Lower Costs for Everyday Americans Act
Lower Costs for Everyday Americans Act
Plain Language Summary
# Lower Costs for Everyday Americans Act Summary **What the Bill Does:** HR 1768 proposes broad changes to healthcare, commerce, and environmental programs aimed at reducing costs for Americans. Key provisions include allowing seniors (65+) with improved disabilities to qualify for Medicaid, increasing Medicare payment rates for physicians and rural hospitals, expanding telehealth coverage, and requiring pharmacy benefit managers to pass 100% of prescription drug rebates directly to health insurance plans rather than keeping portions themselves. The bill also reauthorizes and expands public health programs, including pandemic preparedness and treatment programs for conditions like substance use disorders and traumatic brain injuries. **Who It Affects:** The bill would impact seniors with disabilities, rural communities and hospitals, people with chronic illnesses, prescription drug users, and healthcare providers.
Patients could potentially see lower prescription drug costs, while providers and health plans would face new requirements and funding changes. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House. As a newly introduced bill in the 119th Congress, it remains in the early legislative stage.
CRS Official Summary
Lower Costs for Everyday Americans ActThis bill reauthorizes and establishes programs and requirements regarding health, commerce, and the environment.The bill reauthorizes and expands programs for health care, including byallowing individuals age 65 and over with a medically improved disability to qualify for Medicaid;extending payment increases for certain providers under Medicare, including physicians and rural hospitals; extending Medicare coverage of certain telehealth services;requiring pharmacy benefit managers to remit 100% of rebates for prescription drugs to group health plans; reauthorizing programs supporting health care in underserved communities, including the National Health Service Corps;expanding and reauthorizing programs for public health emergency preparedness and response, including pandemic preparedness; expanding and reauthorizing programs for prevention and treatment of certain conditions, including substance use disorders, traumatic brain injuries, and sickle cell disease; andexpanding the Food and Drug Administration’s authority regarding research on rare pediatric diseases.The bill also establishes requirements relating to commerce, including by prohibiting nonconsensual online publication of intimate visual depictions of individuals, requiring manufacturers of internet-connected devices to disclose whether the device has a camera or microphone prior to purchase,banning products containing 10% or more of sodium nitrite by weight, andrequiring additional disclosures relating to the prices of concert tickets and hotel rooms.Additionally, the bill establishes and reauthorizes programs relating to the environment, including grants for community recycling systems, drinking water infrastructure, and reducing diesel emissions. It also allows gasoline that is blended with 10% to 15% ethanol to be sold year-round.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Budget, the Judiciary, and Education and Workforce, 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.