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Prescription Drug Legislation |
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Tuesday, 01 January 2008 15:50 |
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Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007
S. 3
Reid (D-NV)
H.R. 4
Dingell (D-MI)
| Part D prescription drug benefit. Would amend Part D of Medicare to require the Secretary of HHS to negotiate with pharmaceutical manufactures for lower prices (including discounts, rebates, and other price concessions) of covered Part D drugs on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in PDPs and MA-PDs. The bill would prohibit the Secretary from establishing a particular formulary and would allow PDPs and MA-PDs to negotiate prices that are lower than those obtained by the Secretary. The bill would also require the Secretary to report to the Congress every six months on the results of such negotiations. | On April 18, 2007, by a vote of 55-42, the Senate fell 5 votes short of passing a motion to invoke cloture (and thus ending debate) in order to proceed to an up or down vote on S. 3.
On January 12, 2007, the House approved H.R. 4 (described in the “Summary” column), by a vote of 255-170. The bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
These bills, while similar in content, are not companion bills. The Senate bill is not as far-reaching as the House bill (H.R. 4). The Senate bill would authorize the government to negotiate drug prices, but would not require the negotiation, as the House bill does.
President Bush has stated his intention to veto any legislation that would repeal the Medicare Part D noninterference provision contained in the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). Note that H.R. 4 did receive required 2/3 majority in the House to override a potential veto. |
Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2007
S. 242
Dorgan (D-ND)
H.R. 380
Emanuel (D-IL)
| Prescription drug importation. Would, among other things, amend the Federal Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Act to allow pharmacies and wholesalers to import drugs only from countries with comparable regulation to that of the FDA, including Canada, within one year of the bill's enactment. Anti-counterfeiting measures would be adopted, along with the requirement to have licensed pharmacists track, examine, and label the imported drugs. The bill would also give the FTC the authority to take action against companies that try to cut off drug supplies to wholesalers in participating countries and provides for treble damages for violations. | These bills were introduced on January 10, 2007. S. 242 was referred to the Senate HELP Committee. H.R. 380 was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
On March 7, 2007, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee held a hearing on S. 242.
S. 242 was included as an amendment to S. 1082, described above. |
Source: Towers Perrin U.S. Legislative Tracking Chart — Health and Welfare
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Health Care Reform