• Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee• Ways and Means Committee• Health Subcommittee• Health Subcommittee• Judiciary Committee• Energy and Commerce Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2021 This bill establishes and modifies several programs and requirements to address prescription drug prices. The bill modifies provisions under Medicare and Medicaid relating to prescription drug coverage and price transparency. Among other changes, the bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to publish certain information, as reported by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), relating to generic dispensing rates, drug discounts and rebates, and payments between PBMs, health plans, and pharmacies; caps annual out-of-pocket spending under the Medicare prescription drug benefit; allows prescription drug plan sponsors under the Medicare prescription drug benefit to offer additional plans in a region; requires pass-through pricing models, and prohibits spread-pricing, for payment arrangements with PBMs under Medicaid; and allows states to include in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program covered outpatient drugs that are provided as part of physician or outpatient hospital services. The bill also generally modifies other provisions relating to the regulation and costs of generic and brand-name drugs. Among other changes, the bill prohibits the manufacturer of a brand-name, generic, or biosimilar drug from entering into certain agreements to resolve or settle a patent infringement claim in connection with the sale of a drug or biological product; permanently allows high deductible health plans to waive deductibles for insulin and associated products; and establishes the position of Chief Pharmaceutical Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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.
Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAppropriationsBiological and life sciencesBusiness recordsChemistryCivil actions and liabilityCompetition and antitrustCongressional oversightConsumer affairsDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDigestive and metabolic diseasesDrug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulationDrug therapyExecutive agency funding and structureFederal Trade Commission (FTC)Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Government information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth care qualityHealth facilities and institutionsHealth information and medical recordsHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHealth promotion and preventive careHealth technology, devices, suppliesHome and outpatient careHospital careIncome tax exclusionInflation and pricesIntellectual propertyJudicial review and appealsManufacturingMarketing and advertisingMedicaidMedical educationMedical researchMedicareOffice of the U.S. Trade RepresentativePrescription drugsPublic contracts and procurementResearch and developmentRetail and wholesale tradesState and local government operationsTrade agreements and negotiationsUser charges and fees
Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2021
USA117th CongressHR-19| House
| Updated: 10/19/2021
Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2021 This bill establishes and modifies several programs and requirements to address prescription drug prices. The bill modifies provisions under Medicare and Medicaid relating to prescription drug coverage and price transparency. Among other changes, the bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to publish certain information, as reported by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), relating to generic dispensing rates, drug discounts and rebates, and payments between PBMs, health plans, and pharmacies; caps annual out-of-pocket spending under the Medicare prescription drug benefit; allows prescription drug plan sponsors under the Medicare prescription drug benefit to offer additional plans in a region; requires pass-through pricing models, and prohibits spread-pricing, for payment arrangements with PBMs under Medicaid; and allows states to include in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program covered outpatient drugs that are provided as part of physician or outpatient hospital services. The bill also generally modifies other provisions relating to the regulation and costs of generic and brand-name drugs. Among other changes, the bill prohibits the manufacturer of a brand-name, generic, or biosimilar drug from entering into certain agreements to resolve or settle a patent infringement claim in connection with the sale of a drug or biological product; permanently allows high deductible health plans to waive deductibles for insulin and associated products; and establishes the position of Chief Pharmaceutical Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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.
• Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee• Ways and Means Committee• Health Subcommittee• Health Subcommittee• Judiciary Committee• Energy and Commerce Committee
Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAppropriationsBiological and life sciencesBusiness recordsChemistryCivil actions and liabilityCompetition and antitrustCongressional oversightConsumer affairsDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDigestive and metabolic diseasesDrug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulationDrug therapyExecutive agency funding and structureFederal Trade Commission (FTC)Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Government information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth care qualityHealth facilities and institutionsHealth information and medical recordsHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHealth promotion and preventive careHealth technology, devices, suppliesHome and outpatient careHospital careIncome tax exclusionInflation and pricesIntellectual propertyJudicial review and appealsManufacturingMarketing and advertisingMedicaidMedical educationMedical researchMedicareOffice of the U.S. Trade RepresentativePrescription drugsPublic contracts and procurementResearch and developmentRetail and wholesale tradesState and local government operationsTrade agreements and negotiationsUser charges and fees