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HR 1204 111th Congress House Commerce Competition and antitrust Government studies and investigations Health care costs and insurance Health facilities and institutions Prescription drugs Retail and wholesale trades

Community Pharmacy Fairness Act of 2009

Introduced: February 25, 2009 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 23, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy.
Feb 25, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 25, 2009
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Community Pharmacy Fairness Act of 2009 - Entitles independent pharmacies negotiating contract terms with a health plan for the provision of health care items or services to the same treatment under the antitrust laws as the treatment to which bargaining units recognized under the National Labor Relations Act are entitled. Treats such a pharmacy as an employee engaged in concerted activities in connection with such negotiations.

Exempts actions taken in good faith reliance on this Act from being subject to criminal sanctions or civil penalties beyond actual damages incurred.

Provides that this Act does not exempt from application of antitrust laws any agreement or unlawful conspiracy that: (1) would have the effect of boycotting any independent pharmacy; (2) would exclude, limit the participation or reimbursement of, or otherwise limit the scope of services to be provided by any independent pharmacy or group of independent pharmacies with respect to the performance of services that are within their scope of practice as defined or permitted by relevant law or regulation; (3) allocates a market among competitors; (4) unlawfully ties the sale or purchase of one product or service to the sale or purchase of another product or service; or (5) monopolizes or attempts to monopolize a market.

Requires the Comptroller General to study the impact of this Act after five years.

Provides that this Act does not preclude the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Department of Justice (DOJ) from overseeing the conduct of independent pharmacies covered under this Act.

What's happening now July 23, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2