Federal
Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act
Source: Congress.gov ·
13,991 words in original text
Plain English summary not yet available
The full original text is available below. Check back soon as we process this bill.
IIB
116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 987
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MAY 20, 2019
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions
AN ACT
To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
to provide for Federal Exchange outreach and edu-
cational activities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:10 May 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H987.RFS
H987
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
2
HR 987 RFS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
1
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Health
2
Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act’’.
3
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
4
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
5
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
TITLE I—LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS
Subtitle A—Bringing Low-Cost Options and Competition While Keeping
Incentives for New Generics
Sec. 101. Change conditions of first generic exclusivity to spur access and com-
petition.
Subtitle B—Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs
Sec. 111. Unlawful agreements.
Sec. 112. Notice and certification of agreements.
Sec. 113. Forfeiture of 180-day exclusivity period.
Sec. 114. Commission litigation authority.
Sec. 115. Statute of limitations.
Subtitle C—Creating and Restoring Equal Access to Equivalent Samples
Sec. 121. Actions for delays of generic drugs and biosimilar biological products.
Sec. 122. REMS approval process for subsequent filers.
Sec. 123. Rule of construction.
Subtitle D—Study on Role of Federal Assistance in Drug Development
Sec. 131. Study on role of Federal assistance in drug development.
Subtitle E—Pharmacy School Outreach
Sec. 141. Pharmacy school outreach.
Subtitle F—Reports
Sec. 151. Effects of increases in prescription drug price.
TITLE II—HEALTH INSURANCE MARKET STABILIZATION
Sec. 201. Preserving State option to implement health care marketplaces.
Sec. 202. Providing for additional requirements with respect to the navigator
program.
Sec. 203. Federal Exchange outreach and educational activities and annual en-
rollment targets.
Sec. 204. Short-term limited duration insurance rule prohibition.
Sec. 205. Protection of health insurance coverage in certain Exchanges.
Sec. 206. Sense of Congress relating to the practice of silver loading.
Sec. 207. Consumer outreach, education, and assistance.
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:10 May 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H987.RFS
H987
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
3
HR 987 RFS
Sec. 208. GAO report.
Sec. 209. Report on the effects of website maintenance during open enrollment.
TITLE III—BUDGETARY EFFECTS
Sec. 301. Determination of budgetary effects.
TITLE I—LOWERING
1
PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS
2
Subtitle A—Bringing Low-Cost Op-
3
tions and Competition While
4
Keeping
Incentives
for
New
5
Generics
6
SEC. 101. CHANGE CONDITIONS OF FIRST GENERIC EXCLU-
7
SIVITY TO SPUR ACCESS AND COMPETITION.
8
Section 505(j)(5)(B)(iv) of the Federal Food, Drug,
9
and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(j)(5)(B)(iv)) is amend-
10
ed—
11
(1) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘180 days
12
after’’ and all that follows through the period at the
13
end and inserting the following: ‘‘180 days after the
14
earlier of—
15
‘‘(aa) the date of the first com-
16
mercial marketing of the drug (includ-
17
ing the commercial marketing of the
18
listed drug) by any first applicant; or
19
‘‘(bb) the applicable date speci-
20
fied in subclause (III).’’; and
21
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
22
clause:
23
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:10 May 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H987.RFS
H987
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
4
HR 987 RFS
‘‘(III) APPLICABLE DATE.—The appli-
1
cable date specified in this subclause, with
2
respect to an application for a drug de-
3
scribed in subclause (I), is the date on
4
which each of the following conditions is
5
first met:
6
‘‘(aa) The approval of such an
7
application could be made effective,
8
but for the eligibility of a first appli-
9
cant for 180-day exclusivity under
10
this clause.
11
‘‘(bb) At least 30 months have
12
passed since the date of submission of
13
an application for the drug by at least
14
one first applicant.
15
‘‘(cc) Approval of an application
16
for the drug submitted by at least one
17
first applicant is not precluded under
18
clause (iii).
19
‘‘(dd) No application for the drug
20
submitted by any first applicant is ap-
21
proved at the time the conditions
22
under items (aa), (bb), and (cc) are
23
all met, regardless of whether such an
24
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:10 May 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H987.RFS
H987
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
5
HR 987 RFS
application
is
subsequently
ap-
1
proved.’’.
2
Subtitle B—Protecting Consumer
3
Access to Generic Drugs
4
SEC. 111. UNLAWFUL AGREEMENTS.
5
(a) AGREEMENTS PROHIBITED.—Subject to sub-
6
sections (b) and (c), it shall be unlawful for an NDA or
7
BLA holder and a subsequent filer (or for two subsequent
8
filers) to enter into, or carry out, an agreement resolving
9
or settling a covered patent infringement claim on a final
10
or interim basis if under such agreement—
11
(1) a subsequent filer directly or indirectly re-
12
ceives from such holder (or in the case of such an
13
agreement between two subsequent filers, the other
14
subsequent filer) anything of value, including a li-
15
cense; and
16
(2) the subsequent filer agrees to limit or fore-
17
go research on, or development, manufacturing,
18
marketing, or sales, for any period of time, of the
19
covered product that is the subject of the application
20
described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection
21
(g)(8).
22
(b) EXCLUSION.—It shall not be unlawful under sub-
23
section (a) if a party to an agreement described in such
24
subsection demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:10 May 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H987.RFS
H987
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
6
HR 987 RFS
that the value described in subsection (a)(1) is compensa-
1
tion solely for other goods or services that the subsequent
2
filer has promised to provide.
3
(c) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section shall pro-
4
hibit an agreement resolving or settling a covered patent
5
infringement claim in which the consideration granted by
6
the NDA or BLA holder to the subsequent filer (or from
7
one subsequent filer to another) as part of the resolution
8
or settlement includes only one or more of the following:
9
(1) The right to market the covered product
10
that is the subject of the application described in
11
subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (g)(8) in the
12
United States before the expiration of—
13
(A) any patent that is the basis of the cov-
14
ered patent infringement claim; or
15
(B) any patent right or other statutory ex-
16
clusivity that would prevent the marketing of
17
such covered product.
18
(2) A payment for reasonable litigation ex-
19
penses not to exceed $7.5 million in the aggregate.
20
(3) A covenant not to sue on any claim that
21
such covered product infringes a patent.
22
(d) ENFORCEMENT BY FEDERAL TRADE COMMIS-
23
SION.—
24
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:10 May 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H987.RFS
H987
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
7
HR 987 RFS
(1) GENERAL APPLICATION.—The requirements
1
of this section apply, according to their terms, to an
2
NDA or BLA holder or subsequent filer that is—
3
(A) a person, partnership, or corporation
4
over which the Commission has authority pur-
5
suant to section 5(a)(2) of the Federal Trade
6
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45(a)(2)); or
7
(B) a person, partnership, or corporation
8
over which the Commission would have author-
9
ity pursuant to such section but for the fact
10
that such person, partnership, or corporation is
11
not organized to carry on business for its own
12
profit or that of its members.
13
(2) UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE ACTS OR PRACTICES
14
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY.—
15
(A) IN GENERAL.—A violation of this sec-
16
tion shall be treated as an unfair or deceptive
17
act or practice in violation of section 5(a)(1) of
18
the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C.
19
45(a)(1)).
20
(B) POWERS OF COMMISSION.—Except as
21
provided in subparagraph (C) and paragraphs
22
(1)(B) and (3)—
23
(i) the Commission shall enforce this
24
section in the same manner, by the same
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:10 May 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H987.RFS
H987
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
8
HR 987 RFS
means, and with the same jurisdiction,
1
powers, and duties as though all applicable
2
terms and provisions of the Federal Trade
3
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.)
4
were incorporated into and made a part of
5
this section; and
6
(ii) any NDA or BLA holder or subse-
7
quent filer that violates this section shall
8
be subject to the penalties and entitled to
9
the privileges and immunities provided in
10
the Federal Trade Commission Act.
11
(C) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—In the case of a
12
cease and desist order issued by the Commis-
13
sion under section 5 of the Federal Trade Com-
14
mission Act (15 U.S.C. 45) for violation of this
15
section, a party to such order may obtain judi-
16
cial review of such order as provided in such
17
section 5, except that—
18
(i) such review may only be obtained
19
in—
20
(I) the United States Court of
21
Appeals for the District of Columbia
22
Circuit;
23
(II) the United States Court of
24
Appeals for the circuit in which the
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:10 May 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H987.RFS
H987
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
9
HR 987 RFS
ultimate parent entity, as defined in
1
section 801.1(a)(3) of title 16, Code
2
of Federal Regulations, or any suc-
3
cessor thereto, of the NDA or BLA
4
holder (if any such holder is a party
5
to such order) is incorporated as of
6
the date that the application described
7
in subparagraph (A) or (B) of sub-
8
section (g)(8) or an approved applica-
9
tion that is deemed to be a license for
10
a biological product under section
11
351(k) of the Public Health Service
12
Act (42 U.S.C. 262(k)) pursuant to
13
section 7002(e)(4) of the Biologics
14
Price Competition and Innovation Act
15
of 2009 (Public Law 111–148; 124
16
Stat. 817) is submitted to the Com-
17
missioner of Food and Drugs; or
18
(III) the United States Court of
19
Appeals for the circuit in which the
20
ultimate parent entity, as so defined,
21
of any subsequent filer that is a party
22
to such order is incorporated as of the
23
date that the application described in
24
subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:10 May 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H987.RFS
H987
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
10
HR 987 RFS
(g)(8) is submitted to the Commis-
1
sioner of Food and Drugs; and
2
(ii) the petition for review shall be
3
filed in the court not later than 30 days
4
after such order is served on the party
5
seeking review.
6
(3) ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY.—
7
(A) CIVIL
PENALTY.—The Commission
8
may commence a civil action to recover a civil
9
penalty in a district court of the United States
10
against any NDA or BLA holder or subsequent
11
filer that violates this section.
12
(B) SPECIAL
RULE
FOR
RECOVERY
OF
13
PENALTY
IF
CEASE
AND
DESIST
ORDER
14
ISSUED.—
15
(i) IN GENERAL.—If the Commission
16
has issued a cease and desist order in a
17
proceeding under section 5 of the Federal
18
Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45) for
19
violation of this section—
20
(I) the Commission may com-
21
mence a civil action under subpara-
22
graph (A) to recover a civil penalty
23
against any party to such order at
24
any time before the expiration of the
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:10 May 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H987.RFS
H987
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
11
HR 987 RFS
1-year period beginning on the date
1
on which such order becomes final
2
under section 5(g) of such Act (15
3
U.S.C. 45(g)); and
4
(II) in such civil action, the find-
5
ings of the Commission as to the ma-
6
terial facts in such proceeding shall be
7
conclusive, unless—
8
(aa) the terms of such order
9
expressly provide that the Com-
10
mission’s findings shall not be
11
conclusive; or
12
(bb) such order became final
13
by reason of section 5(g)(1) of
14
such Act (15 U.S.C. 45(g)(1)), in
15
which case such findings shall be
16
conclusive if supported by evi-
17
dence.
18
(ii) RELATIONSHIP TO PENALTY FOR
19
VIOLATION
OF
AN
ORDER.—The penalty
20
provided in clause (i) for violation of this
21
section is separate from and in addition to
22
any penalty that may be incurred for viola-
23
tion of an order of the Commission under
24
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:10 May 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H987.RFS
H987
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
12
HR 987 RFS
section 5(l) of the Federal Trade Commis-
1
sion Act (15 U.S.C. 45(l)).
2
(C) AMOUNT OF PENALTY.—
3
(i) IN GENERAL.—The amount of a
4
civil penalty imposed in a civil action under
5
subparagraph (A) on a party to an agree-
6
ment described in subsection (a) shall be
7
sufficient to deter violations of this section,
8
but in no event greater than—
9
(I) if such party is the NDA or
10
BLA holder (or, in the case of an
11
agreement between two subsequent fil-
12
ers, the subsequent filer who gave the
13
value described in subsection (a)(1)),
14
the greater of—
15
(aa) three times the value
16
received by such NDA or BLA
17
holder (or by such subsequent
18
filer) that is reasonably attrib-
19
utable to the violation of this sec-
20
tion; or
21
(bb) three times the value
22
given to the subsequent filer (or
23
to the other subsequent filer)
24
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:10 May 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H987.RFS
H987
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
13
HR 987 RFS
reasonably attributable to the
1
violation of this section; and
2
(II) if such party is the subse-
3
quent filer (or, in the case of an
4
agreement between two subsequent fil-
5
ers, the subsequent filer who received
6
the value described in subsection
7
(a)(1)), 3 times the value received by
8
such subsequent filer that is reason-
9
ably attributable to the violation of
10
this section.
11
(ii) FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION.—
12
In determining such amount, the court
13
shall take into account—
14
(I) the nature, circumstances, ex-
15
tent, and gravity of the violation;
16
(II) with respect to the violator,
17
the de
[Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]
Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only.
It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov
or a qualified attorney for legal matters.