Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 1999
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Improving Low Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act of 2019
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Jun 27, 2019
Overview
Text
Introduced in Senate 
Jun 27, 2019
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Introduced in Senate(Jun 27, 2019)
Jun 27, 2019
Not Scanned for Linkage
About Linkage
Multiple bills can contain the same text. This could be an identical bill in the opposite chamber or a smaller bill with a section embedded in a larger bill.
Bill Sponsor regularly scans bill texts to find sections that are contained in other bill texts. When a matching section is found, the bills containing that section can be viewed by clicking "View Bills" within the bill text section.
Bill Sponsor is currently only finding exact word-for-word section matches. In a future release, partial matches will be included.
S. 1999 (Introduced-in-Senate)


116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1999


To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide transitional coverage and retroactive Medicare part D coverage for certain low-income beneficiaries.


IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 27, 2019

Mr. Casey (for himself and Mr. Daines) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance


A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide transitional coverage and retroactive Medicare part D coverage for certain low-income beneficiaries.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Improving Low Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act of 2019”.

SEC. 2. Transitional coverage and retroactive Medicare part D coverage for certain low-income beneficiaries.

Section 1860D–14 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–114) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and

(2) by adding after subsection (d) the following new subsection:

“(e) Limited income newly eligible transition program.—

“(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning not later than January 1, 2021, the Secretary shall carry out a program to provide transitional coverage for covered part D drugs for LI NET eligible individuals in accordance with this subsection.

“(2) LI NET ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL DEFINED.—For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘LI NET eligible individual’ means a part D eligible individual who—

“(A) meets the requirements of clauses (ii) and (iii) of subsection (a)(3)(A); and

“(B) has not yet enrolled in a prescription drug plan or an MA–PD plan, or, who has so enrolled, but with respect to whom coverage under such plan has not yet taken effect.

“(3) TRANSITIONAL COVERAGE.—For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘transitional coverage’ means with respect to an LI NET eligible individual—

“(A) immediate access to covered part D drugs at the point of sale during the period that begins on the first day of the month such individual is determined to meet the requirements of clauses (ii) and (iii) of subsection (a)(3)(A) and ends on the date that coverage under a prescription drug plan or MA–PD plan takes effect with respect to such individual; and

“(B) in the case of an LI NET eligible individual who is a full-benefit dual eligible individual (as defined in section 1935(c)(6)) or a recipient of supplemental security income benefits under title XVI, retroactive coverage (in the form of reimbursement of the amounts that would have been paid under this part had such individual been enrolled in a prescription drug plan or MA–PD plan) of covered part D drugs purchased by such individual during the period that begins on the date that is the later of—

“(i) the date that such individual was first eligible for a low-income subsidy under this part; or

“(ii) the date that is 36 months prior to the date such individual enrolls in a prescription drug plan or MA–PD plan,

and ends on the date that coverage under such plan takes effect.

“(4) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.—

“(A) SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT.—The Secretary shall, to the extent feasible, administer the program under this subsection through a contract with a single program administrator.

“(B) BENEFIT DESIGN.—The Secretary shall ensure that the transitional coverage provided to LI NET eligible individuals under this subsection—

“(i) provides access to all covered part D drugs under an open formulary;

“(ii) permits all pharmacies determined by the Secretary to be in good standing to process claims under the program;

“(iii) is consistent with such requirements as the Secretary considers necessary to improve patient safety and ensure appropriate dispensing of medication; and

“(iv) meets such other requirements as the Secretary may establish.

“(5) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS TITLE; WAIVER AUTHORITY.—

“(A) IN GENERAL.—The following provisions shall not apply with respect to the program under this subsection:

“(i) Paragraphs (1) and (3)(B) of section 1860D–4(a) (relating to dissemination of general information; availability of information on changes in formulary through the internet).

“(ii) Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 1860D–4(b)(3) (relating to requirements on development and application of formularies; formulary development).

“(iii) Paragraphs (1)(C) and (2) of section 1860D–4(c) (relating to medication therapy management program).

“(B) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may waive such other requirements of title XI and this title as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the program established under this subsection.”.