Protecting Patient Access to Lifesaving COVID–19 Drugs Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-467
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Gonzalez, Anthony [R-OH-16]
Introduced: 2021-01-25
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Drug therapy

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Immunology and vaccination

Infectious and parasitic diseases
Latest action: action_date: 2021-02-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-01-25
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Protecting Patient Access to Lifesaving COVID-19 Drugs Act of 2021</b></p> <p>This bill requires health insurance plans to cover COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) antibody treatment at no cost for individuals who have tested positive for the virus.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 467 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 25, 2021 Mr. Gonzalez of Ohio (for himself and Ms. Spanberger ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means , and Education and Labor , 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 the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the CARES Act to require group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to provide coverage, without cost sharing, of certain COVID–19 antibody treatments.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Patient Access to Lifesaving COVID–19 Drugs Act of 2021 . 2. Requiring group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to provide coverage, without cost sharing, of certain COVID–19 antibody treatments (a) In general Section 6001(a) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5 note) is amended— (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting (or, in the case of items and services described in paragraph (3), beginning on or after the date of the enactment of the Protecting Patient Access to Lifesaving COVID–19 Drugs Act of 2021) after this Act ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) Items consisting of monoclonal antibody infusions (as specified by the Secretary) approved, cleared, or otherwise authorized by the Food and Drug Administration needed for the treatment of COVID–19 in individuals with positive COVID–19 test results, including services for the administration of such items. . (b) Reimbursement for treatments Section 3202 of the CARES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 256b note) is amended— (1) in the header, by inserting and antibody treatments after testing ; (2) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting or antibody treatment, as applicable, after diagnostic testing ; and (3) in subsection (b)— (A) in the header, by inserting and antibody treatments after testing ; and (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) by inserting or antibody treatment after diagnostic test ; and (ii) by inserting or treatment (including the administration of such treatment) after such test .