115 HR 1939 IH: Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act of 2017 U.S. House of Representatives 2017-04-05 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 1939IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESApril 5, 2017Mr. Griffith (for himself and Mr. Welch) introduced the following bill; which was 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 concernedA BILLTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure equal access of Medicare beneficiaries to community pharmacies in underserved areas as network pharmacies under Medicare prescription drug coverage, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act of 2017.

2.

Allowing any State licensed pharmacy serving an underserved area to become a network pharmacy under Medicare prescription drug coverage

(a)

In general

Section 1860D–4(b)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–104(b)(1)(B)) is amended— (1)by striking Discounts allowed for network pharmacies.—For and inserting the following: Discounts allowed for network pharmacies.— (i)

In general

For; and (2)by adding at the end the following new clause: (ii)

Inclusion of pharmacies located in underserved areas in networks

In the case of a prescription drug plan that has, in its network of pharmacies, one or more pharmacies located in a health professional shortage area (as defined in section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act), in a medically underserved area (according to a designation under section 330(b)(3)(A) of the Public Health Service Act), or among a medically underserved population (as defined in such section 330(b)(3)(A) of such Act), and that provides a reduction in coinsurance or copayments described in clause (i) for covered part D drugs dispensed through such pharmacies, such plan shall extend to any pharmacy located in such area or among such population the option to be an in-network pharmacy with respect to such plan under terms and conditions (including the reductions described in clause (i)) comparable to those the plan has agreed upon with other in-network pharmacies located in such area or among such population.. (b)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2018.