I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6593 
To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study 
on the feasibility of establishing and maintaining an automated and 
searchable system that tracks prescription drug prices in the United 
States, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 26, 2018 
Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to 
conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing and 
maintaining an automated and searchable system that 
tracks prescription drug prices in the United States, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Medication Automated 
Quotation System, or MEDAQ, Act of 2018’’. 
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SEC. 2. STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A SYS-
TEM THAT TRACKS PRESCRIPTION DRUG 
COSTS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States, in consultation with the Commissioner of Food and 
Drugs and the Administrator of CMS, shall conduct a 
study on the feasibility of establishing a medication auto-
mated quotation system. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The feasibility study required under 
subsection (a) shall include assessments of the following: 
(1) The feasibility of— 
(A) collecting or compiling data on the ac-
quisition price per unit that any purchaser (in-
cluding but not limited to a distributor, a re-
tailer, a third-party payor, or ultimate con-
sumer) pays for a prescription drug and the ef-
fect PBMs and other involved entities have on 
such prices; and 
(B) aggregating such data in a manner 
that does not reveal personally identifiable in-
formation. 
(2) The cost of procuring and maintaining a 
medication 
automated 
quotation 
system, 
or 
MEDAQ, based on the above data. 
(3) The need for new or additional laws, regula-
tions, or policies to collect the data necessary for a 
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medication automated quotation system to track and 
generate prescription drug pricing data in the 
United States. 
(4) The possibility of integrating or using the 
FDA’s NDC system and CMS NADAC when cre-
ating the MEDAQ. 
(5) Integration of CMS NADAC when creating 
the MEDAQ and, not withstanding any other provi-
sion of this Act, shall not consider pharmacy report-
ing, collecting, or compiling requirements beyond or 
in addition to the requirements of CMS NADAC. 
(6) Whether the system described under sub-
section (a) is likely to be effective in reducing overall 
prescription drug prices by increasing competition 
and transparency in the drug industry. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 270 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit to Congress a report on the results of the study 
conducted under subsection (a). 
(d) MEDICATION AUTOMATED QUOTATION SYSTEM 
DEFINED.—The term ‘‘medication automated quotation 
system’’ or ‘‘MEDAQ’’ means an automated and search-
able system that— 
(1) with respect to the United States (and with 
respect to each region thereof), tracks and generates 
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data on the acquisition price per unit of any pre-
scription drug that a purchaser pays for such unit 
of such drug; 
(2) produces reports in real time on average 
prices per unit and other data; and 
(3) is accessible to purchasers, who have paid 
a user fee, with limitations to ensure appropriate 
privacy but also transparency in price negotiations. 
Æ 
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