[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3496 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3496

   To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit direct 
payment to pharmacies for certain compounded drugs that are prepared by 
the pharmacies for a specific beneficiary for use through an implanted 
                             infusion pump.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 2, 2012

Mr. Cochran (for himself and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit direct 
payment to pharmacies for certain compounded drugs that are prepared by 
the pharmacies for a specific beneficiary for use through an implanted 
                             infusion pump.

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

SECTION 1. MEDICARE DIRECT PAYMENT TO PHARMACIES FOR CERTAIN COMPOUNDED 
              DRUGS THAT ARE PREPARED BY THE PHARMACIES FOR A SPECIFIC 
              BENEFICIARY FOR USE THROUGH AN IMPLANTED INFUSION PUMP.

    (a) In General.--The first sentence of section 1842(b)(6) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(6)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' before ``(H)''; and
            (2) by inserting before the period at the end the 
        following: ``, and (I) in the case of covered compounded drugs 
        that are prepared by a pharmacy for a specific individual, are 
        dispensed, directly or indirectly, to the individual, are 
        necessary for the effective use of, or therapeutic benefit 
        from, an implanted infusion pump (regardless who refills the 
        pump), and are billed directly by the pharmacy, payment shall 
        be made to the pharmacy''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to drugs dispensed on or after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.
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