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    <number>239</number>
    <updateDate>2022-02-03T05:38:27Z</updateDate>
    <updateDateIncludingText>2022-02-03T05:38:27Z</updateDateIncludingText>
    <originChamber>Senate</originChamber>
    <originChamberCode>S</originChamberCode>
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    <introducedDate>2005-02-01</introducedDate>
    <congress>109</congress>
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        <name>Finance Committee</name>
        <chamber>Senate</chamber>
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            <name>Referred to</name>
            <date>2005-02-01T22:41:15Z</date>
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        <text>Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.</text>
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        <actionDate>2005-02-01</actionDate>
        <text>Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S745-746)</text>
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        <actionDate>2005-02-01</actionDate>
        <text>Introduced in Senate</text>
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        <fullName>Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]</fullName>
        <firstName>Olympia</firstName>
        <lastName>Snowe</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>ME</state>
        <middleName>J.</middleName>
        <isByRequest>N</isByRequest>
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        <bioguideId>W000779</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]</fullName>
        <firstName>Ron</firstName>
        <lastName>Wyden</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>OR</state>
        <sponsorshipDate>2005-02-01</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
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      <item>
        <bioguideId>M000303</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]</fullName>
        <firstName>JOHN</firstName>
        <lastName>MCCAIN</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>AZ</state>
        <middleName>SIDNEY</middleName>
        <sponsorshipDate>2005-02-01</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>F000062</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]</fullName>
        <firstName>Dianne</firstName>
        <lastName>Feinstein</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CA</state>
        <sponsorshipDate>2005-02-01</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
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      <item>
        <bioguideId>F000061</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI]</fullName>
        <firstName>RUSSELL</firstName>
        <lastName>FEINGOLD</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>WI</state>
        <middleName>D.</middleName>
        <sponsorshipDate>2005-02-01</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>True</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>S001163</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Sen. Salazar, Ken [D-CO]</fullName>
        <firstName>Ken</firstName>
        <lastName>Salazar</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>CO</state>
        <sponsorshipDate>2005-02-08</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>N000032</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]</fullName>
        <firstName>CLARENCE</firstName>
        <lastName>NELSON</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>FL</state>
        <middleName>WILLIAM</middleName>
        <sponsorshipDate>2005-02-10</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>K000105</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]</fullName>
        <firstName>EDWARD</firstName>
        <lastName>KENNEDY</lastName>
        <party>D</party>
        <state>MA</state>
        <middleName>MOORE</middleName>
        <sponsorshipDate>2005-02-17</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
      <item>
        <bioguideId>C001040</bioguideId>
        <fullName>Sen. Chafee, Lincoln [R-RI]</fullName>
        <firstName>LINCOLN</firstName>
        <lastName>CHAFEE</lastName>
        <party>R</party>
        <state>RI</state>
        <middleName>D.</middleName>
        <sponsorshipDate>2006-03-08</sponsorshipDate>
        <isOriginalCosponsor>False</isOriginalCosponsor>
      </item>
    </cosponsors>
    <policyArea>
      <name>Health</name>
    </policyArea>
    <subjects>
      <legislativeSubjects>
        <item>
          <name>Armed Forces and National Security</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Commerce</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Congress</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Congressional investigations</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Congressional reporting requirements</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Defense procurement</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Drug industry</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Drugs</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Government Operations and Politics</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Government procurement</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Health insurance</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Medicare</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Medigap</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Military medicine</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Prescription pricing</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Social Welfare</name>
        </item>
        <item>
          <name>Veterans' medical care</name>
        </item>
      </legislativeSubjects>
      <policyArea>
        <name>Health</name>
      </policyArea>
    </subjects>
    <summaries>
      <summary>
        <versionCode>00</versionCode>
        <actionDate>2005-02-01</actionDate>
        <actionDesc>Introduced in Senate</actionDesc>
        <updateDate>2005-02-22T20:13:44Z</updateDate>
        <text><![CDATA[ <p>Medicare Enhancements for Needed Drugs Act of 2005 - Directs the Comptroller General to review and report to Congress on the retail cost of prescription drugs in the United States during 2000 and 2003, and through April 1, 2006, with an emphasis on the prescription drugs most utilized for individuals age 65 or older.</p> <p>Requires the Comptroller General to conduct an ongoing study that compares the average retail cost in the United States for each of the 20 most utilized prescription drugs for individuals age 65 or older with: (1) the average prices at which private health plans, the Department of Defense under the Defense Health Program, and the Department of Veterans Affairs acquire each such drug; and (2) the average negotiated price for each such drug that eligible beneficiaries have access to under a Medicare prescription drug plan providing only basic prescription drug coverage.</p> <p>Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to include in the comparative plan information for beneficiaries under new Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) a comparison of average aggregate prescription drug plan beneficiary costs and savings with such costs for a beneficiary with no prescription drug plan.</p> <p>Repeals the prohibition against interference by the Secretary with the negotiations between drug manufacturers and pharmacies and prescription drug plan sponsors, as well as the requirement of a particular formulary to institute a price structure for the reimbursement of Medicare part D covered drugs. Authorizes the Secretary instead, like other Federal entities that purchase prescription drugs in bulk, to negotiate contracts with manufacturers of covered part D drugs.</p> <p></p>]]></text>
      </summary>
    </summaries>
    <title>Medicare Enhancements for Needed Drugs Act of 2005</title>
    <titles>
      <item>
        <titleType>Short Titles as Introduced</titleType>
        <title>Medicare Enhancements for Needed Drugs Act of 2005</title>
      </item>
      <item>
        <titleType>Display Title</titleType>
        <title>Medicare Enhancements for Needed Drugs Act of 2005</title>
      </item>
      <item>
        <titleType>Official Title as Introduced</titleType>
        <title>A bill to reduce the costs of prescription drugs for medicare beneficiaries, and for other purposes.</title>
      </item>
    </titles>
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      <item>
        <type>Introduced in Senate</type>
        <date>2005-02-01T05:00:00Z</date>
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            <url>https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-109s239is/xml/BILLS-109s239is.xml</url>
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    <latestAction>
      <actionDate>2005-02-01</actionDate>
      <text>Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.</text>
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    <dc:language>EN</dc:language>
    <dc:rights>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.</dc:rights>
    <dc:contributor>Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress</dc:contributor>
    <dc:description>This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.</dc:description>
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