The U.S. Senate Finance Committee approved a bill that seeks to expand access to healthcare and lower drug costs.
The Better Mental Health Care, Lower Drug Cost, and Extenders Act would do four main things. It would expand mental health care and substance use disorder services under Medicaid and Medicare; reduce prescription drug costs for seniors at the pharmacy counter; extend essential Medicaid and Medicare provisions that will expire this year; and increase Medicare payments to support physicians and other providers.
“Once again this committee has come together in the fight to expand access to mental health care and rein in the shadowy tactics by pharmacy benefit managers that hurt community pharmacies and drive up prescription drug costs for seniors and taxpayers – all while also making sure essential Medicaid and Medicare programs can continue,” Committee Chair Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said. “I am proud of the work accomplished today, and I want to thank Ranking Member Crapo for his leadership and members of the committee for their contributions throughout this process and for the work that is to come.”
The bill was approved unanimously by the committee by a vote of 26-0.
“This comprehensive legislation will reduce out-of-pocket medication costs for seniors, enhance accountability in our federal health care programs, improve access to high-quality mental health services, and extend critical support for clinicians and suppliers,” Ranking member Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) said. “I thank Senator Wyden and every member of the Committee for their partnership in this effort, and look forward to advancing this comprehensive, deficit-cutting, bipartisan legislation.”
It now moves to the full Senate for consideration.