Essential Medicines List

(a) In general The Secretary, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies and in consultation with, as appropriate, stakeholders who have relevant expertise, shall update and maintain a list of essential medicines (referred to in this Act as the Essential Medicines List), initially developed in response to Executive Order 13944 (85 Fed. Reg. 49929), to include active pharmaceutical ingredients and drugs— (1) that are directly related to responding to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threats and incidents covered by the National Response Framework; (2) of greatest priority for providing health care and identified as being at high risk of shortage; (3) the shortage of which would have an adverse health outcome on patients with chronic conditions; or (4) that the Secretary of Defense determines to be critical for military preparedness. (b) Updates to list The Secretary shall update the Essential Medicines List regularly, on a timeframe that the Secretary determines necessary and appropriate, and not less frequently than every 2 years. (c) Compilation of initial list The Secretary shall complete the first updates to the Essential Medicines List required pursuant to subsection (a) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (d) Publication of list The Secretary shall publish the Essential Medicines List promptly after each update pursuant to subsection (b) or (c).