Requiring Emergency Pharmaceutical Access for Individual Relief (REPAIR) Act of 2006

Bill: 109-s-2183
Sponsor: Sen. Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV]
Introduced: 2006-01-20 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
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Intergovernmental fiscal relations
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Patients' rights
Pharmacies
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Prescription pricing
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
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Telephone
Welfare eligibility

Summary:
action_date: 2006-01-20
text: 
Requiring Emergency Pharmaceutical Access for Individual Relief (REPAIR) Act of 2006 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) with respect to transition requirements.
 
Authorizes a pharmacy to fill prescriptions on a renewable 30-day basis for full-benefit dual eligible individuals during 2006 when a reasonable search by the pharmacy to locate or verify an individual's enrollment fails.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services and a prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plan under Medicare part C (Medicare+Choice) to identify clearly all full-benefit dual eligible individuals in their data records.
 
Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to prohibit conditioning Medicaid eligibility for individuals enrolled in certain creditable prescription drug coverage on enrollment in the Medicare part D drug program.
 
Requires the Secretary to establish process to ensure that full-benefit dual eligible individuals are not overcharged.
 
Requires reimbursement to states for 2006 transition costs.
 
Directs the Secretary to provide for outreach and education to every pharmacy participating in the Medicaid program, on the needs of full-benefit dual eligible individuals and the transition from Medicaid prescription drug coverage to part D coverage.
 
Directs the Secretary to ensure that an employee of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is stationed at each state health insurance counseling program to assist Medicare beneficiaries and counselors regarding the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.
 

 
Authorizes state coverage of non-formulary prescription drugs for full-benefit dual eligible individuals during 2006.
 
Prohibits the Secretary from terminating coverage of a full-benefit dual eligible individual unless such individual has functioning access to a prescription drug plan under part D or an MA-PD plan.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-01-20
text: Read twice and referred, under authority of the order of the Senate of Jan. 18, 2006, to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR 1/24/2006 S25-27)
action_date: 2006-01-20
text: Introduced in Senate