Per a December 5, 2019 press release from Speaker Pelosi’s office, the House of Representatives will vote next week on H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. The Act, which the Center for Medicare Advocacy has supported since its … [Read more...] about House to Vote on Historic Medicare Bill Next Week
Medicare Part D / Prescription Drugs
House Companion to Part D Extra Help Bill Introduced
This week Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) introduced a House companion to the Senate Medicare Extra Rx HELP Act (S. 691, H.R. 4583) introduced by Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) in March 2019. The bill would expand Part D Low Income Subsidy/ Extra Help by … [Read more...] about House Companion to Part D Extra Help Bill Introduced
Speaker Pelosi Unveils Bill Authorizing Negotiation of Drug Prices and Capping Out-of-Pocket Costs
On September 19, 2019, Representative Frank Pallone, Jr., Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce, introduced the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3). As noted in The New York Times, the bill addresses the problem of skyrocketing … [Read more...] about Speaker Pelosi Unveils Bill Authorizing Negotiation of Drug Prices and Capping Out-of-Pocket Costs
Part D Legislation Markup Today: Improve Beneficiary Appeals
On Tuesday, July 23, the Senate Finance Committee released draft drug pricing legislation, the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act (PDPRA) of 2019. This sweeping bill would make a number of changes aimed at addressing the high and rising costs of … [Read more...] about Part D Legislation Markup Today: Improve Beneficiary Appeals
Center for Medicare Advocacy Submits Comments to House Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce Committees on Draft Part D Legislation
On May 23, 2019, Ways & Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), along with Ranking Members Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Greg Walden (R-OR) announced a solicitation for … [Read more...] about Center for Medicare Advocacy Submits Comments to House Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce Committees on Draft Part D Legislation
Center Comments on Part D Improvements
June 6, 2019 Via Electronic Submission to PartDImprovements@mail.house.gov The Honorable Richard Neal The Honorable Frank Pallone Chairman Chairman House … [Read more...] about Center Comments on Part D Improvements
Center for Medicare Advocacy Submits Comments to CMS’ Draft 2020 Call Letter for Medicare Advantage and Part D
On January 30, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Part II of its draft 2020 Call Letter, an annual set of proposed rules, guidelines and clarifications for Part C Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D plans that want to … [Read more...] about Center for Medicare Advocacy Submits Comments to CMS’ Draft 2020 Call Letter for Medicare Advantage and Part D
State of the Union: Want More Affordable Prescription Drugs? Start with Medicare.
While the President’s State of the Union Address was short on substance concerning health care, he did mention a desire to work with Congress to “lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs.” While the President focused on “global … [Read more...] about State of the Union: Want More Affordable Prescription Drugs? Start with Medicare.
Center Submits Comments on Proposed Medicare Prescription Drug Rule
The Center for Medicare Advocacy recently submitted comments to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) entitled “Modernizing Part D and Medicare Advantage to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce … [Read more...] about Center Submits Comments on Proposed Medicare Prescription Drug Rule
Congressional Hearings Explore Rising Prescription Drug Costs
On January 29, 2019, the Senate and House held separate hearings on prescription drug prices. The Senate Finance Committee’s hearing, Drug Pricing in America: A Prescription for Change, Part 1, explored the rising cost of prescription drugs and … [Read more...] about Congressional Hearings Explore Rising Prescription Drug Costs