Medicare Ensuring Prescription Drugs for Seniors Act of 1999

Summary

Medicare Ensuring Prescription Drugs for Seniors Act of 1999 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for coverage of certain outpatient prescription drugs under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance). Outlines provisions for monthly deductible and payment amounts, with the waiver of deductible for low-income individuals. Details provisions on participating pharmacies. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish, by January 1, 2001, a point-of-sale electronic system for use by carriers and participating pharmacies in the submission of information respecting covered outpatient drugs dispensed to Medicare part B beneficiaries. Amends Medicare part B to require the Director of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment (sic) to provide for the appointment of a Prescription Drug Payment Review Commission to be composed of individuals with expertise in the provision and financing of covered outpatient drugs approved by the Director. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide to the Commission, from amounts appropriated to HHS, necessary sums to carry out its duties, while prohibiting the payment of such sums from amounts appropriated to the Medicare trust funds; and (2) develop a standard claims form, and a standard electronic claims format, to be used in requests for payment for covered outpatient drugs under the Medicare program and other third-party payors, and distribute official sample copies of such form and format to pharmacies and other interested parties. Amends SSA title XI to provide for civil monetary penalties for excessive charges for nonparticipating pharmacies and for other specified violations of this Act.

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Timeline

1. 5 August 1999

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 5 August 1999

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10441)

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 5 August 1999

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 30 June 2000

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6253)

   Source: IntroReferral

5. 4 October 2000

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9835-9839)

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · 5 August 1999 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 5 August 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 5 August 1999

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 5 August 1999

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Grams, Rod [R-MN] · R · Sponsor
• · ssfi00 · Standing

Related records

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