H.R. 19
117th Congress
House
Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2021
Official title: To provide for certain reforms with respect to the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, the Medicaid program under title XIX of such … Show full official titleShow less
Official title: To provide for certain reforms with respect to the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, the Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act, the Food and Drug Administration, and for other purposes.
Health
Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAppropriations
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Biological and life sciencesBusiness recordsChemistryCivil actions and liabilityCompetition and antitrustCongressional oversightConsumer affairsDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDigestive and metabolic diseasesDrug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulationDrug therapyExecutive agency funding and structureFederal Trade Commission (FTC)Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Government information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth care qualityHealth facilities and institutionsHealth information and medical recordsHealth personnelHealth programs administration and fundingHealth promotion and preventive careHealth technology, devices, suppliesHome and outpatient careHospital careIncome tax exclusionInflation and pricesIntellectual propertyJudicial review and appealsManufacturingMarketing and advertisingMedicaidMedical educationMedical researchMedicareOffice of the U.S. Trade RepresentativePrescription drugsPublic contracts and procurementResearch and developmentRetail and wholesale tradesState and local government operationsTrade agreements and negotiationsUser charges and fees
Everywhere this bill has been
5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 19, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.
Apr 22, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Apr 21, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Apr 21, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, 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.
Apr 21, 2021
Introduced in House
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Latest action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.
Plain-English summary
Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2021
This bill establishes and modifies several programs and requirements to address prescription drug prices.
The bill modifies provisions under Medicare and Medicaid relating to prescription drug coverage and price transparency. Among other changes, the bill
- requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to publish certain information, as reported by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), relating to generic dispensing rates, drug discounts and rebates, and payments between PBMs, health plans, and pharmacies;
- caps annual out-of-pocket spending under the Medicare prescription drug benefit;
- allows prescription drug plan sponsors under the Medicare prescription drug benefit to offer additional plans in a region;
- requires pass-through pricing models, and prohibits spread-pricing, for payment arrangements with PBMs under Medicaid; and
- allows states to include in the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program covered outpatient drugs that are provided as part of physician or outpatient hospital services.
The bill also generally modifies other provisions relating to the regulation and costs of generic and brand-name drugs. Among other changes, the bill
- prohibits the manufacturer of a brand-name, generic, or biosimilar drug from entering into certain agreements to resolve or settle a patent infringement claim in connection with the sale of a drug or biological product;
- permanently allows high deductible health plans to waive deductibles for insulin and associated products; and
- establishes the position of Chief Pharmaceutical Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Related & companion bills
6
Bill text
1 version
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Cosponsors
133
Flores, Mayra
Palazzo, Steven
R
Guest, Michael
R
Valadao, David G.
R
Tiffany, Thomas P.
R
Budd, Ted
R
Gooden, Lance
R
Bergman, Jack
Duncan, Jeff
CHABOT, STEVE
R
Miller-Meeks, Mariannette
Carl, Jerry
R
Graves, Sam
R
Kelly, Mike
R
Moolenaar, John R.
R
Carey, Mike
Garcia, Mike
Gibbs, Bob
R
Rogers, Harold
R
Waltz, Michael
Zeldin, Lee
R
Lucas, Frank D.
R
Moore, Blake D.
Granger, Kay
R
Mace, Nancy
R
Feenstra, Randy
R
Fallon, Pat
R
Murphy, Gregory F.
R
Wittman, Robert J.
R
Pfluger, August
R
Webster, Daniel
R
Obernolte, Jay
R
Calvert, Ken
LaTurner, Jake
R
Diaz-Balart, Mario
R
Kim, Young
R
Ellzey, Jake
R
Womack, Steve
R
Thompson, Glenn
R
Scott, Austin
R
Loudermilk, Barry
R
Fulcher, Russ
R
Steil, Bryan
R
Kustoff, David
R
Baird, James R.
R
Simpson, Michael K.
R
Westerman, Bruce
Luetkemeyer, Blaine
R
Green, Mark E.
R
Garbarino, Andrew R.
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Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 19: Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-19/
"H.R. 19: Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-19/.
H.R. 19, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-19/.
[H.R. 19: Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-19/)