S.Amdt. 5802

SA 5802, submitted by Mr. Sanders, aims to make improvements to the Medicare drug price negotiation program.

The amendment seeks to change or add the following to the bill:

• Accelerate drug selection: It changes the number of negotiation-eligible drugs for 2028 or subsequent years from 15 to at least 50.

• Update drug definitions: It amends the definition of negotiation-eligible drugs to change "among the 50" to "among the 50 (or, in the case of initial price applicability year 2028 or a subsequent initial price applicability year, 125)".

• Refine single source drug definitions: It adds specific language regarding the years 2026 and 2027 to the definition of qualifying single source drugs.

• Change price ceilings: It adds an international maximum fair price as a potential ceiling for the maximum fair price. This is based on the highest price for a unit of the drug among applicable countries, which include:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • France
  • Germany
  • Japan
  • The United Kingdom

The amendments in this section are set to apply starting with the initial price applicability year 2028.