Latest Action
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 133.
7/8/2019 • Senate
Summary
Lower Health Care Costs Act
This bill makes a series of changes relating to health care coverage, costs, and services.
Among other things, the bill
- applies in-network cost-sharing requirements to certain emergency and related nonemergency services that are provided out-of-network, and prohibits health care facilities and practitioners from billing above the applicable in-network cost-sharing rate for such services;
- revises certain requirements in order to expedite the approval of generics and biosimilars, including requirements relating to citizen petitions, application effective dates, and labeling;
- requires health care facilities and practitioners to give patients a list of provided services upon discharge and to bill for such services within 45 days;
- limits prices that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) may charge health insurers or enrollees for prescription drugs, based on prices paid by PBMs to pharmacies;
- establishes grant programs to support vaccinations and data modernization; and
- requires health insurers to make certain information, including estimated out-of-pocket costs, accessible to enrollees through specified technology (e.g., mobile applications).
The bill also makes several additional changes relating to public health, including raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21.
Reported to Senate • 7/8/2019
Topics & Subjects
CBO Cost Estimates (2)
S.1895, Lower Health Care Costs Act
As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on June 26, 2019
Published: July 16, 2019
S. 1895, Lower Health Care Costs Act
As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on June 26, 2019
Published: July 16, 2019
Congressional Votes (0)
No recorded votes yet
Roll call votes will appear here as the bill moves through Congress
Related Federal Spending
Sponsor & Cosponsors (3)
Party Breakdown
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Bill Journey
Originated in the Senate
Introduced
June 19, 2019
Committee Review
June 26, 2019
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Floor Debate
Passed Chamber
Other Chamber
President
Enacted into Law
Text Versions (2)
Related Bills (24)
H.R. 965
CREATES Act of 2019
H.R. 2011
Protecting Access to Biosimilars Act of 2019
H.R. 2296
More Efficient Tools to Realize Information for Consumers Act
H.R. 4215
Excellence in Maternal Health Act of 2019
H.R. 4400
Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act of 2019
H.R. 5199
ECHO Act of 2019
H.R. 5304
PBM Transparency in Prescription Drug Costs Act
H.R. 5386
Promoting Better Patient Data Security Act of 2019
S. 192
Community and Public Health Programs Extension Act
S. 659
Biologic Patent Transparency Act
S. 1140
Protecting Access to Biosimilars Act of 2019
S. 1391
Fair Accountability and Innovative Research Drug Pricing Act of 2019
S. 1618
ECHO 2019 Act
S. 1619
VACCINES Act
S. 1636
Ensuring Innovation Act
S. 1793
Saving Lives Through Better Data Act
S. 1805
Better Tools for Healthy Living Act
H.R. 5668
MODERN Labeling Act of 2020
S. 1897
A bill to establish a process for updating the labeling of certain drugs with outdated labeling.
H.R. 6155
To amend the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 to make improvements with respect to the transition of biological products, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6005
Know the Price Act
H.R. 7898
To amend the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider certain recognized security practices of covered entities and business associates when making certain determinations, and for other purposes.
H.R. 5321
Public Health Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2019
H.R. 4955
Protecting Access to Safe and Effective Medicines Act of 2019