Sec. 50351. GAO STUDY AND REPORT ON IMPROVING MEDICATION SYNCHRONIZATION

310 words·~1 min read·/statute-compilations/comps-14173/sec-50351

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

## SEC. 50351 GAO STUDY AND REPORT ON IMPROVING MEDICATION SYNCHRONIZATION ###

(a)Study The Comptroller General of the United States (in this section referred to as the “Comptroller General”) shall conduct a study on the extent to which Medicare prescription drug plans (MA–PD plans and stand alone prescription drug plans) under part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act and private payors use programs that synchronize pharmacy dispensing so that individuals may receive multiple prescriptions on the same day to facilitate comprehensive counseling and promote medication adherence. The study shall include a analysis of the following: ####

(1)The extent to which pharmacies have adopted such programs. ####

(2)The common characteristics of such programs, including how pharmacies structure counseling sessions under such programs and the types of payment and other arrangements that Medicare prescription drug plans and private payors employ under such programs to support the efforts of pharmacies. ####

(3)How such programs compare for Medicare prescription drug plans and private payors. ####

(4)What is known about how such programs affect patient medication adherence and overall patient health outcomes, including if adherence and outcomes vary by patient subpopulations, such as disease state and socioeconomic status. ####

(5)What is known about overall patient satisfaction with such programs and satisfaction with such programs, including within patient subpopulations, such as disease state and socioeconomic status. ####

(6)The extent to which laws and regulations of the Medicare program support such programs. ####

(7)Barriers to the use of medication synchronization programs by Medicare prescription drug plans. ###

(b)Report Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study under subsection (a), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.