http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills info@washingtonwatch.com http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_971.html?rev=32736 <p>H.R. 971 would ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by making the antitrust laws apply to negotiations between groups of independent pharmacies and health plans and health insurance issuers (including health plans under parts C and D of the Medicare Program) in the same manner as such laws apply to protected activities under the National Labor Relations Act.</p> <h2 id="toc0"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Community Pharmacy Fairness Act of 2007 - 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.</p> <p>Exempts actions taken in good faith reliance on this Act from being subject to criminal sanctions or civil penalties beyond actual damages incurred.</p> <p>Excludes from the provisions of this Act: (1) any agreement or otherwise unlawful conspiracy that excludes, limits the participation or reimbursement of, or otherwise limits the scope of services to be provided by any independent pharmacy; and (2) any negotiations between independent pharmacies and health plans pertaining to federal health benefits.</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc1"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 9/28/2008: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 579.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc2"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc3"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 32736@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_971.html 9/28/2008: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 579. 40871@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_971.html?rev=13623 <p>H.R. 971 would ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by making the antitrust laws apply to negotiations between groups of independent pharmacies and health plans and health insurance issuers (including health plans under parts C and D of the Medicare Program) in the same manner as such laws apply to protected activities under the National Labor Relations Act.</p> <h2 id="toc4"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Community Pharmacy Fairness Act of 2007 - 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.</p> <p>Exempts actions taken in good faith reliance on this Act from being subject to criminal sanctions or civil penalties beyond actual damages incurred.</p> <p>Excludes from the provisions of this Act: (1) any agreement or otherwise unlawful conspiracy that excludes, limits the participation or reimbursement of, or otherwise limits the scope of services to be provided by any independent pharmacy; and (2) any negotiations between independent pharmacies and health plans pertaining to federal health benefits.</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc5"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 2/8/2007: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc6"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc7"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 13623@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/110_HR_971.html?rev=13624 <p>H.R. 971 would ensure and foster continued patient safety and quality of care by making the antitrust laws apply to negotiations between groups of independent pharmacies and health plans and health insurance issuers (including health plans under parts C and D of the Medicare Program) in the same manner as such laws apply to protected activities under the National Labor Relations Act.</p> <h2 id="toc8"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Community Pharmacy Fairness Act of 2007 - 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.</p> <p>Exempts actions taken in good faith reliance on this Act from being subject to criminal sanctions or civil penalties beyond actual damages incurred.</p> <p>Excludes from the provisions of this Act: (1) any agreement or otherwise unlawful conspiracy that excludes, limits the participation or reimbursement of, or otherwise limits the scope of services to be provided by any independent pharmacy; and (2) any negotiations between independent pharmacies and health plans pertaining to federal health benefits.</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc9"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 11/7/2007: House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc10"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc11"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 13624@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_971.html 11/7/2007: House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. 30749@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:00:00 EST http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_971.html#22242 Passage of this bill will go a long way in leveling the playing field against chains and pbms for independent pharmacy. We've been waiting a long time.... 22242@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_971.html#20846 This bill is an important first step in allowing independent pharmacies the ability to negotiate fair and reasonable reimbursement rate and timely payments with dictatorial PBM's... 20846@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_971.html 2/8/2007: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. 18562@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 08 Feb 2007 00:00:00 EST