Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 1895
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Lower Health Care Costs Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Jun 19, 2019
Overview
Text
Introduced
Jun 19, 2019
Latest Action
Jul 8, 2019
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
1895
Congress
116
Policy Area
Health
Health
Primary focus of measure is science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease; health services administration and funding, including such programs as Medicare and Medicaid; health personnel and medical education; drug use and safety; health care coverage and insurance; health facilities. Measures concerning controlled substances and drug trafficking may fall under Crime and Law Enforcement policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Tennessee
Democrat
Washington
Senate Votes (0)
House Votes (0)
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

Lower Health Care Costs Act

This bill makes a series of changes relating to health care coverage, costs, and services.

Among other things, the bill

  • applies in-network cost-sharing requirements to certain emergency and related nonemergency services that are provided out-of-network, and prohibits health care facilities and practitioners from billing above the applicable in-network cost-sharing rate for such services;
  • revises certain requirements in order to expedite the approval of generics and biosimilars, including requirements relating to citizen petitions, application effective dates, and labeling;
  • requires health care facilities and practitioners to give patients a list of provided services upon discharge and to bill for such services within 45 days;
  • limits prices that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) may charge health insurers or enrollees for prescription drugs, based on prices paid by PBMs to pharmacies;
  • establishes grant programs to support vaccinations and data modernization; and
  • requires health insurers to make certain information, including estimated out-of-pocket costs, accessible to enrollees through specified technology (e.g., mobile applications).
Text (2)
Actions (5)
07/08/2019
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 133.
07/08/2019
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Alexander with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
06/26/2019
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
06/19/2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
06/19/2019
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Nov 1, 2022 1:50:46 PM