Fair and Speedy Treatment (FAST) of Medicare Prescription Drug Claims Act of 2006

Bill: 109-hr-5182
Sponsor: Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3]
Introduced: 2006-04-25 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Ambulatory care
Case management
Collection of accounts
Commerce
Community health services
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer education
Drug abuse
Drug interactions
Drug therapy
Drugs
Electronic funds transfers
Federal advisory bodies
Finance and Financial Sector
Generic drugs
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Health education
Health insurance
Health maintenance organizations
Intellectual property
Interest
Managed care
Medical economics
Medical fees
Medicare
Medication abuse
Packaging
Pharmacies
Pharmacists
Prescription pricing
Quality of care
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Trademarks

Summary:
action_date: 2006-04-25
text: 
Fair and Speedy Treatment (FAST) of Medicare Prescription Drug Claims Act of 2006 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require prompt payment of clean claims to pharmacies by prescription drug plans (PDPs) and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (MA-PD Plans). Defines prompt payment as within 14 calendar days from submission for claims submitted electronically, and within 30 calendar days for claims submitted otherwise. Requires payment of interest, also, if a payment is not issued, mailed, or otherwise transmitted within the applicable number of calendar days.
 
Makes it unlawful for a PDP sponsor of a prescription drug plan to display on the prescription drug card the name, brand, or trademark (co-branding) of any pharmacy.
 
Requires each PDP sponsor to charge not less than the minimum dispensing fee, $14, adjusted annually for inflation, for generic covered Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) drugs.
 
Revises requirements for a covered medication therapy management service, allowing it to be furnished by a health care provider, other than a pharmacist, with advanced training in medication management. 
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to specify: (1) the population of part D eligible individuals appropriate for services under a medication therapy management program, based on certain characteristics; and (2) a minimum defined package of medication therapy management services that shall be provided to each enrollee.
 
Revises requirements for pharmacy fees.
 
Directs the Secretary to establish: (1) a two-year demonstration program to examine the impact of medication therapy management furnished by a pharmacist in a community-based or ambulatory-based setting on quality of care, spending, and patient health; and (2) a Best Practices Commission to develop a best practices model for medication therapy management.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2006-04-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2006-04-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2006-04-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2006-04-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2006-04-25
text: Introduced in House