Bills · S 3159
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 3159Health
Preserving Patient Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacies Act
INTRO NOV 7· LAST ACTION NOV 7
READING
5MIN
COSPONSORS
4
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it tries to address a potential challenge for vulnerable Medicare patients in long-term care settings. Pharmacies that serve these facilities often have unique and higher costs associated with specialized packaging, delivery, and services tailored to this population. With new federal rules allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, there's concern that the overall payments to pharmacies for some drugs might decrease.
If long-term care pharmacies face financial difficulties, it could lead to service reductions or even closures, making it harder for residents in nursing homes and similar facilities to get their vital medications. This bill aims to prevent such disruptions by providing temporary financial support to these pharmacies, thereby trying to ensure that access to necessary drugs for Medicare beneficiaries in long-term care remains uninterrupted, particularly in areas where options might already be limited.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires Medicare drug plans to pay a temporary "supply fee" to long-term care pharmacies for certain prescriptions dispensed to Medicare enrollees in 2026 and 2027.
This provides additional, temporary financial support to pharmacies specializing in serving long-term care patients.
PROVISION 02
Sets the supply fee at $30 for 2026, with an inflation-adjusted increase for 2027, to be paid in addition to other pharmacy reimbursements.
This establishes the specific amount and mechanism for the temporary financial support without reducing other existing payments.
PROVISION 03
Mandates that the federal government will fully reimburse Medicare drug plans for the total amount of these supply fees paid to long-term care pharmacies.
This ensures that Medicare drug plans are not financially burdened by the new supply fee requirement.
PROVISION 04
Imposes a civil money penalty of at least $10,000 on Medicare drug plans for each instance they fail to pay the required supply fee.
This enforces compliance from Medicare drug plans to ensure long-term care pharmacies receive the intended payments.
PROVISION 05
Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the economic stability of long-term care pharmacies under Medicare's drug program and provide policy recommendations.
This gathers important data and insights to inform future legislative or regulatory actions regarding long-term care pharmacy access.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 4
R· Oklahoma
YRS IN OFFICE
15
BILLS LED
77
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 4 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSNOV 7
Introduced in Senate
NOV 7
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
BILL INFO
TypeSenate Bill
NumberS 3159
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedNov 7, 2025
Last actionNov 7, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FINANCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED NOV 7, 2025
Senate BillS 3159Health
Preserving Patient Access to Long-Term Care Pharmacies Act
INTRODUCED NOV 7, 2025· LAST ACTION NOV 7, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
5 min
COSPONSORS
4
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
