Bill > HR5237

This bill, the Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act of 2021, aims to lower prescription drug prices in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, improve transparency related to pharmaceutical prices and transactions, lower patients' out-of-pocket costs, and ensure accountability to taxpayers. Key provisions of the bill include: - Establishing payment rules for "negotiation-eligible" drugs and biologicals under Medicare Part B, including a requirement for the Secretary to negotiate a maximum allowable cost for such drugs and biologicals. - Making various changes to Medicare Part B and Part D, such as including the value of coupons in the determination of average sales price, temporarily increasing payment for biosimilar biological products, establishing a maximum add-on payment for drugs and biologicals, and requiring manufacturer rebates for certain single-source drugs with prices increasing faster than inflation. - Establishing a monthly cap on beneficiary incurred costs for insulin products and supplies under Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. - Improving oversight and transparency requirements for Medicaid pharmacy and therapeutics committees and drug use review boards, and allowing for risk-sharing value-based payment agreements for certain Medicaid covered outpatient drugs. - Prohibiting "pay-for-delay" agreements that delay market entry of generic drugs and biosimilar biological products, empowering the FTC to prevent "product hopping", and promoting competition by limiting patent thickets. - Requiring that direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs and biological products include truthful and non-misleading pricing information. The bill aims to address rising drug costs and improve access to affordable medications for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

Business and Industry, Government Affairs, Health and Social Services, Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5237/all-info