I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 2618 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 16, 2004 

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

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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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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1 ‘‘(2) PERIODS AND TOTAL ALLOCATION

2 AMOUNTS DESCRIBED.—For purposes of this sub3 section— 

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: EMILY J. REYNOLDS, 

Secretary.