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H.R. 8624 116th Congress House

Protecting Access to Innovation During COVID–19 Act

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize the extension of pass-through status under the Medicare program for certain drugs and devices impacted by COVID-19.

Introduced: October 16, 2020 See on congress.gov
Health Cardiovascular and respiratory healthEmergency medical services and trauma careHealth technology, devices, suppliesHome and outpatient care
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Hospital careInfectious and parasitic diseasesMedicarePrescription drugs
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 16, 2020
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.
Oct 16, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 16, 2020

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.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Protecting Access to Innovation During COVID-19 Act

This bill allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to extend the duration of pass-through status (i.e., additional payment) for certain drugs and devices under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services.

Specifically, the CMS may extend the pass-through status of drugs and devices that received such status during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) if their cost cannot be accurately calculated due to the effects of COVID-19. The bill's provisions apply to drugs and devices that had pass-through status during any portion of the public health emergency period, including those for which such status has already expired.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 14 Commitment to Defeat the Virus and Keep America Healthy Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 6
All 6 Democratic 1 Republican 4
R
Hudson, Richard
North Carolina · Dec 7, 2020
 R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Pennsylvania · Nov 12, 2020
 R
Kelly, Mike
Pennsylvania · Nov 12, 2020
Marchant, Kenny
· Nov 12, 2020
 R
Harris, Andy
Maryland · Oct 30, 2020
 D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Oct 16, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 8624: Protecting Access to Innovation During COVID–19 Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8624/
MLA
"H.R. 8624: Protecting Access to Innovation During COVID–19 Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8624/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 8624, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8624/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 8624: Protecting Access to Innovation During COVID–19 Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-8624/)
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