117 HR 6160 IH: Access to Rare Indications Act of 2021 U.S. House of Representatives 2021-12-07 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 117th CONGRESS1st Session H. R. 6160 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 7, 2021 Ms. Matsui (for herself, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Mullin, and Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania) 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 titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act and title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to provide for coverage of certain drugs used in the treatment or management of a rare disease or condition, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Access to Rare Indications Act of 2021.

2.

Coverage of certain drugs used in treatment or management of rare disease or condition

(a)

Medicare

(1)

In general

Section 1861(t)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(t)(2)) is amended— (A)in subparagraph (A), by inserting after regimen the following: , or in the treatment or management of a disease or condition affecting 200,000 or fewer individuals in the United States,; and (B)in subparagraph (B)(ii)— (i)in subclause (I), by striking , or at the end and inserting a semicolon; (ii)in subclause (II), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and (iii)by adding at the end the following new subclause: (III)in the case of a drug that is used in the treatment or management of a disease or condition affecting 200,000 or fewer individuals in the United States, such use is supported by peer-reviewed medical literature, clinical guidelines, or an expert in such disease or condition as identified by a medical society involved in the treatment or management of such disease or condition, and is not reviewed unfavorably in the compendia described in section 1927(g)(1)(B)(i), or listed as a contraindication in the FDA-approved labeling.. (2)

Medically accepted uses of covered part d drugs in treating rare conditions

Section 1860D–2(e)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–104(e)(4)(A)) is amended— (A)in clause (i)(II), by striking and; (B)by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and (C)by inserting after clause (i)(II) the following new clause: (ii)in the case of a covered part D drug used in the treatment or management of a disease or condition affecting 200,000 or fewer individuals in the United States, in section 1861(t)(2)(B); and. (3)

Effective date

The amendments made by this subsection apply with respect to items and services furnished on or after the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b)

Medicaid

(1)

In general

Section 1927(k)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r–8(k)(6)) is amended to read as follows: (6)

Medically accepted indication

The term medically accepted indication means any use for a covered drug— (A)which is approved under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; (B)which is supported by one or more citations included or approved for inclusion in any of the compendia described in subsection (g)(1)(B)(i); or (C)in the case of a drug used to treat or manage a disease or condition affecting 200,000 or fewer individuals in the United States— (i)the use of such drug is supported by peer-reviewed medical literature, clinical guidelines, or an expert in such disease or condition as identified by a medical society involved in the treatment or management of such disease or condition; and (ii)is not reviewed unfavorably in the compendia described in subsection (g)(1)(B)(i), or listed as a contraindication in the FDA-approved labeling.. (2)

Conforming amendment

Section 1927(d)(4)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r–8(d)(4)(C)) is amended by striking compendia and inserting sources. (3)

Effective date

The amendments made by this subsection apply with respect to covered outpatient drugs furnished on or after the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c)

Private health insurance

(1)

In general

Subpart II of part A of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–11 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

2730.

In general Coverage of certain drugs used in treatment or management of a rare disease or condition

A group health plan or a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage shall provide a mechanism for expedited formulary exception, reconsideration, and appeal of any denial of coverage for a drug or biological— (1)approved by the Food and Drug Administration; (2)for which the use is related to treatment or management of a disease or condition affecting 200,000 or fewer individuals in the United States; and (3)the use of which is supported by the FDA-approved label, peer-reviewed literature, clinical guidelines, or an expert in such disease or condition as identified by a medical society involved in the treatment or management of such disease or condition, and that is not reviewed unfavorably in the compendia described in section 1927(g)(1)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act or listed as a contraindication in the FDA-approved labeling.

. (2)

Effective date

The amendment made by this subsection applies with respect to plan years beginning on or after the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.