II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2344 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 1, 2006 Mr. Schumer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to extend the employer subsidy payment provisions under the Medicare prescription drug program to State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Existing Drug Coverage Protection Act of 2006.

2.

Medicare subsidy payments to State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs

(a)

In general

Section 1860D–23 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–133) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (e)

Subsidy payment

The provisions of section 1860D–22 shall apply to a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (as defined in subsection (b)) and the State offering such Program in the same manner as such provisions apply to employment-based retiree health coverage (as defined in subsection (c)(1) of such section) and the sponsor of such coverage. . (b)

Effective Date

The amendment made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2007.