Amending Title XIX of Social Security Act (interpretations anyone?)

[The Straight Story]

AMENDING TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT -- (Senate - November 16, 2004)

GPO's PDF

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Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Finance Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 2618 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the bill by title.

The legislative clerk read as follows:

A bill (S. 2618) 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.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be

GPO's PDF

read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the RECORD.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

The bill (S. 2618) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

S. 2618

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF MEDICARE COST-SHARING FOR THE MEDICARE PART B PREMIUM FOR QUALIFYING INDIVIDUALS.

(a) IN GENERAL.--Section 1902(a)(10)(E)(iv) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(E)(iv)) is amended by striking ``2004'' and inserting ``2005''.

(b) TOTAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR ALLOCATION.--Section 1933(g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396u-3(g)) is amended to read as follows:

``(g) SPECIAL RULES.--

``(1) IN GENERAL.--With respect to each period described in paragraph (2), a State shall select qualifying individuals, subject to paragraph (3), and provide such individuals with assistance, in accordance with the provisions of this section as in effect with respect to calendar year 2003, except that for such purpose--

``(A) references in the preceding subsections of this section to a year, whether fiscal or calendar, shall be deemed to be references to such period; and

``(B) the total allocation amount under subsection (c) for such period shall be the amount described in paragraph (2) for that period.

``(2) PERIODS AND TOTAL ALLOCATION AMOUNTS DESCRIBED.--For purposes of this subsection--

``(A) for the period that begins on January 1, 2004, and ends on September 30, 2004, the total allocation amount is $300,000,000;

``(B) for the period that begins on October 1, 2004, and ends on December 31, 2004, the total allocation amount is $100,000,000; and

``(C) for the period that begins on January 1, 2005, and ends on September 30, 2005, the total allocation amount is $300,000,000.

``(3) RULES FOR PERIODS THAT BEGIN AFTER JANUARY 1.--For any specific period described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2), the following applies:

``(A) The specific period shall be treated as a continuation of the immediately preceding period in that calendar year for purposes of applying subsection (b)(2) and qualifying individuals who received assistance in the last month of such immediately preceding period shall be deemed to be selected for the specific period (without the need to complete an application for assistance for such period).

``(B) The limit to be applied under subsection (b)(3) for the specific period shall be the same as the limit applied under such subsection for the immediately preceding period.

``(C) The ratio to be applied under subsection (c)(2) for the specific period shall be the same as the ratio applied under such subsection for the immediately preceding period.''.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r108:68:./temp/~r108eC8eBM::

Was browing the thomas.loc.gov site and saw this, anyone here that can make sense of it all??