[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 138 (Monday, August 20, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5729-S5730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3781. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill H.R. 6157, making appropriations for the Department of 
Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title II of division B, insert 
     the following:

     SEC. __. HHS STUDY ON DRUG PRICING.

       (a) Study.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in 
     this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct 
     a study on the changes in prices of prescription drugs since 
     2008. Such study shall include the following:
       (1) A comparison of prescription drug prices (net of 
     rebates) paid by the following programs for the 10 most 
     frequently prescribed drugs and the 10 highest-cost drugs for 
     each of the following:
       (A) The Medicare program under part B of title XVIII of the 
     Social Security Act.
       (B) The Medicare prescription drug program under part D of 
     title XVIII of such Act.
       (C) The Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act.
       (D) The Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (2) A breakdown of the comparative prices (net of rebates) 
     for each of the 10 most frequently prescribed drugs and the 
     10 highest-cost drugs between ambulatory settings and retail 
     settings.
       (3) Under the Medicare prescription drug program under such 
     part D, a description of the gross drug costs and net drug 
     costs and the direct and indirect remuneration for the 10 
     most frequently prescribed drugs and the 10 highest-cost 
     drugs.
       (4) A description of the total annual costs due to 
     prescription drugs under the Medicare program under such part 
     B, such part D, and the Medicaid program.
       (5) A list the drugs that have been registered for sale by 
     the Food and Drug Administration in the past 5 years that 
     have benefited significantly from government grants or 
     research subsidies in either the pre-clinical or clinical 
     stages of development, as well as the price (net of rebates) 
     and total spending under the Medicare and Medicaid programs 
     for each of those drugs.
       (6) Other items determined appropriate by the Secretary.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
     a report on

[[Page S5730]]

     the study conducted under subsection (a), together with 
     recommendations for such legislation and administrative 
     action as the Secretary determines appropriate.
                                 ______