[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1073 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1073

 To amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to encourage the 
              use of generic instead of nongeneric drugs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 13, 1997

Mrs. Meek of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred 
          to the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to encourage the 
              use of generic instead of nongeneric drugs.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to reduce the cost of prescription 
medications to the United States Government and to enrollees under the 
health benefits program for Federal employees, while maintaining the 
quality of health care, by requiring that generic drugs rather than 
nongeneric drugs be used under that program, whenever possible.

SEC. 2. GENERIC DRUGS.

    (a) In General.--Section 8902 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(o) Each contract under this chapter shall include provisions to 
ensure that, to the extent possible, prescriptions shall be filled by 
providing the generic form of the drug involved, except if its 
nongeneric form is--
            ``(1) specifically ordered by the prescribing provider; or
            ``(2) requested by the individual for whom the drug is 
        prescribed.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply 
with respect to contracts entered into or renewed for years beginning 
at least 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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