# 116-hr-8624: Protecting Access to Innovation During COVID–19 Act

116-hr-8624, Protecting Access to Innovation During COVID–19 Act, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2] (R-OH); status Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8624
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-8624
- Congress: 116
- Title: Protecting Access to Innovation During COVID–19 Act
- Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced: 2020-10-16
- Sponsor: Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2] (R-OH)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Protecting Access to Innovation During COVID-19 Act This bill allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to extend the duration of pass-through status (i.e., additional payment) for certain drugs and devices under the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services. Specifically, the CMS may extend the pass-through status of drugs and devices that received such status during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) if their cost cannot be accurately calculated due to the effects of COVID-19. The bill's provisions apply to drugs and devices that had pass-through status during any portion of the public health emergency period, including those for which such status has already expired.

## Cosponsors (6)

- Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] (D-GA), 2020-10-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1] (R-MD), 2020-10-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Marchant, Kenny [R-TX-24] (R-TX), 2020-11-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16] (R-PA), 2020-11-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2020-11-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9] (R-NC), 2020-12-07T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-4305: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act
- 116-hr-3495: Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act
- 116-hr-1570: Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2020
- 116-hr-6829: EMPIL–DOC Act
- 116-hr-2423: Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act
- 116-hr-748: CARES Act

## Sources
- [116-hr-8624 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8624)

## Related
- [116-hr-4305: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-4305)
- [116-hr-3495: Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-3495)
- [116-hr-1570: Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1570)
- [116-hr-6829: EMPIL–DOC Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6829)
- [116-hr-2423: Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2423)
- [116-hr-748: CARES Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-748)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8624 (as of 2025-11-18).