Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 771
115th Congress(2017-2018)
Improving Access To Affordable Prescription Drugs Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Mar 29, 2017
Overview
Text
Sponsor
Introduced
Mar 29, 2017
Latest Action
Mar 29, 2017
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
771
Congress
115
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
Democrat
Minnesota
Democrat
Illinois
Democrat
Massachusetts
Democrat
Minnesota
Democrat
New Hampshire
Democrat
New Jersey
Democrat
New Mexico
Democrat
Rhode Island
Democrat
Rhode Island
Democrat
Wisconsin
Senate Votes (0)
House Votes (0)
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

This bill amends provisions of various laws relating to prescription-drug pricing and affordability. Specifically, the bill:

  • expands reporting requirements for drug manufacturers and establishes corresponding civil penalties for noncompliance;
  • adds reporting requirements for certain nonprofit patient-assistance programs;
  • requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress on the impact of patient-assistance programs on prescription-drug pricing and expenditures;
  • requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to negotiate prices for certain prescription drugs under the Medicare program;
  • requires the GAO to report to Congress on such negotiations conducted by the CMS;
  • requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation within the CMS to test specified models for negotiating drug prices;
  • establishes reporting requirements, and corresponding civil penalties for noncompliance, for pharmaceutical companies with respect to spikes in prescription-drug prices;
  • establishes an excise tax on prescription drugs subject to price spikes;
  • lessens prescription-drug cost-sharing requirements under qualified health plans, group health plans, and the Medicare program;
  • modifies provisions related to the importation of prescription drugs;
  • requires drug manufacturers to provide drug rebates for drugs dispensed to certain low-income individuals under the Medicare program;
  • establishes a prize fund for new and more effective treatments of bacterial infections;
  • establishes a Center for Clinical Research within the National Institutes of Health;
  • modifies provisions related to drug exclusivity;
  • allows the Federal Trade Commission to initiate enforcement proceedings against parties to an agreement resolving or settling a patent-infringement claim in connection with the sale of a drug product;
  • requires the Food and Drug Administration to establish a database of generic drugs; and
  • modifies other provisions related to generic drugs, prescription-drug advertising, and product hopping.
Text (1)
March 29, 2017
Actions (2)
03/29/2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
03/29/2017
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:36:11 PM