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S 4024 111th Congress Senate

Medicare Enhancements for Needed Drugs Act of 2010

Official title: A bill to reduce the costs of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and to guarantee access to comprehensive prescription drug coverage under part D of… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to reduce the costs of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and to guarantee access to comprehensive prescription drug coverage under part D of the Medicare program, and for other purposes.

Introduced: December 10, 2010 Introduced by: Wyden, Ron Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
Health Congressional oversightHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessMedicare
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Military medicinePrescription drugsPublic contracts and procurementVeterans' medical care
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) 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
Dec 10, 2010
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Dec 10, 2010
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8787-8788)
Dec 10, 2010
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action December 10, 2010

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Medicare Enhancements for Needed Drugs Act of 2010 - Directs the Comptroller General to review and report to Congress on the retail cost of prescription drugs in the United States during 2004 through 2010, with an emphasis on the prescription drugs most utilized for individuals age 65 or older.

Requires the Comptroller General to conduct an ongoing study that compares the average retail cost in the United States for each of the 20 most utilized prescription drugs for individuals age 65 or older with: (1) the average prices at which private health plans, the Department of Defense (DOD) under the Defense Health Program, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) acquire each such drug; and (2) the average negotiated price for each such drug that eligible beneficiaries have access to under a Medicare prescription drug plan providing only basic prescription drug coverage.

Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to include in the comparative plan information for beneficiaries under Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) a comparison of average aggregate prescription drug plan beneficiary costs and savings with such costs for a beneficiary with no prescription drug plan.

Repeals the prohibition against interference by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) with the negotiations between drug manufacturers and pharmacies and prescription drug plan sponsors. Authorizes the Secretary instead, like other federal entities that purchase prescription drugs in bulk, to negotiate contracts with manufacturers of covered part D drugs. Requires the use of the resulting savings to the Medicare Prescription Drug Account to strengthen the part D program and to reduce the federal deficit.

Requires the Secretary to ensure that each part D eligible individual has: (1) a choice of enrollment in a comprehensive prescription drug plan in the area in which the individual resides; or (2) in any case in which such a plan is not available, the opportunity to enroll in a comprehensive fallback prescription drug plan.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 4024: Medicare Enhancements for Needed Drugs Act of 2010. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-4024/
MLA
"S. 4024: Medicare Enhancements for Needed Drugs Act of 2010." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-4024/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 4024, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-4024/.
Markdown link
[S. 4024: Medicare Enhancements for Needed Drugs Act of 2010](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-4024/)
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