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H.R.4741 / 107th Congress

Medicare Pharmacy Benefit Act of 2002

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 15, 2002

Medicare Pharmacy Benefit Act of 2002 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish the Medicare Pharmacy Benefit Program to provide drug discounts, catastrophic benefits, and medication review and medication therapy management.Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services establish an open enrollment process for eligible beneficiaries and provide that applications to enroll under the Program may be collected by pharmacy providers, manufacturers, or their agents. Requires that Pharmacy Benefit Administrators process applications for enrollment.Requires the Secretary to provide for the broad dissemination of information to eligible beneficiaries regarding enrollment.Requires the Secretary to establish a process to accept bids and award contracts to administer benefits.Establishes within the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund a Pharmacy Benefit Fund to reimburse the Pharmacy Benefits Administrator and participating pharmacy providers, and to pay for cost of providing benefits.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Emerson, Jo Ann [R-MO-8] · R–MO

Committees

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

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Introduced in House

  6. 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: Aug 19, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4741 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

Examine H.R.4741 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4741 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4741 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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