GAO study and report on use of value-based purchasing arrangements

(a) Study The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the extent to which value-based purchasing arrangements (as defined in section 1927(k)(12) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r–8(k)(12))) facilitate patient access to covered outpatient drugs, improve patient outcomes, lower overall health system costs, and lower costs for patients in Federal health care programs. In conducting such study, the Comptroller General shall— (1) study the impact of this Act on— (A) access to transformative therapies, including rare disease gene therapies, generally; (B) mitigating socioeconomic disparities in accessing covered outpatient drugs sold under value-based purchasing arrangements through its requirement that State Medicaid programs have access to the same value-based purchasing arrangement pricing structure that are available in the commercial market for such drugs; (C) the Medicaid drug rebate program under section 1927 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r–8), the 340B drug pricing program under section 340B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 256b), and part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395j et seq.), including compliance with such programs; (D) expenditures under State Medicaid programs; and (E) prices for such drugs under the Medicaid program in States that do not enter into such arrangements; (2) analyze all the types of value-based purchasing arrangement pricing structures, which structures are working well (as measured by price and ease of implementing), and which need improvement; and (3) study the potential long-term savings for States that enter into such arrangements under State Medicaid programs. (b) Report Not later than June 30, 2029, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).