Congressman Casten Introduces Bill to Support Seniors Access to COVID-19 Treatment Under Medicare Part D
Downers Grove, IL – Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced the Ensuring Seniors' Access to COVID Treatments Act, which would require Medicare Part D plans to cover drugs to treat COVID without cost-sharing, prior authorization, or other utilization management barriers. While previous pieces of legislation covered COVID testing and waived cost-sharing for Medicare beneficiaries under Part B, Casten urges that the same needs to be done for COVID treatments under Part D.
Casten said, "Although seniors comprise about 75 percent of COVID deaths and are at the highest risk of severe illness, the majority have not yet been vaccinated. As vaccines are distributed and new treatments are developed, we have a responsibility to ensure every senior will have the certainty of knowing that they'll have access to the best COVID-19 treatment available—without out-of-pocket expenses or barriers to care. My bill will play a crucial role in helping seniors stay out of the hospital to reduce infection, save lives, and defeat this virus. It's common sense and must be included in the next round of pandemic relief. "