PHARMACEUTICALS

Articles and editorials

Acorn Amendment for Pfizer, H10489 [6OC]

E. Coli Path Shows Flaws in Beef Inspection, H10535 [7OC]

Medicare Part D `Reforms' Will Harm Seniors, S12469 [5DE]

Of NICE and Men, S7254 [8JY]

Pentagon To Offer Swine Flu Vaccine to Terror Suspects, H12122 [29OC]

PHRMA Defends Vulnerable Dems, S6233 [8JN]

Ruin Your Health With the Obama Stimulus Plan, H1137 [10FE]

White House & Big Pharma—What's the Deal?, S12507 [5DE]

White House Affirms Deal on Drug Cost, S10184 [7OC], S12753 [9DE]

Bills and resolutions

Advertising: prohibit as indecent the broadcasting of any advertisement for medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (see H.R. 2175), H4999 [29AP]

American Pharmacy Educator Week: designate (see H. Res. 857), H11712 [22OC]

Armed Forces: provide coverage under the Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance for adverse reactions to vaccinations administered by the Dept. of Defense (see S. 1467), S7639 [16JY]

Business and industry: prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market (see S. 369), S1431 [3FE] (see H.R. 1706), H4025 [25MR]

Consumers: provide tax credit to retirement age individuals, remove barriers to importation, and prohibit certain regulation of Internet sites relative to prescription drugs (see H.R. 163), H34 [6JA]

Controlled Substances Act: address use of intrathecal pumps (see H.R. 3018), H7249 [24JN]

———prevent abuse of dextromethorphan (see S. 1383), S7070 [25JN]

Cuba: facilitate export of U.S. agricultural products, remove impediments to export of medical devices and medicines, allow travel by U.S. citizens, and establish an agricultural export promotion program (see S. 1089), S5700 [20MY] (see H.R. 1531), H3437 [16MR]

Cures Acceleration Network: establish to accelerate research discoveries into life-saving therapies (see S. 914), S4807 [28AP]

Dept. of Defense: establish a TRICARE mail-order pharmacy pilot program (see H.R. 806), H920 [3FE]

Dept. of HHS: carry out a demonstration program to test the feasibility of using elementary and secondary schools as influenza vaccination centers (see H.R. 2596), H6010 [21MY]

———develop an antimicrobial resistance research strategic plan (see H.R. 2400), H5581 [13MY]

———ensure patient choice in pharmacies by regulating pharmacy benefit managers and improving access to prescription drugs for certain individuals (see H.R. 4199), H13519 [3DE]

———ensure that safety net family planning centers are eligible for assistance under the 340B Drug Pricing Program (see S. 310), S787 [22JA]

———establish an Agency for Vaccine Safety Evaluation (see H.R. 2618), H6011 [21MY]

———expand authority to impose debarments in order to ensure the integrity of drug, biological product, and device regulation (see H.R. 3932), H11867 [27OC]

———extend deadlines applicable to filing petitions for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (see H.R. 4096), H13068 [17NO]

———provide for public disclosure of charges for certain hospital and ambulatory surgical center services and drugs (see H.R. 2566), H6009 [21MY]

———revise and expand the 340B Drug Pricing Program to improve provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers (see S. 1239), S6542 [11JN] (see H.R. 444), H162 [9JA]

———revise the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (see H.R. 2459), H5711 [18MY]

Diseases: encourage continued investment to complete development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine (see H. Res. 906), H13001 [16NO]

———establish programs and activities to increase influenza vaccination rates through the provision of free vaccines (see S. 953), S5013 [1MY]

———increase immunization rates (see S. 1003), S5281 [7MY]

———require group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans to cover oral cancer drugs on terms no less favorable than coverage provided for intravenously administered anticancer medications (see H.R. 2366), H5484 [12MY]

Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act: anniversary (see S. Res. 287), S9840 [24SE]

Drugs: increase Federal oversight of methadone (see S. 754), S4063 [31MR]

———prevent abuse of dehydroepiandrosterone (see S. 641), S3550 [19MR]

EPA: convene a task force to develop recommendations on the proper disposal of unused pharmaceuticals (see H.R. 276), H70 [7JA]

FDA: define term ``first applicant'' for purposes of filing an abbreviated application for a new drug (see S. 1315), S6887 [22JN] (see H.R. 3777), H11166 [8OC]

———ensure safety and quality of medical products and enhance authorities (see S. 882), S4669 [23AP]

———establish a user fee for follow-up reinspections (see S. 1477), S7779 [21JY]

———establish recall authority for drugs and increase criminal penalties for sale or trade of knowingly adulterated or misbranded prescription drugs (see H.R. 2726), H6264 [4JN]

———establish standards for the inclusion of risks, benefits, and comparative clinical effectiveness information in drug and device labeling and advertising (see S. 1142), S5819 [21MY]

———improve safety of food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics in the global market (see H.R. 759), H778 [28JA]

———prohibit use of Federal funds to approve certain biologics license applications (see S. 613), S3163 [17MR]

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: amend relative to distribution of the drug dextromethorphan (see H.R. 1259), H2923 [3MR]

———increase penalties relative to counterfeit drugs (see H.R. 1450), H3338 [11MR]

———preserve effectiveness of medically important antibiotics used in treatment of human and animal diseases (see S. 619), S3163 [17MR] (see H.R. 1549), H3525 [17MR]

———prevent certain delays by pharmaceutical companies in allowing introduction of generic drugs (see S. 1778), S10434 [14OC]

———prohibit marketing of authorized generic drugs (see S. 501), S2558 [26FE] (see H.R. 573), H380 [15JA]

———reduce human exposure to mercury through vaccines (see H.R. 2617), H6011 [21MY]

Government: prohibit from awarding contracts, grants, or other agreements to, providing any other Federal funds to, or engaging in activities that promote certain companies convicted of felonies (see H.R. 3679), H10407 [30SE]

Government regulations: importation of prescription drugs (see S. 80), S41 [6JA] (see S. 525), S2766 [4MR] (see S. 1232), S6452 [10JN] (see H.R. 1298), H2978 [4MR]

Health: give critical access hospitals health information technology grant priority, expand drug pricing program participation, study Medicaid pharmacy dispensing fees, and continue State rural health offices funding (see S. 2838), S12413 [4DE]

———permit an individual to be treated by a health care practitioner with any method of medical treatment such individual requests (see H.R. 3261), H8409 [20JY]

———prohibit Federal funding or other assistance for mandatory human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs (see H.R. 3188), H8024 [13JY]

———provide coverage of hormone replacement therapy and alternative therapies for treatment of menopausal symptoms (see H.R. 584), H381 [15JA]

———provide for the licensure of biosimilar and interchangeable biological products (see S. 726), S3897 [26MR] (see H.R. 1427), H3337 [11MR] (see H.R. 1548), H3525 [17MR]

Health care professionals: provide grants or contracts to create prescription drug education and outreach academic detailing programs (see S. 767), S4172 [1AP] (see H.R. 1859), H4396 [1AP]

Insurance: improve prescription drug coverage under Medicare and private health insurance (see S. 1630), S8993 [6AU] (see H.R. 3799), H11297 [13OC]

———require comprehensive coverage for childhood immunizations (see H.R. 323), H89 [8JA]

Medicaid: allow States to permit certain eligible individuals who have extremely high annual lifelong orphan drug costs to continue on Medicaid notwithstanding increased income (see H.R. 1441), H3337 [11MR]

———extend drug rebate program to enrollees of managed care organizations (see S. 547), S2909 [9MR] (see H.R. 904), H1044 [4FE]

———provide coverage of drugs prescribed for certain NIH research study child participants (see S. 406), S2079 [10FE] (see H.R. 1421), H3145 [10MR]

———remove exclusion from medical assistance of items and services for patients in mental institutions (see H.R. 619), H442 [21JA]

———require drug manufacturers to pay rebates to State prescription drug discount programs as a condition of participation in a rebate agreement for outpatient prescription drugs (see H.R. 1725), H4026 [25MR]

———restore and protect access to discount drug prices for university-based and safety-net clinics (see H.R. 398), H160 [9JA]

Medicare: apply exceptions process for tiered formulary drugs to specialty tier drugs (see H.R. 3418), H9205 [30JY]

———cover supplies associated with insulin injection, home needle removal, decontamination, and disposal devices, and disposal of needles and syringes through a sharps-by-mail or similar program (see S. 1312), S6845 [19JN]

———coverage of intravenous immune globulin for in-home treatments of primary immune deficiency diseases and of certain disposable pumps as durable medical equipment (see H.R. 1765), H4063 [26MR]

———delay date on which accreditation requirement applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies (see H.R. 3663), H10069 [29SE]

———deliver a meaningful drug benefit and lower prescription drug prices (see S. 330), S894 [27JA] (see H.R. 684), H525 [26JA] (see H.R. 2860), H6743 [12JN]

———eliminate coinsurance for screening mammography and colorectal cancer screening tests (see H.R. 2291), H5307 [6MY]

———ensure more appropriate payment amounts for drugs and biologicals by excluding customary prompt pay discounts extended to wholesalers from the manufacturer's average sales price (see S. 1221), S6364 [9JN] (see H.R. 1392), H3104 [9MR]

———exempt pharmacies and pharmacists from certain accreditation requirements in the same manner as such exemption applies to certain professionals (see S. 511), S2691 [3MR] (see H.R. 616), H442 [21JA]

———exempt unsanctioned State-licensed retail pharmacies from surety bond requirements for suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (see S. 956), S5014 [1MY] (see H.R. 1970), H4523 [2AP]

———expedite application and qualification process of low-income individuals obtaining subsidized prescription drug coverage (see H.R. 2700), H6263 [4JN]

———improve access of beneficiaries to intravenous immune globulins (IVIG) (see S. 701), S3785 [25MR] (see H.R. 2002), H4580 [21AP]

———improve access to physical medicine and rehabilitation services (see H.R. 1137), H2602 [23FE]

———improve payment methodology for radiopharmaceuticals under hospital outpatient prospective payment system and ensure equitable payment and access to certain radiopharmaceuticals (see H.R. 3917), H11712 [22OC]

———include costs incurred by certain agencies, health centers, or drug assistance programs toward the out-of-pocket threshold of the prescription drug program (see S. 1201), S6255 [8JN] (see H.R. 2777), H6414 [9JN]

———limit prescription drug program premium increases to no more than Social Security cost-of-living adjustment and require Dept. of HHS to negotiate lower prescription drug prices (see H.R. 1832), H4250 [31MR]

———promote medication therapy management under the part D prescription drug program (see H.R. 3108), H7704 [26JN]

———provide continued coverage for immunosuppressive drugs furnished to beneficiaries that have received a kidney transplant and whose coverage would otherwise expire (see S. 565), S2965 [10MR] (see H.R. 1458), H3399 [12MR]

———provide coverage for the shingles vaccine (see H.R. 1038), H1518 [12FE]

———provide for an update under the physician fee schedule to be fully paid for through medical liability reform, a pathway for biosimilar biological products, and other means (see H.R. 4138), H13352 [19NO]

———provide for consolidated coverage of home infusion drug therapy (see S. 254), S598 [15JA] (see H.R. 574), H380 [15JA]

———require use of generic drugs under the prescription drug program when available unless the brand name is determined to be medically necessary (see S. 75), S41 [6JA]

———require wealthy beneficiaries to pay a greater share of their premiums under the prescription drug program (see S. 677), S3657 [24MR]

———standardize marketing requirements under Medicare Advantage and prescription drug programs and provide for State certification prior to waiver of licensure requirements under prescription drug program (see H.R. 3089), H7704 [26JN]

———utilize Value-Based Insurance Design to demonstrate that reducing copayments or coinsurance charged to beneficiaries for selected medications can increase adherence to prescribed medication (see S. 1040), S5501 [14MY]

Medicare/Medicaid: ensure low-income beneficiaries have improved access to prescription drugs (see H.R. 3152), H7946 [9JY]

———establish prescription drug outreach demonstration program for certain eligible individuals with mental disabilities (see H.R. 2390), H5580 [13MY]

———protect and improve prescription drug benefits provided to dual eligible individuals (see S. 1634), S8993 [6AU]

———reduce cost-sharing for certain dual eligible populations under the prescription drug benefit (see S. 534), S2828 [5MR] (see H.R. 1407), H3144 [10MR]

National Immunization Awareness Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 709), H9280 [31JY]

National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month: designate (see S. Res. 263), S9326 [14SE]

NIH: increase funding for medical research with greatest potential for near-term clinical benefit (see H.R. 3475), H9277 [31JY]

Protect Your Pharmacy Week: designate (see H. Res. 326), H4524 [2AP]

Safety: provide for disposal of controlled substances by ultimate users and care takers through State take-back disposal programs and prohibit drug label recommendations on disposal by flushing (see S. 1336), S6993 [24JN] (see H.R. 1191), H2834 [25FE]

———provide for take-back disposal of controlled substances in certain instances (see S. 1292), S6804 [18JN] (see H.R. 1359), H3054 [5MR]

Schools: prohibit Federal education funding for elementary or secondary schools that provide access to emergency postcoital contraception (see H.R. 2458), H5711 [18MY]

Social Security: provide transparency between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or supplies paid for under Medicare, Medicaid, or the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see H.R. 3138), H7945 [9JY]

Tariff: Cetalox (see S. 2045), S10915 [29OC]

———p-fluorobenzaldehyde (see S. 2500), S10924 [29OC]

———pyrethrum extract (see S. 2337), S10921 [29OC]

———RSD 1235 (see S. 2522), S10959 [30OC] (see S. 2753), S11290 [9NO]

Taxation: allow a deduction for amounts paid for health insurance and prescription drug costs of individuals (see H.R. 198), H35 [6JA]

———deny any deduction for direct-to-consumer advertisements of prescription drugs (see S. 2842), S12618 [7DE] (see S. 2873), S13032 [11DE] (see H.R. 2966), H7084 [19JN]

———deny deduction for advertising and promotional expenses for prescription pharmaceuticals (see S. 1763), S10318 [8OC] (see H.R. 3979), H12197 [2NO]

———prohibit tax deduction for prescription drug advertising (see H.R. 2917), H6971 [17JN]

Virgin Islands: authorize shipment of prescription drugs between States and the Virgin Islands (see H.R. 91), H31 [6JA]

Factsheets

Swine Production, Diseases and Antimicrobial Consumption: National Food Institute, Danish Technical University, H10534 [7OC]

Letters

Importation of prescription drugs: Margaret A. Hamburg, FDA, S13227 [15DE]

National policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures: Senator Specter, S7225 [8JY]

Non-therapeutic use of antibiotics on livestock prohibition: Frank M. Aarestrup, National Food Institute, Danish Technical University, H10534 [7OC]

Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act: Senator Reid, S10184 [7OC]

———Susan Eckerly, National Federation of Independent Business, S9714 [23SE]

Phase out nontherapeutic use of antimicrobial drugs in food animals: several health organizations, E2093 [31JY]

Lists

Organizations supporting comparative effectiveness research provisions in H.R. 1, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, H1571 [13FE]

Supporters of S. 914, Cures Acceleration Network establishment, and NIH reauthorization and National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities elevation to Institute status, S4817 [28AP]

Messages

National Emergency Relative to H1N1 Influenza Pandemic: President Obama, S10733 [26OC], H11755 [26OC]

Remarks in House

Business and industry: lower prescription drug prices, H13272 [19NO]

———prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market, H12889 [7NO]

Consumers: provide tax credit to retirement age individuals, remove barriers to importation, and prohibit certain regulation of Internet sites relative to prescription drugs (H.R. 163), E5 [6JA]

Dept. of Defense: vaccination of individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, against H1N1 influenza, H12122 [29OC], H12592 [7NO]

Dept. of HHS: develop an antimicrobial resistance research strategic plan (H.R. 2400), E1142 [13MY]

———ensure patient choice in pharmacies by regulating pharmacy benefit managers and improving access to prescription drugs for certain individuals (H.R. 4199), E2890 [3DE]

———establish an Agency for Vaccine Safety Evaluation (H.R. 2618), E1240 [21MY]

———vaccination of inmates at Texas correctional institutions, E2872 [2DE]

Diseases: response to and preparation for potential H1N1 influenza pandemic, H5161-H5166 [5MY], H9554 [16SE], H12592 [7NO], E2872 [2DE]

Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act: anniversary, E2373 [25SE]

EPA: conduct a study on environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water supply and develop recommendations on treatment and prevention, H3353, H3361 [12MR]

———convene a task force to develop recommendations on the proper disposal of unused pharmaceuticals, H3366, H3367 [12MR]

FDA: define term ``first applicant'' for purposes of filing an abbreviated application for a new drug (H.R. 3777), E2487 [8OC]

———funding, H7816, H7817 [8JY]

———improve safety of food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics in the global market (H.R. 759), H3148 [11MR]

———phase out nontherapeutic use of antimicrobial drugs in food animals, H14945 [15DE], E2093 [31JY]

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: amend relative to distribution of the drug dextromethorphan (H.R. 1259), H4086, H4087 [30MR]

———preserve effectiveness of medically important antibiotics used in treatment of human and animal diseases, H14746 [11DE]

———preserve effectiveness of medically important antibiotics used in treatment of human and animal diseases (H.R. 1549), H8272 [16JY], H10533, H10534 [7OC], E689 [17MR]

———reduce human exposure to mercury through vaccines (H.R. 2617), E1243 [21MY]

Foreign countries: provide assistance to combat HIV/AIDS, H3725 [23MR], H9479 [14SE], H13445 [2DE]

Government: prohibit from awarding contracts, grants, or other agreements to, providing any other Federal funds to, or engaging in activities that promote certain companies convicted of felonies (H.R. 3679), H10489 [6OC]

Health: allow competition in the biosimilar and interchangeable biological products industry, H12888, H12890, H12891, H12896, H12897, H12899, H12914, H12915 [7NO], E2755 [9NO]

———impact of economic stimulus legislation on health care, H1136 [10FE], H1219 [11FE], H1592 [13FE]

———purchase, replenish, and expand Federal and State stockpiles of influenza vaccines, antiviral drugs, masks, ventilators and vaccine delivery devices, H5618 [14MY]

Mackay, Dewey C.: investigation of alleged illegal prescribing of controlled substances, H10493 [6OC], H11085 [7OC], H11149 [8OC]

Medicare: allow waiver of copays for biosimilar interchangeable drugs, H12842 [7NO]

———delay date on which accreditation requirement applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies (H.R. 3663), H10090-H10092 [30SE]

———deliver a meaningful drug benefit and lower prescription drug prices (H.R. 684), H7130 [23JN]

———eliminate gap in coverage of prescription drug benefit, H7025 [19JN], H7130 [23JN]

———provide coverage for the shingles vaccine (H.R. 1038), E265 [12FE]

Medicare/Medicaid: establish prescription drug outreach demonstration program for certain eligible individuals with mental disabilities (H.R. 2390), H5552 [13MY]

RxIMPACT Day: tribute, E1448 [17JN]

Safety: provide for disposal of controlled substances by ultimate users and care takers through State take-back disposal programs and prohibit drug label recommendations on disposal by flushing (H.R. 1191), E386 [25FE], E489-E492 [26FE]

Tibotec Therapeutics (business): tribute to Gender Race and Clinical Experience (GRACE) study, E2426 [1OC], E2597, E2598 [21OC]

U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (organization): tribute, E2509 [13OC]

Remarks in Senate

Birth control: restore nominal prices of oral contraceptives for family planning clinics that do not receive Federal funding and university-based clinics, S2817 [5MR]

Business and industry: lower prescription drug prices, S11953 [21NO], S13165, S13166 [14DE]

———prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market, S13240 [15DE]

———prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market (S. 369), S1433 [3FE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: actuarial report on impact of H.R. 3590, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, on Medicare and Medicaid programs, S13088-S13092 [12DE]

Controlled Substances Act: prevent abuse of dextromethorphan (S. 1383), S7097 [25JN]

Cuba: facilitate export of U.S. agricultural products, remove impediments to export of medical devices and medicines, allow travel by U.S. citizens, and establish an agricultural export promotion program (S. 1089), S5704 [20MY]

Cures Acceleration Network: establish to accelerate research discoveries into life-saving therapies (S. 914), S4813 [28AP]

Dept. of Defense: conduct study on volume and types of antidepressants or antianxiety drugs prescribed to servicemen and the potential relationship between use of such drugs and number of suicide attempts, S7766-S7768 [21JY], S7848 [22JY]

———tribute to U.S. Military HIV Research Program study and testing of AIDS vaccine, S11341 [10NO]

Dept. of HHS: biodefense medical countermeasures development and production funding, S2019, S2020 [9FE]

———revise and expand the 340B Drug Pricing Program to improve provision of discounts on drug purchases for certain safety net providers (S. 1239), S6546 [11JN]

Dept. of Homeland Security: prevent Customs and Border Protection seizure of imported prescription drugs for personal use, S7305, S7306 [9JY]

Diseases: establish programs and activities to increase influenza vaccination rates through the provision of free vaccines (S. 953), S5019 [1MY]

———increase immunization rates (S. 1003), S5287 [7MY]

———preparation for potential H1N1 influenza pandemic, S10805 [28OC]

Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act: anniversary (S. Res. 287), S9853 [24SE]

Drugs: cost to produce drugs and devices that provide alternatives to surgery, S11838 [20NO]

———increase Federal oversight of methadone (S. 754), S4080 [31MR]

———prevent abuse of dehydroepiandrosterone (S. 641), S3553 [19MR]

FDA: ensure safety and quality of medical products and enhance authorities (S. 882), S4686 [23AP]

———establish a review process that would recommend solutions for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of rare and neglected diseases in the developing world, S8620 [31JY], S8651 [3AU], S10281 [8OC]

———establish a user fee for follow-up reinspections (S. 1477), S7783 [21JY]

———establish standards for the inclusion of risks, benefits, and comparative clinical effectiveness information in drug and device labeling and advertising (S. 1142), S5848 [21MY]

———increase access to lower-cost, generic versions of biologic drugs, S7180 [7JY], S7335 [10JY], S7391 [13JY], S7593-S7595 [16JY], S8186 [28JY]

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: preserve effectiveness of medically important antibiotics used in treatment of human and animal diseases (S. 619), S3179 [17MR]

———prevent certain delays by pharmaceutical companies in allowing introduction of generic drugs (S. 1778), S10436 [14OC]

———prohibit marketing of authorized generic drugs (S. 501), S2569 [26FE]

Foreign countries: analysis of universal health care coverage plans, S12501-S12504 [5DE]

Government regulations: importation of prescription drugs, S5927-S5929 [2JN], S6171 [4JN], S6233, S6234, S6246, S6247 [8JN], S6415 [10JN], S7299 [9JY], S10182-S10188, S10192 [7OC], S10404 [14OC], S10687-S10689 [22OC], S10804 [28OC], S10955 [30OC], S11876 [20NO], S12546, S12547 [6DE], S12686-S12688 [8DE], S12751-S12759, S12765, S12770-S12774, S12776-S12780, S12784-S12789, S12792 [9DE], S12870-S12872 [10DE], S12978 [11DE], S13082, S13083 [12DE], S13167, S13168, S13177 [14DE], S13212, S13216, S13219, S13221-S13235, S13238, S13239 [15DE], S13622 [20DE]

———importation of prescription drugs (S. 525), S2780 [5MR]

———importation of prescription drugs (S. 1232), S6478 [10JN], S6481 [11JN], S6866 [22JN], S8216 [29JY], S9713-S9715 [23SE], S9898 [29SE]

Health: impact of economic stimulus legislation on health care, S2197, S2199 [12FE]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, S10955 [30OC]

———provide for the licensure of biosimilar and interchangeable biological products (S. 726), S6793 [18JN]

Insurance: improve prescription drug coverage under Medicare and private health insurance (S. 1630), S9027 [6AU]

Medicaid: extend drug rebate program to enrollees of managed care organizations (S. 547), S2911 [9MR]

———pharmacy reimbursement rate for certain generic drugs, S13778 [22DE]

———provide coverage of drugs prescribed for certain NIH research study child participants (S. 406), S2082 [10FE]

Medicare: delay date on which accreditation requirement applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies (H.R. 3663), S10117 [5OC]

———deliver a meaningful drug benefit and lower prescription drug prices (S. 330), S894 [27JA]

———ensure more appropriate payment amounts for drugs and biologicals by excluding customary prompt pay discounts extended to wholesalers from the manufacturer's average sales price (S. 1221), S6383 [9JN]

———improve access of beneficiaries to intravenous immune globulins (IVIG) (S. 701), S3792 [25MR]

———include costs incurred by certain agencies, health centers, or drug assistance programs toward the out-of-pocket threshold of the prescription drug program (S. 1201), S6265 [8JN]

———provide continued coverage for immunosuppressive drugs furnished to beneficiaries that have received a kidney transplant and whose coverage would otherwise expire (S. 565), S2973 [10MR]

———provide for consolidated coverage of home infusion drug therapy (S. 254), S612 [15JA]

———remove prompt payment discount on prescription drugs, S1674 [5FE]

———require use of generic drugs under the prescription drug program when available unless the brand name is determined to be medically necessary (S. 75), S74 [6JA]

———require wealthy beneficiaries to pay a greater share of their premiums under the prescription drug program, S4247, S4248 [2AP]

Medicare/Medicaid: protect and improve prescription drug benefits provided to dual eligible individuals (S. 1634), S9029 [6AU]

Safety: provide for take-back disposal of controlled substances in certain instances (S. 1292), S6810 [18JN]

States: permit use of tax credits to negotiate health care premium rates, S13862 [23DE]

Taxation: deny deduction for advertising and promotional expenses for prescription pharmaceuticals (S. 1763), S10320 [8OC]

Reports filed

Dextromethorphan Distribution Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 1259) (H. Rept. 111-49), H3833 [24MR]

Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 369), S10486 [15OC]

Summaries

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1): Comparative Effectiveness Research Provisions, H1570 [13FE]

Texts of

H.R. 1259, Dextromethorphan Distribution Act, H4086 [30MR]

H.R. 3663, delay date on which accreditation requirement under Medicare applies to suppliers of durable medical equipment that are pharmacies, H10090 [30SE]

S. 75, Generics First Act, S74 [6JA]

S. 254, Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Coverage Act, S613 [15JA]

S. 330, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act, S895 [27JA]

S. 369, Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act, S1433 [3FE]

S. 547, Drug Rebate Equalization Act, S2912 [9MR]

S. 565, Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act, S2974 [10MR]

S. 914, Cures Acceleration Network establishment to accelerate research discoveries into life-saving therapies, and NIH reauthorization and National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities elevation to Institute status, S4815-S4817 [28AP]

S. 1003, Immunization Improvement Act, S5288-S5290 [7MY]

S. 1142, Informed Health Care Decision Making Act, S5849 [21MY]

S. 1201, Helping Fill the Medicare Rx Gap Act, S6265 [8JN]

S. 1221, ensure more appropriate Medicare payment amounts for drugs and biologicals by excluding customary prompt pay discounts extended to wholesalers from the manufacturer's average sales price, S6383 [9JN]

S. 1239, 340B Program Improvement and Integrity Act, S6546-S6548 [11JN]

S. 1383, Dextromethorphan Abuse Reduction Act, S7098 [25JN]

S. 1630, Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act, S9027-S9029 [6AU]

S. 1634, Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Improvement Act, S9030-S9038 [6AU]

S. Res. 263, National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month, S9330 [14SE]

S. Res. 287, Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act anniversary, S9853 [24SE]