Bill from Senate hopeful targets Medicare drug abuse

{mosads}”Millions of Americans benefit from Medicare’s drug coverage program each year, which is why it’s imperative that checks are in place to prevent fraud and abuse as well as to protect patients,” said Pallone in a statement Monday.

“We cannot allow Medicare’s prescription drug program to be compromised at taxpayer expense,” he added. 

The bill would require plan sponsors in Medicare Part D to verify that an authorized physician issued the prescription for a controlled substance.


Insurance companies would also be instructed to restrict access to controlled substances for certain patients if credible evidence points to drug abuse.

Pallone is the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Health.