SENIOR Communities Protection Act

Bill: 115-s-3327
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced: 2018-08-01
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2018-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-08-01
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Stop Excessive Narcotics in our Retirement Communities Protection Act or the SENIOR Communities Protection Act</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes the suspension of payments to a pharmacy under the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans pending the investigation of a credible allegation of&nbsp;fraud by the pharmacy. A fraud hotline tip, without other evidence, may not be considered a credible allegation of fraud. </p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3327 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 1, 2018 Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Mr. Kennedy ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to authorize the suspension of payments by Medicare prescription drug plans and MA–PD plans pending investigations of credible allegations of fraud by pharmacies.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Excessive Narcotics In Our Retirement Communities Protection Act or the SENIOR Communities Protection Act . 2. Suspension of payments by Medicare prescription drug plans and MA–PD plans pending investigations of credible allegations of fraud by pharmacies (a) In general Section 1860D–12(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–112(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (7) Suspension of payments pending investigation of credible allegations of fraud by pharmacies (A) In general The provisions of section 1862(o) shall apply with respect to a PDP sponsor with a contract under this part, a pharmacy, and payments to such pharmacy under this part in the same manner as such provisions apply with respect to the Secretary, a provider of services or supplier, and payments to such provider of services or supplier under this title. (B) Rule of construction Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as limiting the authority of a PDP sponsor to conduct postpayment review. . (b) Application to MA–PD plans Section 1857(f)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–27(f)(3) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (D) Suspension of payments pending investigation of credible allegations of fraud by pharmacies Section 1860D–12(b)(7). . (c) Conforming amendment Section 1862(o)(3) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395y(o)(3) ) is amended by inserting , section 1860D–12(b)(7) (including as applied pursuant to section 1857(f)(3)(D)), after this subsection . (d) Clarification relating to credible allegation of fraud Section 1862(o) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395y(o) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) Credible allegation of fraud In carrying out this subsection, section 1860D–12(b)(7) (including as applied pursuant to section 1857(f)(3)(D)), and section 1903(i)(2)(C), a fraud hotline tip (as defined by the Secretary) without further evidence shall not be treated as sufficient evidence for a credible allegation of fraud. . (e) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2020.