II 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2618 

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to extend medicare costsharing for the medicare part B premium for qualifying individuals 

through September 2005. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 7, 2004 

Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. SMITH, and Mr. BINGAMAN) 

introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 

Committee on Finance 

A BILL 

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, 

3 SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF MEDICARE COST-SHARING FOR 

4 THE MEDICARE PART B PREMIUM FOR 

5 QUALIFYING INDIVIDUALS. 

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

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

8 amended by striking ‘‘2004’’ and inserting ‘‘2005’’. 
2 

•S 2618 IS 

1 (b) TOTAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR ALLOCATION.— 

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

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

4 ‘‘(g) SPECIAL RULES.— 

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

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

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

8 provide such individuals with assistance, in accord9 ance with the provisions of this section as in effect 

10 with respect to calendar year 2003, except that for 

11 such purpose— 

12 ‘‘(A) references in the preceding sub13 sections of this section to a year, whether fiscal 

14 or calendar, shall be deemed to be references to 

15 such period; and 

16 ‘‘(B) the total allocation amount under 

17 subsection (c) for such period shall be the 

18 amount described in paragraph (2) for that pe19 riod. 

20 ‘‘(2) PERIODS AND TOTAL ALLOCATION

21 AMOUNTS DESCRIBED.—For purposes of this sub22 section— 

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

24 1, 2004, and ends on September 30, 2004, the 

25 total allocation amount is $300,000,000; 
3 

•S 2618 IS 

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

2 1, 2004, and ends on December 31, 2004, the 

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

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

5 1, 2005, and ends on September 30, 2005, the 

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

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

8 JANUARY 1.—For any specific period described in 

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

10 applies: 

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

12 a continuation of the immediately preceding pe13 riod in that calendar year for purposes of apply14 ing subsection (b)(2) and qualifying individuals 

15 who received assistance in the last month of 

16 such immediately preceding period shall be 

17 deemed to be selected for the specific period 

18 (without the need to complete an application for 

19 assistance for such period). 

20 ‘‘(B) The limit to be applied under sub21 section (b)(3) for the specific period shall be the 

22 same as the limit applied under such subsection 

23 for the immediately preceding period. 

24 ‘‘(C) The ratio to be applied under sub25 section (c)(2) for the specific period shall be the 
4 

•S 2618 IS 

1 same as the ratio applied under such subsection 

2 for the immediately preceding period.’’. 

Æ