104 STAT. 1388-160 PUBLIC LAW 101-508 —NOV. 5, 1990 quality of care and cost-effectiveness of paying pharmacists under title XIX of the Social Security Act, whether or not a drug is dispensed, for drug use review services. For this purpose, the Secretary shall provide for no fewer than 5 demonstration sites in different States and the participation of a significant number of pharmacists. (B) Not later than January 1, 1995, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress on the results of the demonstration project conducted under subparagraph (A). 42 USC 1396r-8 (d) STUDIES.— "o **- (1) STUDY OF DRUG PURCHASING AND BILLING ACTIVITIES OF VARIOUS HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS.— (A) The Comptroller General shall conduct a study of the drug purchasing and billing practices of hospitals, other institutional facilities, and managed care plans which provide covered outpatient drugs in the medicaid program. The study shall compare the ingredient costs of drugs for medicaid prescriptions to these facilities and plans and the charges billed to medical assistance programs by these facilities and plans compared to retail pharmacies. (B) The study conducted under this subsection shall include an assessment of— (i) the prices paid by these institutions for covered outpatient drugs compared to prices that would be paid under this section, (ii) the quality of outpatient drug use review provided by these institutions as compared to drug use review required under this section, and (iii) the efficiency of mechanisms used by these institutions for billing and receiving payment for covered outpatient drugs dispensed under this title. (C) By not later than May 1, 1991, the Comptroller General shall report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (hereafter in this section referred to as the "Secretary"), the Committee on Finance of the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Aging of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the study conducted under subparagraph (A). (2) REPORT ON DRUG PRICING. —By not later than May 1 of each year, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Aging of the Senate and House of Representatives an annual report on changes in prices charged by manufacturers for prescription drugs to the Department of Veterans Affairs, other Federal programs, retail and hospital pharmacies, and other purchasing groups and managed care plans. (3) STUDY ON PRIOR APPROVAL PROCEDURES.— (A) The Secretary, acting in consultation with the Comptroller General, shall study prior approval procedures utilized by State medical assistance programs conducted under title XIX of the Social Security Act, including— (i) the appeals provisions under such programs; and (ii) the effects of such procedures on beneficiary and provider access to medications covered under such programs.
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