HR-9682 — Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2026

YourVoice.Now Summary

Your MoneyCorporate BenefitsTransparency & Accountability

A $9.8 billion push to cure hepatitis C, free for people on Medicaid, in prison, or with no health plan.

Your Money

Hepatitis C cure access — free for uninsured, Medicaid, and prison patients

People with no health plan, Indian Health Service patients, and federal prisoners could get the cure free. Medicaid and CHIP patients would qualify only if their state joins.

Care after release — jails that join must finish treatment

Jails and prisons that join must give people the rest of their cure course after release. They must also refer those people to ongoing care.

Medicare drug costs — no deductible or copay, 2028 through 2032

Part D plans could not charge a deductible or copay for hepatitis C cure drugs during those five years. Officials could delay the start to 2029 if 2028 proves too soon.

Paperwork before treatment — states that join drop pre-approval rules

States that join must stop requiring advance approval for hepatitis C tests and cure drugs. Treatment could then start without waiting for a state sign-off.

Corporate Benefits

Guaranteed drug sales — flat yearly payment under five-year contracts

Drug makers would be paid a set amount each year for five years, no matter how many doses they ship. One maker could win the whole program, or two could split it 70/30.

Medicaid rebate protection — low program prices excluded from discount math

Drug makers must give Medicaid their lowest price. The cut-rate prices in this program would not count, so their Medicaid rebates on other sales would not rise.

Clinic and hospital discounts — 340B barred on these cure drugs

340B lets some clinics and hospitals buy drugs cheap and keep the savings. They could not use it on hepatitis C pills bought through this program.

Transparency & Accountability

Public progress dashboard — results posted against set goals

Health officials would set goals and performance measures within 180 days. Anyone could then track progress on a public website.

Pharmacy and provider audits — government pays to check discount rules

The government would audit pharmacies and clinics to make sure they are not claiming two discounts on the same pills. It would pay for those audits itself.

Built-in end date — Medicare cost help stops after 2032

The Medicare break is written to last only through plan year 2032. Congress would have to act again to keep it going.

More about this bill

Pills that cure hepatitis C would cost nothing for several groups of patients. That includes uninsured people, Indian Health Service patients, and people in federal prison. Medicaid and CHIP enrollees would qualify too, but only if their state joins. States and local jails could choose to take part. Federal prisons and the Indian Health Service would have to. The whole plan would cost about $9.8 billion. The government would buy the drugs a new way. It would pay drug makers a flat yearly fee for as many doses as it needs. Deals would run five years and go to the best bids. One or two makers could supply the entire program. Those low prices would be left out of Medicaid's rebate math. Clinics and hospitals could not also claim a federal discount, called 340B, on drugs from this program. Medicare would change as well. From 2028 through 2032, Part D would drop the deductible and copay for these cure drugs. Health officials could push the start to 2029 if needed. The help ends after 2032. Another $4.3 billion would pay for testing and outreach. That money would reach community health centers, drug treatment programs, tribal clinics, jails, and up to 25 Ryan White clinics. Officials would post a public dashboard on progress.

Congressional Summary

Cure Hepatitis C Act of 2026 This bill establishes programs and requirements to provide free medications to treat hepatitis C in certain high-risk or vulnerable populations. It also establishes grants and other resources to support testing and treatment for hepatitis C. The bill provides funding for FY2027 to implement these provisions. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must enter into a five-year purchasing contract with manufacturers of drugs that treat hepatitis C so that eligible individuals may receive the drugs without cost-sharing. Eligible individuals are those diagnosed with hepatitis C who are (1) enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), (2) confined to federal, state, or local correctional facilities (or were released and began treatment there), (3) uninsured, or (4) receiving health care through the Indian Health Service. State Medicaid and CHIP programs and state and local correctional facilities may opt into the program; participation is mandatory for federal correctional facilities and the Indian Health Service. HHS must award grants to certain entities, including states, public health organizations, and correctional facilities, to support the coordination and provision of screening, treatment, and supportive services for the affected populations. The bill also allows Medicare beneficiaries to receive hepatitis C drugs without cost-sharing from 2028-2032.

Details

Congress: 119th
Chamber: House
Status: summarized
Action: Introduced in House
Action Date: 2026-07-14
Date Added: 2026-07-23
Source: Congress.gov →

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