[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2173 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2173

   To assist pharmacies in facilitating enrollment of dual eligible 
       populations under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 21, 2005

 Mrs. Clinton (for herself and Mr. Rockefeller) introduced the 
        following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
        Committee on FinanceYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

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                                 A BILL


 
   To assist pharmacies in facilitating enrollment of dual eligible 
       populations under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Dual Eligible 
Identification and Enrollment Facilitation Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. FACILITATION OF IDENTIFICATION AND ENROLLMENT THROUGH 
              PHARMACIES OF FULL-BENEFIT DUAL ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS IN 
              THE MEDICARE PART D DRUG PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
provide for outreach and education to pharmacies participating under 
part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, particularly 
independent pharmacies, on the following:
            (1) The full-benefit dual eligible population.
            (2) The transition from Medicaid prescription drug coverage 
        to coverage under such part for such population.
            (3) The processes established by the Secretary to 
        facilitate, at point of sale, identification of drug plan 
        assignment of such population or enrollment of previously 
        unidentified or new full-benefit dual eligible individuals into 
        Medicare part D prescription drug coverage, including how 
        pharmacies can use such processes to help ensure that such 
        population makes a successful transition to Medicare part D 
        without a lapse in prescription drug coverage.
    (b) Holding Pharmacies Harmless for Certain Costs.--The Secretary 
of Health and Human Services shall provide for such payments to 
pharmacies as may be necessary to reimburse pharmacies fully for--
            (1) any transaction fees associated with the point-of-sale 
        facilitated identification and enrollment processes referred to 
        in subsection (a)(3); and
            (2) costs associated with any technology or software 
        upgrade necessary to make any identification and enrollment 
        inquiries as part of such processes.
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