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Lower Drug Costs for Families Act

12/15/2023, 4:07 PM

Summary of Bill S 1139

Bill 118 s 1139, also known as the Lower Drug Costs for Families Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress with the aim of reducing the financial burden of prescription drugs on American families. The bill seeks to achieve this goal through a number of key provisions.

One of the main provisions of the bill is the establishment of a cap on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs covered by Medicare Part D. This cap would limit the amount that individuals and families have to pay for their medications each year, providing them with greater financial security and predictability.

Additionally, the bill includes measures to increase transparency in drug pricing, requiring pharmaceutical companies to disclose information about the costs of producing and marketing their medications. This information would help to shed light on the factors driving high drug prices and empower consumers to make more informed decisions about their healthcare. Furthermore, the Lower Drug Costs for Families Act includes provisions to promote the use of generic and biosimilar drugs, which are often more affordable alternatives to brand-name medications. By encouraging the use of these lower-cost options, the bill aims to drive down overall drug spending and make prescription medications more accessible to all Americans. Overall, Bill 118 s 1139 represents a comprehensive effort to address the issue of high drug costs in the United States. If passed into law, this legislation has the potential to provide significant relief to American families struggling to afford the medications they need to stay healthy.

Congressional Summary of S 1139

Lower Drug Costs for Families Act

This bill applies certain Medicare prescription drug rebate requirements to prescription drugs that are available under private health insurance.

Current law requires drug manufacturers to issue rebates to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for brand-name drugs without generic equivalents under Medicare that (1) cost $100 or more per year per individual, and (2) for which prices increase faster than inflation. Manufacturers that fail to comply are subject to civil penalties.

The bill applies these requirements to prescription drugs that are available in the commercial market under private health insurance. It also indexes rebate calculations to drug prices in 2016 (as opposed to 2021).

Current Status of Bill S 1139

Bill S 1139 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since March 30, 2023. Bill S 1139 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the Senate on March 30, 2023.  Bill S 1139's most recent activity was Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. as of March 30, 2023

Bipartisan Support of Bill S 1139

Total Number of Sponsors
1
Democrat Sponsors
1
Republican Sponsors
0
Unaffiliated Sponsors
0
Total Number of Cosponsors
18
Democrat Cosponsors
18
Republican Cosponsors
0
Unaffiliated Cosponsors
0

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 1139

Primary Policy Focus

Health

Potential Impact Areas

- Government information and archives
- Health care costs and insurance
- Medicare
- Prescription drugs

Alternate Title(s) of Bill S 1139

Lower Drug Costs for Families Act
Lower Drug Costs for Families Act
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to apply prescription drug inflation rebates to drugs furnished in the commercial market and to change the base year for rebate calculations.

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