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HR 4697 109th Congress House

Medicare Drugs for Seniors (MEDS) Act of 2006

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to replace the Medicare prescription drug benefit adopted by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and M… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to replace the Medicare prescription drug benefit adopted by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 with a revised and simplified prescription benefit program for all Medicare beneficiaries.

Introduced: February 1, 2006 Introduced by: Sanders, Bernard Independent · Vermont See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 17, 2006
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 1, 2006
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.
Feb 1, 2006
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 17, 2006

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Medicare Drugs for Seniors (MEDS) Act of 2006 -Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to replace the current part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) program, adopted by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, with a revised prescription drug benefit program under a new part D (Prescription Medicine Benefit for the Aged and Disabled) for all Medicare beneficiaries.

Provides for reductions in the price of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries.

Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to: (1) revise requirements with respect to the commercial and personal importation of prescription drugs and the disposition of certain drugs denied admission; and (2) prescribe requirements with respect to Internet sales of prescription drugs.

Provides that if any federal agency or any non-profit entity undertakes federally funded health care research and development, and is to convey or provide a patent or other exclusive right to use such research and development for a drug or other health care technology, such agency or entity shall not make such conveyance or provide such patent or other right until the recipient first agrees to a reasonable pricing agreement with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the Secretary determines that the public interest is served by a waiver of the reasonable pricing agreement.

Sets forth Medigap transition requirements.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 3
EMERSON, JO
· Feb 1, 2006
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Feb 1, 2006
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Feb 1, 2006
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Feb 1, 2006
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4697: Medicare Drugs for Seniors (MEDS) Act of 2006. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-4697/
MLA
"H.R. 4697: Medicare Drugs for Seniors (MEDS) Act of 2006." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-4697/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4697, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-4697/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4697: Medicare Drugs for Seniors (MEDS) Act of 2006](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-4697/)
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