On March 6, U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) sponsored a bipartisan bill to exempt certain drugs from the Medicare Part D manufacturer discount program to help keep essential medications accessible and affordable for patients, and provide relief for small U.S. drug manufacturers.
“This legislation puts patients first by ensuring the affordability and accessibility of widely used medications,” Rep. Garbarino said. “It also reinforces our support for small businesses and American manufacturing, ensuring that U.S. companies remain competitive and resilient in the global market and ensuring that small, family-owned companies like Long Island’s Jerome Stevens Pharmaceuticals can continue their vital work.”
The Ensuring Access to Essential Drugs Act, H.R. 1922, has two original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Diana Harshbarger (R-TN). The bill would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exempt from the Medicare Part D Manufacturer Discount Program any orally administered medications that were approved under a non-disclosure agreement pursuant to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) 1997 Federal Register Notice; and have been granted a “narrow exception” by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program.
“This bipartisan legislation provides a common sense fix to help a Long Island business provide 19 million American patients with an essential drug they need,” said Rep. Suozzi. “Hyper technical language will hurt this company and these patients and they need a fair exception under Medicare. Let’s get it done.”
Jerome Stevens Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Amneal Pharmaceuticals support the bill, which has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee.