The Health Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee passed 21 health bills on to the full committee, including bills aimed at increasing Medicare Advantage transparency.
According to a Nov. 15 news release, most bills passed with a voice vote, while a few drew more opposition.
Here are three Medicare-related bills to note:
- The Cutting Copays Act, which would cut cost-sharing amounts for prescription drugs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries.
- An amendment to the Social Security Act that would require Medicare Advantage plans to report more information about how supplemental benefits are used.
- The Medicare PBM Accountability Act, requiring more transparency from pharmaceutical benefit managers contracted with Medicare Part D plans.
The bills now advance to the full Energy and Commerce Committee. Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie said the costs of the legislation must be offset to be enacted, Politico reported Nov. 15. Most of the bills have not had their cost evaluated by the Congressional Budget Office yet.