Washington D.C. — The Energy and Commerce Committee advanced proposals today to help seniors live longer, healthier lives. In a subcommittee markup, the Health Subcommittee forwarded to the Full Committee several pieces of legislation that improve patient access to care and support providers. 

As Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said, “We want Medicare to be able to support our loved ones’ access to the best treatment available, whether that be an FDA-approved curative medicine or a cutting-edge technology.” 

Health Subcommittee Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) also added, “Beyond lowering drug costs for seniors, we’re also working to enhance their access to services and providers, by making sure that payments to doctors can sustain the independent practice of medicine, and that the rules that determine coverage enhance, not restrict, patient access to the most up-to-date, best technology our health care ecosystem has to offer.”

Legislative vote summary: 

• H.R. 5372, the Expanding Seniors’ Access to Lower Cost Medicines Act of 2023, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 2880, the Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 5393, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure fair assessment of pharmacy performance and quality under Medicare part D, and for other purposes, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 5385, the Medicare PBM Accountability Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 5386, the Cutting Copays Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 4881, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit cost sharing for drugs under the Medicare program, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 5389, the National Coverage Determination Transparency Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee, as amended, by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 133, the Mandating Exclusive Review of Individual Treatments (MERIT) Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee, as amended, by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 5396, the Coverage Determination Clarity Act of 2023, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 5371, the Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2023, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 5555, the DMEPOS Relief Act of 2023, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 16 Yeas to 12 Nays. 
• H.R. 1691, the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 2023, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a roll call vote of 21 Yeas to 6 Nays. 
• H.R. 5388, the Supporting Innovation for Seniors Act, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 5380, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase data transparency for supplemental benefits under Medicare Advantage, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 3842, the Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act of 2023, was forwarded to the Full Committee, as amended, by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 5397, the Joe Fiandra Access to Home Infusion Act of 2023, was forwarded to the Full Committee, as amended, by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 6366, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act with respect to the work geographic index for physician payments under the Medicare program, and to revise the phase-in of clinical laboratory test payment changes under such program, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 6369, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend incentive payments for participation in eligible alternative payment models, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 6371, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2023, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 6364, the Medicare Telehealth Privacy Act of 2023, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote. 
• H.R. 1352, the Increasing Access to Biosimilars Act of 2023, was forwarded to the Full Committee by a voice vote.