Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act

3/13/2024, 1:28 AM
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Bill 118 s 2129, also known as the Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act, aims to address the issue of high prescription drug costs for senior citizens in the United States. The bill was introduced in the Senate and is currently under consideration.

The main goal of the bill is to increase access to lower-cost prescription medications for seniors by allowing the importation of safe and affordable drugs from Canada. This would help to lower the financial burden on older Americans who often struggle to afford the medications they need to manage their health conditions.

The bill includes provisions to ensure that the imported drugs meet the same safety and quality standards as medications sold in the US. It also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to certify that the importation of drugs from Canada will result in cost savings for consumers. Additionally, the bill includes measures to increase transparency in drug pricing and to promote competition in the pharmaceutical industry. This includes requiring drug manufacturers to provide more information about the costs of producing their medications and to justify price increases. Overall, the Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act aims to make prescription drugs more affordable for senior citizens in the US by allowing the importation of safe and affordable medications from Canada, increasing transparency in drug pricing, and promoting competition in the pharmaceutical industry.
Congress
118

Number
S - 2129

Introduced on
2023-06-22

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

6/22/2023

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Bill 118 s 2129, also known as the Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act, aims to address the issue of high prescription drug costs for senior citizens in the United States. The bill was introduced in the Senate and is currently under consideration.

The main goal of the bill is to increase access to lower-cost prescription medications for seniors by allowing the importation of safe and affordable drugs from Canada. This would help to lower the financial burden on older Americans who often struggle to afford the medications they need to manage their health conditions.

The bill includes provisions to ensure that the imported drugs meet the same safety and quality standards as medications sold in the US. It also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to certify that the importation of drugs from Canada will result in cost savings for consumers. Additionally, the bill includes measures to increase transparency in drug pricing and to promote competition in the pharmaceutical industry. This includes requiring drug manufacturers to provide more information about the costs of producing their medications and to justify price increases. Overall, the Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act aims to make prescription drugs more affordable for senior citizens in the US by allowing the importation of safe and affordable medications from Canada, increasing transparency in drug pricing, and promoting competition in the pharmaceutical industry.
Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require PDP sponsors of a prescription drug plan and Medicare Advantage organizations offering an MA-PD plan under part D of the Medicare program that use a formulary to include certain drugs and biosimilar biological products on such formulary, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Health

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Action6/22/2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.