HR-3947 : Still Just a Bill


Competition Prescription Act of 2019

This bill revises various requirements related to the development, production, and sale of prescription drugs and biological products.

First, the bill permits the developer of a drug or biological product to bring a civil action against the license holder of an approved product if the license holder has declined to make available sufficient quantities of the approved product for the developer's testing.

The bill also requires the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish a process for developers of generic complex drugs to request and receive expedited development and priority review. Further, upon request by a drug sponsor, a drug that treats a life-threatening disease or condition must be designated for expedited review if there are fewer than three drugs currently available for such treatment.

States are prohibited from placing restrictions on dispensing substitute biological products that have been determined to be interchangeable with another product by the FDA.

Additionally, the bill prohibits sponsors of Medicare Part D prescription drug plans from reducing a payment to a pharmacy after a claim without defect has been submitted by such pharmacy. The bill establishes requirements for pricing standards for pharmacy benefits managers under Medicare and other federal prescription drug benefits programs. Starting in 2025, the bill removes the cap on rebates paid by manufacturers of outpatient prescription drugs under Medicaid.

Further, the bill requires the publication of specified information regarding licensed biological products, exempts from antitrust prohibitions specified drug-price negotiation strategies, and establishes a Chief Pharmaceutical Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.


Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2019-08-28CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.House committee actions
2019-08-28CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.House committee actions
2019-08-28CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.House committee actions
2019-07-25CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Health.House committee actions
2019-07-25CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.House committee actions
2019-07-24CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Health.House committee actions
2019-07-24IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Armed Services, and Oversight and Reform, 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.House floor actions
2019-07-24IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Armed Services, and Oversight and Reform, 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.House floor actions
2019-07-24IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Armed Services, and Oversight and Reform, 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.House floor actions
2019-07-24IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Armed Services, and Oversight and Reform, 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.House floor actions
2019-07-24IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, Armed Services, and Oversight and Reform, 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.House floor actions
2019-07-24IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Sponsor :

Mark Meadows [R] (NC-11)
See Cosponsors

Policy Area :

Health
Related Subjects
  • Administrative law and regulatory procedures
  • Administrative remedies
  • Civil actions and liability
  • Competition and antitrust
  • Consumer affairs
  • Contracts and agency
  • Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
  • Employee benefits and pensions
  • Federal district courts
  • Federal preemption
  • Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
  • Government information and archives
  • Health care costs and insurance
  • Health information and medical records
  • Health technology, devices, supplies
  • Inflation and prices
  • Insurance industry and regulation
  • Licensing and registrations
  • Medicaid
  • Medical ethics
  • Medical research
  • Medicare
  • Military medicine
  • Prescription drugs
  • Product development and innovation
  • Research and development
  • Retail and wholesale trades
  • Right of privacy
Related Geographic Entities
Related Organizations
  • Department of Health and Human Services

Related Bills

See Related Bills