Skip to main content
H.R. 5237 117th Congress House

Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act of 2021

Official title: To amend titles XI, XVIII, and XIX of the Social Security Act to lower prescription drug prices in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, to improve transparency … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend titles XI, XVIII, and XIX of the Social Security Act to lower prescription drug prices in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, to improve transparency related to pharmaceutical prices and transactions, to lower patients' out-of-pocket costs, and to ensure accountability to taxpayers, and for other purposes.

Introduced: September 10, 2021 Introduced by: Scott H. Peters Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Health Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAppropriations
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Civil actions and liabilityCompetition and antitrustCongressional oversightConsumer affairsContracts and agencyDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDigestive and metabolic diseasesDrug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulationDrug therapyFederal Trade Commission (FTC)GeneticsGovernment studies and investigationsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth care qualityHealth programs administration and fundingHealth technology, devices, suppliesHome and outpatient careInflation and pricesIntellectual propertyIntergovernmental relationsJudicial review and appealsLicensing and registrationsManufacturingMarketing and advertisingMedicaidMedicarePerformance measurementPrescription drugsPublic contracts and procurementState and local government operations
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 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
Sep 13, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Sep 10, 2021
Introduced in House
Sep 10, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Sep 10, 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.
 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 November 1, 2022

Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act of 2021

This bill establishes and alters several programs and requirements relating to the prices of prescription drugs.

For example, the bill establishes and alters several requirements under Medicare and Medicaid, including

  • requiring drug manufacturers to issue rebates to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for covered drugs under Medicare that cost $100 or more and for which the average manufacturer price increases faster than inflation,
  • capping annual out-of-pocket spending under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, and
  • increasing the maximum rebate amount under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program.

The bill also makes changes relating to market exclusivities and manufacturer price concessions for prescription drugs, including

  • authorizing the Federal Trade Commission to initiate proceedings against parties to settlements of patent infringement claims that have anticompetitive effects with respect to drugs or biologics,
  • limiting in certain instances the number of patents that the manufacturer of a biologic can assert in a lawsuit against a company seeking to sell a biosimilar version, and
  • nullifying regulations relating to the treatment of certain Medicare prescription drug benefit rebates from drug manufacturers for purposes of federal anti-kickback laws.
 Related & companion bills 10
  • HR 2706 Freedom from Price Gouging Act
  • HR 2855 Star Rating for Biosimilars Act
  • HR 2873 Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Through Promoting Competition Act of 2021
  • HR 2884 Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Through Improvements to Patent Litigation Act
  • HR 2891 Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act
  • HR 4417 Capping Drug Costs for Seniors Act of 2021
  • HR 5260 Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act
  • S 1428 Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act
  • S 1435 Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act of 2021
  • S 2327 Seniors Prescription Drug Relief Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 7
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 1
D
Correa, J. Luis
California · Sep 10, 2021
Murphy, Stephanie
· Sep 10, 2021
Rice, Kathleen
· Sep 10, 2021
Schrader, Kurt
· Sep 10, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5237: Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5237/
MLA
"H.R. 5237: Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5237/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5237, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5237/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5237: Reduced Costs and Continued Cures Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-5237/)
Report a problem