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HR 2846 117th Congress House

Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act of 2021

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require PDP sponsors of a prescription drug plan under part D of the Medicare program that use a formulary t… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require PDP sponsors of a prescription drug plan under part D of the Medicare program that use a formulary to include certain generic drugs and biosimilar biological products on such formulary, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 26, 2021 See on congress.gov
Health Health care coverage and accessMedicarePrescription drugs
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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 27, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Apr 26, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
Apr 26, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Apr 26, 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 26, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 27, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act of 2021

This bill establishes additional requirements for prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors that use formularies under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Specifically, the bill requires PDP formularies to include covered generic drugs and biosimilars for which the wholesale acquisition cost is less than that of the reference (i.e., brand-name) product. PDP sponsors must also establish specific cost-sharing tiers that apply lower cost-sharing requirements for such covered generic drugs and biosimilars as compared to those for brand-name products.

The bill also prohibits PDP sponsors from instituting certain requirements relating to access to such covered generic drugs and biosimilars that are more restrictive than those for brand-name products (e.g., prior authorization requirements).

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 9
All 9 Democratic 6 Republican 2
R
Grothman, Glenn
Wisconsin · Jul 1, 2021
 D
Craig, Angie
Minnesota · Jun 22, 2021
 D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Jun 8, 2021
 D
Kelly, Robin L.
Illinois · May 25, 2021
 D
Soto, Darren
Florida · Apr 30, 2021
Bass, Karen
· Apr 26, 2021
 R
Carter, Earl L. "Buddy"
Georgia · Apr 26, 2021
 D
Matsui, Doris O.
California · Apr 26, 2021
 D
Tonko, Paul
New York · Apr 26, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2846: Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2846/
MLA
"H.R. 2846: Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2846/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2846, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2846/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2846: Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2846/)
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