Increasing Medication Access for Seniors Act of 2024

Bill: 118-hr-8725
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Caraveo, Yadira [D-CO-8]
Introduced: 2024-06-13
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8725 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 13, 2024 Ms. Caraveo (for herself, Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia , and Mr. Kean of New Jersey ) 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 require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to Congress a report on the option to elect to pay cost-sharing under a prescription drug plan or MA–PD plan in monthly capped amounts.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Increasing Medication Access for Seniors Act of 2024 . 2. Reports on Medicare part D monthly capped cost-sharing option (a) Reports Not later than March 31, 2026, and not less frequently than every year thereafter until March 31, 2031, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary ) shall submit to Congress a report on the option to elect to pay cost-sharing under a prescription drug plan or MA–PD plan in monthly capped amounts under section 1860D–2(b)(2)(E)(i) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–102(b)(2)(E)(i) ), including, with respect to the 1-year period ending on the date that is 1 year before the date on which the report is required to be submitted— (1) the number of Medicare part D enrollees who made such an election during such period; (2) an estimate of the number of Medicare part D enrollees who did not make such an election and incurred out-of-pocket costs with respect to covered part D drugs during such period that make it likely such enrollees may benefit from making such an election, as determined by the Secretary; (3) a description of any steps taken by the Secretary during such period to implement a mechanism to allow a Medicare part D enrollee to make such election at the point-of-sale of a covered part D drug, including information on how such a mechanism may be made available for every Medicare part D enrollee; (4) a description of each method used by the Secretary during such period to facilitate making such an election, including— (A) the Medicare.gov website; (B) the notice distributed pursuant to section 1804(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395b–2(a) ) (commonly known as the Medicare & You handbook); (C) the toll-free telephone number 1–800–MEDICARE; and (D) resources for health care providers; and (5) a description of any other outreach efforts the Secretary conducted with respect to such option during such period, including outreach to— (A) health care provider associations and societies; (B) patient and consumer advocacy groups that represent Medicare part D enrollees; (C) pharmacy benefit managers; (D) pharmacies; and (E) health insurance providers. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Medicare part D enrollee The term Medicare part D enrollee means an individual enrolled in a prescription drug plan or MA–PD plan under part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–101 et seq. ). (2) Medicare part D terms The terms covered part D drug , prescription drug plan , and MA–PD plan have the meanings given each such term in part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–101 et seq. ).