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118th Congress Health

H.R. 5526: Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act of 2024

Passed HouseSep 23, 2024

  1. Introduced (completed)Sep 18, 2023
  2. Passed House (completed)Sep 23, 2024
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Passed House, Sep 23, 2024

This bill temporarily allows physicians to dispense outpatient prescription drugs and related supplies under the Medicare prescription drug benefit to patients via mail or to their caregivers without violating certain prohibitions under the Stark law (i.e., the Physician Self-Referral Law), if certain conditions are met. It also allows for coverage of certain external infusion pumps and associated home infusion drugs under Medicare.

Current law requires physicians to dispense outpatient prescription drugs and related supplies to patients in their office buildings in order to qualify for an exception (the in-office ancillary services exception) under the Stark law. The bill specifies that, from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2029, physicians may dispense outpatient prescription drugs and related supplies to their patients via mail, and individuals or their family members or caregivers may pick up such items at the physician's office building, if the individual (1) had a face-to-face visit with the prescriber in the prior year, not including telehealth visits; (2) the prescriber furnished other items or services to the individual in the prior year; and (3) the prescriber has an ongoing professional relationship with the individual.

In addition, the bill specifies that external infusion pumps and associated home infusion drugs may be covered under Medicare even if they don't meet certain regulatory requirements, if these items are provided in accordance with the bill's specified criteria, including that the drug is administered under the supervision of a qualified home infusion therapy supplier.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Roll calls

0 votes on this bill

No roll call votes have been held on this bill.

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

69

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

380 points earned
  1. 1Diana Harshbarger R-TN SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, reached a cosponsor milestone, marked up, reported, discharged, passed House8 events+104
  2. 2Colin Allred D-TXCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
  3. 2Don Bacon R-NECosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
  4. 2Troy Balderson R-OHCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
  5. 2Gus Bilirakis R-FLCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
See all scorers and every scoring event

Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Diana Harshbarger

History

  1. Sep 23, 2024Passed the House by voice vote.
  2. Sep 18, 2023Introduced in the House by Diana Harshbarger.
Show the full action history (18 actions)
  1. Sep 24, 2024Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
  2. Sep 23, 2024Mr. Bucshon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  3. Sep 23, 2024Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5587-5588)
  4. Sep 23, 2024DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5526.
  5. Sep 23, 2024Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5587)
  6. Sep 23, 2024On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5587)
  7. Sep 23, 2024Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  8. Sep 23, 2024The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  9. Sep 19, 2024Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-691, Part I.
  10. Sep 19, 2024Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
  11. Sep 19, 2024Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 585.
  12. Jun 12, 2024Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  13. Jun 12, 2024Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.
  14. Mar 12, 2024Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  15. Mar 12, 2024Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 6.
  16. Sep 22, 2023Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  17. Sep 18, 2023Introduced in House
  18. Sep 18, 2023Referred 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.