[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3151 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3151

To amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the 
exclusion of benzodiazepines from required coverage under the Medicare 
                       prescription drug program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 30, 2005

Mr. Cardin (for himself and Mr. Ramstad) 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 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the 
exclusion of benzodiazepines from required coverage under the Medicare 
                       prescription drug program.

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

SECTION 1. REMOVAL OF EXCLUSION OF BENZODIAZEPINES FROM REQUIRED 
              COVERAGE UNDER THE MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 1860D-2(e)(2) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395w-102(e)(2)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``subparagraph (E)'' and inserting 
        ``subparagraphs (E) and (J)''; and
            (2) by inserting ``and benzodiazepines'' after ``smoking 
        cessation agents''.
    (b) Review of Benzodiazepine Prescription Policies to Assure 
Appropriateness and to Avoid Abuse.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall review the policies of medicare prescription drug plans 
(and MA-PD plans) under parts C and D of title XVIII of the Social 
Security Act regarding the filling of prescriptions for benzodiazepine 
to ensure that these policies are consistent with accepted clinical 
guidelines, are appropriate to individual health histories, and are 
designed to minimize long term use, guard against over-prescribing, and 
prevent patient abuse.
    (c) Development by Medicare Quality Improvement Organizations of 
Educational Guidelines for Physicians Regarding Prescribing of 
Benzodiazepines.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
provide, in contracts entered into with medicare quality improvement 
organizations under part B of title XI of the Social Security Act, for 
the development by such organizations of appropriate educational 
guidelines for physicians regarding the prescribing of benzodiazepines.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall be 
effective as if included in the enactment of the Medicare Prescription 
Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173).
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