 Emergency Act</b></p> <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2179 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 23, 2021 Ms. Waters (for herself, Mr. Grijalva , Mr. McGovern , Ms. Norton , Ms. Chu , Ms. Barragán , Mr. Bishop of Georgia , Mrs. Watson Coleman , Mr. Carson , Mr. Cohen , Ms. McCollum , Mr. Morelle , Ms. Jackson Lee , Ms. Garcia of Texas , Mr. Khanna , Ms. Pressley , Mr. Hastings , Mrs. Hayes , Mr. Meeks , Mr. San Nicolas , Mr. Payne , Ms. Tlaib , Ms. Adams , Mr. Thompson of Mississippi , Ms. Lee of California , Mr. Suozzi , Ms. Sewell , Mr. Brown , Ms. Bass , Mrs. Lawrence , Mr. Welch , Mr. Torres of New York , Mr. DeFazio , Ms. Underwood , and Mr. Kildee ) 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 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Affordable Insulin for the COVID–19 Emergency Act . 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). . 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. .