UPDATE: S.2553 – A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prohibit Medicare part D plans from restricting pharmacies from informing individuals regarding the prices for certain drugs and biologicals.

LATEST ACTION: September 5, 2018 - Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

BILL TITLE: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prohibit Medicare part D plans from restricting pharmacies from informing individuals regarding the prices for certain drugs and biologicals.

BILL SUMMARY:

Know the Lowest Price Act of 2018

This bill prohibits a health-benefits plan or pharmacy-benefits manager under Medicare or Medicare Advantage from restricting a pharmacy from informing an enrollee of any difference between the price of a drug under the plan and the price of the drug without health-insurance coverage.

[NOTE: The contents of this legislative update are current as of 06:00 AM on September 7, 2018.]

BILL NUMBER: 115th Congress: Senate Bill 2553 (S.2553)

CHAMBER OF ORIGIN: U.S. Senate

CURRENT CHAMBER: U.S. House of Representatives

For DETAILED LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION on S.2553, visit: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2553

BILL TEXT: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2553/text

ACTIONS-TO-DATE (ordered by most recent first):

09/05/2018 -- House -- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

09/05/2018 -- House -- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.

09/05/2018 -- House -- Received in the House.

09/05/2018 -- Senate -- Message on Senate action sent to the House.

09/04/2018 -- Senate -- Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S6033)

09/04/2018 -- Senate -- Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6033)

09/04/2018 -- Senate -- Senate Committee on Finance discharged by Unanimous Consent.

03/14/2018 -- Senate -- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

03/14/2018 -- Senate -- Introduced in Senate.

SPONSOR(S)*:

-- Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]

CO-SPONSOR(S)*:

[*Note: Sponsors and co-sponsors are current as of September 5, 2018. For the most up-to-date version of the sponsor and co-sponsor lists, visit: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2553/cosponsors ]

-- Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]

-- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

-- Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]

-- Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]

-- Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY]

-- Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY]

-- Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]

-- Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]

-- Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]

-- Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV]

-- Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]

-- Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE]

-- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

COMMITTEES: House Ways and Means Committee; House Energy and Commerce Committee; Senate Finance Committee.