Rep. Courtney Introduces Bill to Cover Full Cost of Future COVID-19 Vaccine
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) introduced the Rapid Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccine Act of 2020—a bold proposal to ensure a future vaccine for COVID-19 is quickly accessible for Americans and covered by private insurance plans.
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), items or services that receive an “A” or “B” rating from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), or that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), must be fully covered without costs for consumers.
However, there can be a delay between the time at which an item or service becomes eligible under the preventive services mandate. Rapid Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccine Act of 2020 requires all health plans to cover a future coronavirus vaccine and antiviral treatment within 15 days of receiving an “A” or “B” rating from the USPSTF or a recommendation from ACIP.
"The only way we can ensure a clear victory in the fight to curb the spread of COVID-19 is by making sure that all Americans are able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine once it's developed," said Rep. Courtney. "We must be prepared to deploy a vaccine as widely as possible, once it is developed. This legislation will ensure there is no delay between the approval of a safe and effective vaccine, and the ability for Americans to receive it without cost sharing. The sooner we begin expanding the pool of Americans who are protected against COVID-19, the sooner our loved ones will be protected, and our families' lives will return to normal.
A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators Doug Jones (D-AL) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
To read the bill text for Rapid Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccine Act of 2020, click here.
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