To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to equalize the negotiation period between small-molecule and biologic candidates under the Drug Price Negotiation Program.

3/13/2025, 9:03 AM

Summary of Bill HR 1492

Bill 119 hr 1492, also known as the Equalizing Negotiation Periods for Small-Molecule and Biologic Candidates Act, aims to amend title XI of the Social Security Act. The main goal of this bill is to ensure that the negotiation period between small-molecule and biologic candidates under the Drug Price Negotiation Program is equalized.

Currently, there is a discrepancy in the negotiation periods for small-molecule and biologic candidates, with biologic candidates having a longer negotiation period. This bill seeks to address this imbalance by equalizing the negotiation periods for both types of candidates.

By equalizing the negotiation periods, the bill aims to create a more level playing field for small-molecule and biologic candidates in the Drug Price Negotiation Program. This could potentially lead to fairer pricing for both types of drugs and ultimately benefit consumers by ensuring that they have access to affordable medications. Overall, Bill 119 hr 1492 is focused on promoting fairness and equality in the negotiation process for small-molecule and biologic candidates under the Drug Price Negotiation Program. It will be interesting to see how this bill progresses through Congress and what impact it may have on drug pricing in the future.

Congressional Summary of HR 1492

This bill lengthens the amount of time for which drug products must have market approval in order for the products to qualify for negotiation under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program.

The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to negotiate the prices of certain prescription drugs under Medicare beginning in 2026. Among other requirements, drugs must have had market approval for at least 7 years (for drug products) or 11 years (for biologics) to qualify for negotiation.

The bill modifies these provisions so as to require drug products to also have had 11 years of market approval in order to qualify for negotiation.

Read the Full Bill

Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Current Status of Bill HR 1492

Bill HR 1492 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since February 21, 2025. Bill HR 1492 was introduced during Congress 119 and was introduced to the House on February 21, 2025. Bill HR 1492's most recent activity 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. as of February 21, 2025

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 1492

Total Number of Sponsors

Democrat Sponsors

Republican Sponsors

Unaffiliated Sponsors

Total Number of Cosponsors

Democrat Cosponsors

Republican Cosponsors

Unaffiliated Cosponsors

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 1492

Primary Policy Focus

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 1492

To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to equalize the negotiation period between small-molecule and biologic candidates under the Drug Price Negotiation Program.