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Bill106th CongressFiled Nov 9, 1999Health
H.R. 3274

Patients' Formulary Rights Act of 1999

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary introduced in house (Nov 9, 1999)

Patients' Formulary Rights Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit a group health plan, and the insurance issuer offering such coverage, from using a formulary (a plan which limits the particular drugs for which coverage will be available) unless the plan or issuer: (1) notifies participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees in advance about, and makes available to treating health care professionals under the plan, specified information concerning the formulary; (2) notifies such individuals of any changes in the formulary; and (3) when a drug is removed from the formulary, permits an individual to continue to have the drug prescribed for treatment of the same condition.

Includes within required formulary information: (1) the extent of therapeutic substitution; (2) a complete list of all drugs included in the formulary; (3) information on access to nonformulary drugs; (4) whether or not, and to what extent, coverage will exist for nonformulary drugs; (5) copayments or other cost-sharing for formulary drugs; and (6) limits on coverage payments for outpatient formulary and nonformulary drugs.

Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require its authorized health insurance issuers and any Medicare+Choice organization to comply with such notification requirements in the same manner that such requirements apply to health insurance coverage or issuers in connection with a group plan.

Requires the coordination of notification and formulary requirements through an interagency memorandum of understanding among the Secretaries of Labor, the Treasury, and Health and Human Services.

What just happenedNov 17, 1999

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4](D-IL)Sponsor
Read on Congress.gov
3committees9actions19subjects
  1. Nov 17, 1999CommitteeH11000

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Health Subcommittee
  2. Nov 17, 1999CommitteeH11000

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.

    Health and Environment Subcommittee
  3. Nov 10, 1999IntroReferralB00100

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2329)

  4. Nov 9, 1999IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and 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.

    Ways and Means Committee
  5. Nov 9, 1999IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and 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.

    Education and Workforce Committee
  6. Nov 9, 1999IntroReferralH11100-A

    Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and 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.

  7. Nov 9, 1999IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and 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.

    Energy and Commerce Committee
  8. Nov 9, 1999IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  9. Nov 9, 1999IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House