[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2618 Referred in House (RFH)]

  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.

    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.''.

            Passed the Senate November 16, 2004.

            Attest:

                                             EMILY J. REYNOLDS,

                                                             Secretary.