H.R. 2484 · In committee · Health

Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act of 2025

Sponsor: Diana Harshbarger (R-TN)

What it does

• Temporarily expands Stark law flexibilities for physicians to dispense Medicare-covered outpatient drugs from their office locations between 2026 and 2030.
• Permits in-office drug dispensing only when the physician prescribed the drug, has an ongoing patient relationship, and the patient had at least one face-to-face visit in the prior year.
• Allows physicians to dispense drugs through in-person pickup by a caregiver or via mail, with billing requirements.
• Requires the Government Accountability Office to report on pharmacy ownership by physicians and integration into physician practices following the bill's enactment.

Official summary

Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act of 2025 This bill temporarily expands flexibilities under the Stark law (i.e., the Physician Self-Referral Law) for certain physicians who dispense covered outpatient drugs under the Medicare prescription drug benefit at the physician's office location (e.g., through an integrated pharmacy). The Stark law generally prohibits physicians from referring patients to receive services that are payable under Medicare or Medicaid from entities in which the physician or an immediate family member has a financial relationship. Specifically, the bill allows, from 2026-2030, physicians to dispense such drugs from the physician's office, including through in-person pickup by a caregiver or via mail, if (1) the physician prescribed the drug, (2) the beneficiary has an ongoing relationship with the physician, (3) the beneficiary had at least one face-to-face visit with the physician in the prior year, and (4) the physician bills for the drug. These requirements also apply to physicians within the same group practice. The Government Accountability Office must report on pharmacies or pharmacy networks that dispense significantly more covered drugs under…

Latest action

Apr 29, 2025: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 38 - 7.

Committee: House Energy and Commerce