TITLE I--MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT
SEC. 110. CONFLICT OF INTEREST STUDY.
(a) STUDY- The Federal Trade Commission shall
conduct a study of differences in payment amounts for pharmacy services provided
to enrollees in group health plans that utilize pharmacy benefit managers. Such
study shall include the following:
(1) An assessment of the differences
in costs incurred by such enrollees and plans for prescription drugs dispensed
by mail-order pharmacies owned by pharmaceutical benefit managers compared
to mail-order pharmacies not owned by pharmaceutical benefit managers, and
community pharmacies.
(2) Whether such plans are acting in
a manner that maximizes competition and results in lower prescription drug
prices for enrollees.
(b) REPORT- Not later than 18 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress
a report on the study conducted under subsection (a). Such report shall include
recommendations regarding any need for legislation to ensure the fiscal integrity
of the voluntary prescription drug benefit program under part D of title XVIII,
as added by section 101, that may be appropriated as the result of such study.
(c) EXEMPTION FROM PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT-
Chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, shall not apply to the collection
of information under subsection (a).
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