[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6649 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6649

  To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for cost-
 spreading for certain fills and refills of drugs under part D of the 
            Medicare program during the COVID-19 emergency.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 1, 2020

Ms. Schakowsky (for herself and Ms. Judy Chu of California) introduced 
 the following bill; which was 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for cost-
 spreading for certain fills and refills of drugs under part D of the 
            Medicare program during the COVID-19 emergency.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Lower Drug Costs for Seniors During 
COVID-19 Act of 2020''.

SEC. 2. PROVIDING FOR COST-SPREADING FOR CERTAIN FILLS AND REFILLS OF 
              DRUGS UNDER PART D OF THE MEDICARE PROGRAM DURING THE 
              COVID-19 EMERGENCY.

    (a) In General.--Section 1860D-4(b)(4) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395w-104(b)(4)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) Spreading cost sharing.--The Secretary shall 
                establish by guidance or otherwise a process under 
                which a prescription drug plan or an MA-PD plan shall, 
                in the case of a part D eligible individual that 
                obtains in a single fill a total day supply (not to 
                exceed a 90-day supply) of a covered part D drug 
                pursuant to subparagraph (A), provide such individual 
                with the option to make the coinsurance payment 
                required under section 1860D-2(b)(2)(A) in the form of 
                periodic installments during the period for which the 
                fill is made.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1860D-2(b)(2)(A) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-102(b)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting 
``and section 1860D-4(b)(4)(C)'' after ``Subject to subparagraphs (C) 
and (D)''.
                                 <all>