TITLE VI--PROVISIONS RELATING TO PART B
Subtitle D--Additional Demonstrations, Studies, and Other Provisions
SEC. 641. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR COVERAGE OF CERTAIN
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND BIOLOGICALS.
(a) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT- The Secretary shall
conduct a demonstration project under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security
Act under which payment is made for drugs or biologicals that are prescribed
as replacements for drugs and biologicals described in section 1861(s)(2)(A)
or 1861(s)(2)(Q) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)(A), 1395x(s)(2)(Q)), or
both, for which payment is made under such part. Such project shall provide
for cost-sharing applicable with respect to such drugs or biologicals in the
same manner as cost-sharing applies with respect to part D drugs under standard
prescription drug coverage (as defined in section 1860D-2(b) of the Social Security
Act, as added by section 101(a)).
(b) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT SITES- The project
established under this section shall be conducted in sites selected by the Secretary.
(c) DURATION- The Secretary shall conduct the
demonstration project for the 2-year period beginning on the date that is 90
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, but in no case may the project
extend beyond December 31, 2005.
(d) LIMITATION- Under the demonstration project
over the duration of the project, the Secretary may not provide--
(1) coverage for more than 50,000 patients;
and
(2) more than $500,000,000 in funding.
(e) REPORT- Not later than July 1, 2006, the
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the project. The report shall
include an evaluation of patient access to care and patient outcomes under the
project, as well as an analysis of the cost effectiveness of the project, including
an evaluation of the costs savings (if any) to the medicare program attributable
to reduced physicians' services and hospital outpatient departments services
for administration of the biological.
