The House is expected to vote Wednesday on an $8.3 billion measure aimed at helping fund testing kits, a vaccine, and local response efforts to deal with a coronavirus outbreak as well as low-interest loans for small businesses negatively impacted by the virus.
Lawmakers reached the agreement after haggling over coronavirus vaccine, drug, and testing kit pricing.
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Democrats wanted to impose price restrictions on pharmaceutical companies, arguing millions in taxpayer funding would be provided to help the companies develop the vaccine and testing kits.
The agreement provides more than $300 million “to help ensure that, when a vaccine is developed, Americans can receive it regardless of their ability to pay.”
The measure also mandates “fair and reasonable” pricing for coronavirus vaccines and drugs and provides Health and Human Services “authority to ensure they are affordable on the commercial market.”
The measure also includes language that would allow Medicare providers to make home visits and telephone visits to seniors regardless of where they live.
