Ensuring Access to Essential Drugs Act
Ensuring Access to Essential Drugs Act
Plain Language Summary
# Ensuring Access to Essential Drugs Act - Summary **What the bill would do:** This bill would create an exemption from Medicare's drug discount program for certain brand-name medications. Specifically, it would exclude orally administered (taken by mouth) brand-name drugs that are classified as "generics" under Medicaid rules from being required to offer discounts to Medicare patients who reach high out-of-pocket drug costs. **Who it affects and key provisions:** The bill primarily affects Medicare prescription drug beneficiaries, drug manufacturers, and potentially Medicaid programs. Currently, drug manufacturers must provide discounts under Medicare Part D once patients exceed their annual deductible costs.
This bill would carve out a specific category of drugs—brand-name medications that qualify as generics under Medicaid—from that discount requirement. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee, meaning it has been introduced but has not yet advanced to a full floor vote in the House of Representatives. As of now, it remains in the early stages of the legislative process.
CRS Official Summary
Ensuring Access to Essential Drugs ActThis bill exempts certain brand-name drugs from the Medicare Part D Manufacturer Discount Program. Under the program, drug manufacturers provide discounts to beneficiaries who have incurred costs above the annual deductible under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.Specifically, the bill exempts from the program orally administered, brand-name drugs that are considered generics for purposes of the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (per an exception granted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services).
Latest Action
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.