Bill > HR2484

This bill creates a temporary exception to the physician self-referral prohibition for certain outpatient prescription drugs under Medicare from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2030. The exception allows physicians to prescribe and dispense specific Medicare Part D drugs to patients with whom they have an established relationship, meaning the patient has had at least one face-to-face encounter with the physician in the past year. Physicians can dispense these drugs directly from their practice location through in-person pickup or delivery services, and bill for the drugs under their practice's billing number. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive study examining pharmacies dispensing Part D drugs, focusing on characteristics of these pharmacies, their ownership structures, and potential arrangements between physicians and pharmacy networks. The study will analyze how these arrangements might influence prescribing patterns and identify potential conflicts of interest. Additionally, the bill makes a minor adjustment to the Medicare Improvement Fund by reducing its funding from $1,804,000,000 to $1,786,000,000. The goal of the bill appears to be increasing seniors' access to critical medications by providing more flexibility for physicians in prescribing and dispensing drugs.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2484/all-info