Bill > S3560

This bill, titled the "Closing the Contraception Coverage Gap Act," aims to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to contraceptive items and services without any out-of-pocket costs, starting January 1, 2027. It amends Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, which governs Medicare, to include contraceptive items and services under Medicare Part B, meaning they will be covered by the standard Medicare program. The bill defines "contraceptive items and services" broadly to include not only the contraceptives themselves but also related clinical services such as consultations, examinations, device insertion, follow-up care, and patient-centered counseling, aligning with guidance from January 12, 2022, from the Public Health Service Act. Furthermore, it clarifies that these items and services will be covered even if not explicitly used for contraception. For Medicare Part D, which covers prescription drugs, the bill mandates that contraceptive drugs will also be covered without deductibles, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing, again aligning with the specified Public Health Service Act guidance. The bill also includes provisions for ensuring comparable coverage for individuals dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, and mandates studies by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on prescription drug access for Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities, and on existing contraception coverage requirements in commercial and public health plans, respectively.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3560/all-info