Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act of 2026.
This bill requires Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to include certain lower-cost generic drugs and biosimilar biological products in preferred positions on their formularies starting in 2027. It mandates that these lower-cost alternatives be placed on more favorable tiers with reduced out-of-pocket costs compared to their brand-name counterparts. Additionally, the legislation prohibits plans from imposing stricter access restrictions, such as prior authorization or step therapy, on these lower-cost options than those applied to the original brand-name drugs. The measure directly affects Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Part D plans and the insurance sponsors who manage those formularies.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Mar 27, 2026
Last action Mar 27, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Mar 27, 2026
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
Mar 27, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Doris O. Matsui
DDemocratic
Co
Jake Auchincloss
DDemocratic
Co
Mariannette Miller-Meeks
RRepublican
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