Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct outreach and marketing to promote health insurance coverage through the federal health insurance marketplace.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to obligate $100 million out of amounts collected through the user fees on participating health insurers for fiscal year 2020 and each subsequent fiscal year, in order to establish a state exchange program (Sec. 202).

• Authorizes the HHS Secretary to award grants totalling $200 million to eligible states before December 31, 2023 to ensure that an Exchange is self-sustaining beginning on January 1, 2025, including allowing the Exchange to charge assessments or user fees to participating health insurance issuers, or to otherwise generate funding, to support its operations (Sec. 201).

• Defines “eligible states” as a state that, as of the date of enactment, is not operating an Exchange and pursues a grant awarded under this Act to establish an Exchange (Sec. 201).

• Requires the HHS Secretary to submit a report to Congress detailing the extent to which increases in prescription drug prices may have caused Medicare beneficiaries to forego recommended treatment, including failing to fill prescriptions (Sec. 151).

• Authorizes the HHS Secretary to make every effort necessary to ensure appropriate outreach to institutions of higher education to ensure that students and faculty at schools of pharmacy are provided with materials regarding generic drugs and biosimilar biological products, including materials on the following (Sec. 141):

• How generic drugs and biosimilar biological products are equivalent or similar to brand-name drugs;

• The approval process at the Food and Drugs Administration for generic drugs and biosimilar biological products;

• How to make consumers aware of the availability of generic drugs and biosimilar biological products;

• Requirements for substituting generic drugs and biosimilar biological products in place of corresponding drug products; and

• The impacts of generic drugs and biosimilar biological products on consume costs.

• Prohibits the HHS Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Labor from taking any action to implement, enforce, or otherwise give effect to “Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance” nor of any substantially similar rule (Sec. 204).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text