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H.R. 4811: Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act of 2021

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H.R. 4811: Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-07-29 · Health · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-07-29 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-35] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act of 2021

Plain summary

Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act of 2021 This bill establishes several requirements relating to the prices of prescription drugs. Specifically, the bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies regarding prices for drugs covered under Medicare. (Current law prohibits the CMS from doing so.) If the CMS is unable to negotiate the price of a drug, such drug is subject to competitive licensing in order to further its sale under health insurance programs, notwithstanding existing government-granted exclusivities. The negotiated prices also apply to other federal health care programs, private health insurance, and the uninsured; pharmacies that charge more than the negotiated price for uninsured individuals are subject to civil penalties. Manufacturers must also comply with specified reporting requirements relating to prices and licensing, subject to civil penalties. The bill also institutes an excise tax on drugs for which the price spikes beyond a certain limit, subject to specified exemptions, as well as on drugs for which the price exceeds the negotiated price.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-35] · 79 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL), Al Green (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX) and 19 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-35] reported raising $471,289 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Exemption
A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr4811 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117