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H.R.4607 / 106th Congress

Medicare Prescription Drug Act of 2000

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 8, 2000

Medicare Prescription Drug Act of 2000 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (Prescription Drug Benefit for the Aged and Disabled) outlining the following program components: (1) establishment of a voluntary insurance program, administered by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, to provide prescription drug benefits for individuals who are aged or disabled or have end-stage renal disease and who elect to enroll under such program, to be financed from enrollee premium payments together with contributions from Federal appropriations; (2) scope of benefits; (3) payment of benefits and benefit limits; (4) eligibility and enrollment; (5) monthly premium rates; (6) special eligibility, enrollment, and co-payments rules for low-income individuals; (7) creation within the Federal Supplemental Medical Insurance Trust Fund of the Prescription Drug Insurance Account for payments; (8) administration of benefits through benefit managers; (9) authorization for the Employer Incentive Program to encourage employers to provide adequate prescription drug benefits to retired individuals by subsidizing, in part, the sponsor's cost of providing coverage under qualifying plans; and (10) authorization of appropriations to the Account to cover Government contributions.Directs the Secretary to conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability of establishing an annual open enrollment period under the new part D program.Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to: (1) provide for coverage for certain low-income individuals of part D premiums; (2) require State Medicaid plans to provide that in the case of any individual whose eligibility for medical assistance is not limited to Medicare or Medicare drug cost-sharing, and for whom the State elects to pay monthly premiums under part D, the State will purchase all prescription drugs, without regard to whether the benefit limit for such individual has been reached; and (3) require Government payment of Medicare drug cost-sharing for qualified Medicare beneficiaries and for Medicare-eligible individuals with incomes between 100 and 150 percent of the Federal poverty line.Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to study and report to Congress on: (1) the ability of benefit managers to improve quality and reduce costs and to assume risk; (2) strategies to improve risk assumption by such managers; (3) the likely effect of allowing benefit managers to vary aspects of the benefit packages based on costs, utilization, and access; and (4) the use of the stop-loss provision, including analysis of benefit manager data on beneficiary utilization and the effectiveness of cost constraints once the stop-loss is triggered.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-14] · D–CA

Committees

  • Energy and Commerce Committee
  • Ways and Means Committee
17 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.

  2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E951)

  3. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce, 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.

  4. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce, 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.

  5. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce, 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.

  6. Introduced in House

  7. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jun 3, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4607 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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