A bill to amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate for lower prices for medicare prescription drugs.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3747)
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 15, 2005
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act with respect to prescription drug plans to repeal the prohibition against: (1) interference by the Secretary of Health and Human Services with negotiations between drug manufacturers and pharmacies and prescription drug plan sponsors; and (2) the Secretary's requiring a particular formulary or instituting a price structure for the reimbursement of covered Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) drugs. Grants the Secretary authority similar to that of other Federal entities that purchase prescription drugs in bulk to negotiate contracts with manufacturers of covered part D drugs.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Jan 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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