Medicare Data Access and Research Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (14 Sep 2006): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9634-9636)
What this bill does
S. 3897, the Medicare Data Access and Research Act, would amend the Social Security Act to expand sharing of Medicare data collected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It would require CMS to enter into data-release agreements with the FDA, CDC, AHRQ, and NIH, giving them access to Medicare Part D prescription drug data linked with hospital, physician, and other medical claims data for public health research such as drug safety monitoring. It would also direct CMS to make similar linked data available to university-based and other qualified research centers, under confidentiality safeguards, review criteria, and penalties for misuse. Separately, it would require CMS to share certain Part D pricing and bid data with congressional support agencies—the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Congressional Research Service, Congressional Budget Office, and Government Accountability Office—for budget and oversight work, while barring release of individually identifiable information.
The bill mainly affects federal health and research agencies, academic and nonprofit research organizations, Medicare beneficiaries whose data would be used (with privacy protections), and congressional agencies that analyze Medicare spending and policy. It does not change Medicare benefits or eligibility.
The bill was introduced by Senator Chuck Grassley, with Senator Max Baucus as cosponsor, on September 14, 2006, in the 109th Congress, and referred to the Senate Finance Committee. It did not receive a vote and did not become law; any similar changes would require reintroduction in a later Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Medicare Data Access and Research Act - Amends title XI of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to: (1) enter into data release agreements with specified agencies to provide access to relevant data submitted by prescription drug (PD) plans and MedicareAdvantage-Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plans under part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of SSA title XVIII (Medicare) and linked to hospital, physician, and other relevant medical claims, utilization, and diagnostic Medicare and Medicaid (SSA title XIX) data; and (2) permit such an agency to link such data with other relevant health data as needed to accomplish its research objectives.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) enter into data use agreements with specified research centers and organizations to provide access to the same kind of data; (2) permit them to link it with other relevant health data for research purposes; and (3) prepare the linked sets of data for release not later than July 1, 2007.
Amends SSA title XVIII to direct the Secretary to provide a congressional support agency upon request with Medicare part D information for use in carrying out its functions and activities as mandated by Congress.
Timeline
14 Sep 2006
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9634-9636)
Common questions
- What does S. 3897 do?
- S. 3897, the Medicare Data Access and Research Act, would amend the Social Security Act to expand sharing of Medicare data collected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It would require CMS to enter into data-release agreements with the FDA, CDC, AHRQ, and NIH, giving them access to Medicare Part D prescription drug data linked with hospital, physician, and other medical claims data for public health research such as drug safety monitoring. It would also direct CMS to make similar linked data available to university-based and other qualified research centers, under confidentiality safeguards, review criteria, and penalties for misuse. Separately, it would require CMS to share certain Part D pricing and bid data with congressional support agencies—the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Congressional Research Service, Congressional Budget Office, and Government Accountability Office—for budget and oversight work, while barring release of individually identifiable information. The bill mainly affects federal health and research agencies, academic and nonprofit research organizations, Medicare beneficiaries whose data would be used (with privacy protections), and congressional agencies that analyze Medicare spending and policy. It does not change Medicare benefits or eligibility. The bill was introduced by Senator Chuck Grassley, with Senator Max Baucus as cosponsor, on September 14, 2006, in the 109th Congress, and referred to the Senate Finance Committee. It did not receive a vote and did not become law; any similar changes would require reintroduction in a later Congress.
- Has S. 3897 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 3897. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 3897?
- S. 3897 was sponsored by Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] (R-IA), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 3897?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9634-9636) (14 Sep 2006).
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