HR 5526 United States House · 118th Congress

Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act of 2024

This bill clarifies Medicare rules to allow doctors to provide certain critical medications directly in their offices without extra administrative hurdles. It specifically amends a Medicare provision (Section 1877(b)(2) of the Social Security Act) to remove a requirement that drugs furnished in-office must follow specific administrative rules, effective May 11, 2023. The bill also directs the removal of conflicting Medicare guidance published in 2021 and 2023, which had previously restricted this practice. This change directly affects Medicare beneficiaries (seniors) and doctors' offices that supply covered medications during patient visits. It streamlines access to necessary drugs by eliminating an unnecessary barrier to in-office medication administration under Medicare.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2023
Committee Review
Sep 2024
House Passage
Sep 2024
Senate Passage
President
Introduced Sep 18, 2023 Last action Sep 24, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
6
Committee
8
Amendments
4
Sep 24, 2024
Committee
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
upper
Sep 23, 2024
Introduced
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
lower
Sep 23, 2024
Introduced
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5587)
lower
Sep 23, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5587)
lower
Sep 23, 2024
Introduced
Mr. Bucshon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
lower
Sep 19, 2024
Lower · Passed
Committee on Ways and Means discharged.
lower
Sep 19, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-691, Part I.
lower
Jun 12, 2024
Introduced
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 41 - 0.
lower
Jun 12, 2024
Lower · Passed
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
lower
Mar 12, 2024
Lower · Passed
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 6.
lower
Mar 12, 2024
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
lower
Sep 22, 2023
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
lower
Sep 18, 2023
Committee
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.
lower
Sep 18, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 69 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Diana Harshbarger
Diana Harshbarger
RRepublican
TN
1
Co
Photo of A. Drew Ferguson IV
A. Drew Ferguson IV
RRepublican
GA
3
Co
Photo of Abigail Davis Spanberger
Abigail Davis Spanberger
DDemocratic
VA
7
Co
Photo of Ann M. Kuster
Ann M. Kuster
DDemocratic
NH
2
Co
Photo of Anthony D’Esposito
Anthony D’Esposito
RRepublican
NY
4
Co
Photo of August Pfluger
August Pfluger
RRepublican
TX
11
Co
Photo of Bill Johnson
Bill Johnson
RRepublican
OH
6
Co
Photo of Bradley Scott Schneider
Bradley Scott Schneider
DDemocratic
IL
10
Co
Photo of Brandon Williams
Brandon Williams
RRepublican
NY
22
Co
Photo of Carol D. Miller
Carol D. Miller
RRepublican
WV
1
Co
Photo of Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann
Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann
RRepublican
TN
3