Subcommittee advances 2 Buchanan bills to expand Medicare coverage

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on Nov. 15 advanced two bills offered by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) that would ensure Medicare coverage of potentially life-saving drugs and new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, as well as coverage of certain technologies and medical devices under the Medicare program.

“I am so pleased to see this important legislation pass out of the Health Subcommittee and come one step closer to becoming law,” Rep. Buchanan said on Nov. 15.

The congressman on Jan. 9 sponsored the bipartisan Mandating Exclusive Review of Individual Treatments (MERIT) Act, H.R. 133, with two original cosponsors, U.S. Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Nanette Barragán (D-CA).

If enacted, H.R. 133 would specify that Medicare coverage determinations for drugs and biologics must be made with respect to each drug or biologic, rather than with respect to a class of drugs or biologics, according to the congressional record bill summary.

“The federal government should make it easier for seniors to access breakthrough treatments, not unreasonably restrict potentially life-changing drugs for our nation’s most vulnerable patients,” said Rep. Buchanan. “Unfortunately, the Biden administration and unelected bureaucrats in Washington have continuously pursued policies that will stifle innovation and halt progress toward revolutionary cures.”

H.R. 133 has garnered support from the Alzheimer’s Association, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, the Association of Mature American Citizens, the Byrd Alzheimer’s Center and Research Institute, and the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation.

The Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee also passed the Supporting Innovation for Seniors Act, H.R. 5388, which Rep. Buchanan cosponsored on Sept. 12 alongside bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH).

If enacted, H.R. 5388 would expand flexibility for Medicare Advantage plans to cover innovative products beyond what traditional Medicare offers, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Buchanan’s staff.

The subcommittee-approved H.R. 133 and H.R. 5388 now head to the full House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration. The bills are also under consideration by the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee.