(c) PURPOSES.—It is the purposes of this Act—
(1) to assist individuals suffering from ALS by
waiving the 24-month waiting period for medicare
eligibility on the basis of disability for ALS patients
and to provide medicare coverage for outpatient
drugs and therapies for ALS; and
(2) to increase Federal funding of research into
the cause, treatment, and cure of ALS.
SEC. 2. WAIVER OF 24-MONTH WAITING PERIOD FOR MEDI-
CARE COVERAGE OF INDIVIDUALS DISABLED
WITH AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS
(ALS).
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 226(b) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 426(b)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (j) and by moving such subsection to the end
of the section, and
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the follow-
ing new subsection:
‘‘(h) For purposes of applying this section in the case
of an individual medically determined to have amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS), the following special rules apply:
‘‘(1) Subsection (b) shall be applied as if there
were no requirement for any entitlement to benefits,
or status, for a period longer than 1 month.
‘‘(2) The entitlement under such subsection
shall begin with the first month (rather than twenty-
fifth month) of entitlement or status.
‘‘(3) Subsection (f) shall not be applied.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1837 of
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395p) is amended by adding at the
end the following new subsection:
‘‘(j) In applying this section in the case of an individ-
ual who is entitled to benefits under part A pursuant to
the operation of section 226(h), the following special rules
apply:
‘‘(1) The initial enrollment period under sub-
section (d) shall begin on the first day of the first
month in which the individual satisfies the require-
ment of section 1836(1).
‘‘(2) In applying subsection (g)(1), the initial
enrollment period shall begin on the first day of the
first month of entitlement to disability insurance
benefits referred to in such subsection.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to benefits for months beginning
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 3. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF DRUGS TO TREAT
AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS).
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graphs (N) and (O),
(2) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (Q), and
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph:
‘‘(R) any drug (which is approved by the Fed-
eral Food and Drug Administration) prescribed for
use in the treatment or alleviation of symptoms re-
lating to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS);’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
subsection (a) shall apply to drugs furnished on or after
the first day of the first month beginning after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. INCREASED FEDERAL FUNDS FOR RESEARCH INTO
AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS).
For the purpose of conducting or supporting research
on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through the National In-
stitutes of Health, there are authorized to be appropriated
$25,000,000 for fiscal year 1998, and such sums as may
be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1999 through
2002. Such authorization is in addition to any other au-
thorization of appropriations that may be available for
such purpose.
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