Bill · H.R. 5278· House(119-HR-5278)
Affordable Inhalers and Nebulizers Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 9/10/2025
- Last activity
- 9/10/2025 — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, 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.
- Sponsored by
- Kweisi Mfume
- Cosponsors
- - 13 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Affordable Inhalers and Nebulizers Act of 2025 aims to reduce the cost of breathing treatments for people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It mandates that private insurance and Medicare plans cannot apply deductibles to specified inhaler products and must limit cost-sharing to $15 per 30-day supply. The bill also includes provisions to ensure these costs count toward out-of-pocket maximums. Additionally, the legislation directs the Secretary to establish a payment program for healthcare providers to assist uninsured individuals. This program would allow providers to submit claims to the Secretary for these products. The changes are intended to take effect for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this lower the price of prescription medicines?+8
The bill caps the cost-sharing for specified inhaler products at $15 per 30-day supply.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+8
The bill provides critical financial relief for medication costs and creates a mechanism to support the uninsured.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+7
The bill establishes a payment program to provide essential breathing treatments to uninsured individuals through healthcare providers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs for Insurance Holders: Group health plans and health insurance issuers would be prohibited from applying deductibles to specified inhaler products and cannot charge more than $15 per s_upply (Section 2, a(1)).
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Affordability of Breathing Treatments: The bill defines "specified inhaler products" broadly to include maintenance or reliever/rescue drugs—such as aerosols, metered dose inhalers, and corticosteroids—as well as administration equipment like nebulizers and spacers (Section 2, a(1)(c)).
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Predictable Medical Expenses for Medicare Beneficiaries: For Medicare Part B and Part D, the bill removes deductibles for specified inhaler products and limits cost-sharing to a maximum of $15 per 30-day supply (Section 2, a(2)(A) and (2)(B)).
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Support for the Uninsured: The Secretary of Health and Human Services will establish a program where registered providers can submit claims to receive payment for providing specified inhaler products to uninsured individuals (Section 2, b(a)).
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Financial Protection for Uninsured Patients: Under the new payment program, registered providers agree not to hold uninsured individuals liable for costs exceeding $15 for a month's supply of a specified inhaler product (Section 2, b(c)(1)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Availability of Uninsured Program Depends on Funding: The payment program for uninsured individuals is subject to the availability of appropriations (Section 2, b(a)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Reduces Prescription Drug Costs+8Improves Healthcare Access+7Increases Medicare Funding+5Increases Affordable Care Act Support+4Reduces Private Insurance Premiums+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+8Good For Seniors+7Good For Middle Class Households+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+4
- 10/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/26/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/10/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, 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.
- 11 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Danny DavisDemocrat · Illinois
Sarah ElfrethDemocrat · Maryland
Cleo FieldsDemocrat · Louisiana
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
Shomari FiguresDemocrat · Alabama
Glenn IveyDemocrat · Maryland
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Stephen LynchDemocrat · Massachusetts
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
April McClain DelaneyDemocrat · Maryland
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Johnny OlszewskiDemocrat · Maryland
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan