Skip to main content
HR 2608 117th Congress House

Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act of 2021

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure equal access of Medicare beneficiaries to community pharmacies in underserved areas as network pharma… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure equal access of Medicare beneficiaries to community pharmacies in underserved areas as network pharmacies under Medicare prescription drug coverage, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 4, 2021 Introduced by: Welch, Peter Democratic · Vermont See on congress.gov
Health Health care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessMedicarePrescription drugs
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Retail and wholesale tradesRural conditions and development
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 16, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Apr 15, 2021
Introduced in House
Apr 15, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
Apr 15, 2021
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.
Apr 15, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action April 16, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act of 2021

This bill establishes several requirements for prescription drug plans under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Specifically, the bill requires prescription drug plans to allow any pharmacy located in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area to be included as an in-network pharmacy if the plan already has other in-network pharmacies in the same area.

The bill also establishes certain standards for prescription drug plans regarding pharmacy reimbursements and related disclosures. Among other things, the bill prohibits prescription drug plans from reimbursing a pharmacy in an amount that is less than the amount the pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) reimburses an affiliated pharmacy (i.e., a pharmacy that has a shared ownership interest with the PBM) for the same services.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 21
All 21 Democratic 4 Republican 12
D
Barragán, Nanette Diaz
California · Aug 9, 2022
 D
Suozzi, Thomas R.
New York · Nov 15, 2021
Keller, Fred
· Sep 10, 2021
Carl, Jerry
· Aug 23, 2021
 R
Rogers, Mike D.
Alabama · Aug 23, 2021
Hartzler, Vicky
· Jul 1, 2021
 R
Grothman, Glenn
Wisconsin · Jun 15, 2021
 R
Kustoff, David
Tennessee · Jun 8, 2021
 R
Hill, J. French
Arkansas · Jun 4, 2021
 D
Lynch, Stephen F.
Massachusetts · Jun 4, 2021
 R
Timmons, William R.
South Carolina · May 4, 2021
 R
Van Drew, Jefferson
New Jersey · May 4, 2021
 R
Stefanik, Elise M.
New York · Apr 21, 2021
 R
Allen, Rick W.
Georgia · Apr 15, 2021
Axne, Cynthia
· Apr 15, 2021
 R
Carter, Earl L. "Buddy"
Georgia · Apr 15, 2021
 R
Crawford, Eric A. "Rick"
Arkansas · Apr 15, 2021
 D
Gonzalez, Vicente
Texas · Apr 15, 2021
 R
Griffith, H. Morgan
Virginia · Apr 15, 2021
Ruppersberger, C.
· Apr 15, 2021
 R
Westerman, Bruce
Arkansas · Apr 15, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2608: Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2608/
MLA
"H.R. 2608: Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2608/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2608, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2608/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2608: Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2608/)
Report a problem