House passes legislation to lower drug prices, increase access to coverage

The House of Representatives last night voted 234-183 to pass legislation (H.R. 987) that combines several AHA-supported bills to help lower prescription drug costs and strengthen the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplaces. The legislation’s drug-related provisions would allow generic drug manufacturers facing certain anticompetitive delay tactics to bring an action in federal court for injunctive relief, and help decrease the time it takes for generic competitors to get to market. The ACA marketplace provisions would provide funding to expand navigator support and outreach to help consumers enroll in individual market coverage, and void a final rule that expanded short-term limited duration health plans.