108TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 2618

AN ACT

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to extend

medicare cost-sharing for the medicare part B premium

for qualifying individuals through September 2005.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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S 2618 ES

1 SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF MEDICARE COST-SHARING FOR

2 THE MEDICARE PART B PREMIUM FOR

3 QUALIFYING INDIVIDUALS.

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1902(a)(10)(E)(iv) of the

5 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(E)(iv)) is

6 amended by striking ‘‘2004’’ and inserting ‘‘2005’’.

7 (b) TOTAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR ALLOCATION.—

8 Section 1933(g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

9 1396u–3(g)) is amended to read as follows:

10 ‘‘(g) SPECIAL RULES.—

11 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to each period

12 described in paragraph (2), a State shall select

13 qualifying individuals, subject to paragraph (3), and

14 provide such individuals with assistance, in accord15 ance with the provisions of this section as in effect

16 with respect to calendar year 2003, except that for

17 such purpose—

18 ‘‘(A) references in the preceding sub19 sections of this section to a year, whether fiscal

20 or calendar, shall be deemed to be references to

21 such period; and

22 ‘‘(B) the total allocation amount under

23 subsection (c) for such period shall be the

24 amount described in paragraph (2) for that pe25 riod.
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S 2618 ES

1 ‘‘(2) PERIODS AND TOTAL ALLOCATION

2 AMOUNTS DESCRIBED.—For purposes of this

3 subsection—

4 ‘‘(A) for the period that begins on January

5 1, 2004, and ends on September 30, 2004, the

6 total allocation amount is $300,000,000;

7 ‘‘(B) for the period that begins on October

8 1, 2004, and ends on December 31, 2004, the

9 total allocation amount is $100,000,000; and

10 ‘‘(C) for the period that begins on January

11 1, 2005, and ends on September 30, 2005, the

12 total allocation amount is $300,000,000.

13 ‘‘(3) RULES FOR PERIODS THAT BEGIN AFTER

14 JANUARY 1.—For any specific period described in

15 subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2), the following

16 applies:

17 ‘‘(A) The specific period shall be treated as

18 a continuation of the immediately preceding pe19 riod in that calendar year for purposes of apply20 ing subsection (b)(2) and qualifying individuals

21 who received assistance in the last month of

22 such immediately preceding period shall be

23 deemed to be selected for the specific period

24 (without the need to complete an application for

25 assistance for such period).
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1 ‘‘(B) The limit to be applied under sub2 section (b)(3) for the specific period shall be the

3 same as the limit applied under such subsection

4 for the immediately preceding period.

5 ‘‘(C) The ratio to be applied under sub6 section (c)(2) for the specific period shall be the

7 same as the ratio applied under such subsection

8 for the immediately preceding period.’’.

Passed the Senate November 16, 2004.

Attest:

Secretary.

108TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 2618

AN ACT

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to

through September 2005.part B premium for qualifying individualsextend medicare cost-sharing for the medicare