[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 212 (Wednesday, December 8, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9049-S9050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4876. Ms. HASSAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the bill S. 610, to address behavioral health and well-being 
among health care professionals; which was ordered to lie on the table; 
as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. 2022 MEDICARE PART B PREMIUM AND DEDUCTIBLE.

       (a) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate 
     that--
       (1) seniors face a substantial jump in health care costs 
     because of the increased Medicare Part B premiums for 2022; 
     and
       (2) Congress must act to address these premium increases.
       (b) 2022 Premium and Deductible and Repayment Through 
     Future Premiums.--Section 1839(a) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1395r(a)) is amended--
       (1) in the second sentence of paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``and (7)'' and inserting ``(7), and (8)'';
       (2) in paragraph (6)(C)--
       (A) in clause (i), by striking ``(d)(1) and (e)(1)'' and 
     inserting ``(d)(1), (e)(1), and (g)(1) of section 1844''; and
       (B) in clause (ii), by striking ``(5) and (7)'' and 
     inserting ``(5), (7), and (8)''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(8) In applying this part (including subsection (i) and 
     section 1833(b)), the monthly

[[Page S9050]]

     actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and over for--
       ``(A) 2022 shall be determined to be an amount that does 
     not significantly exceed the monthly actuarial rate for 
     enrollees age 65 and over for 2021 increased the percentage 
     by which benefit amounts under title II are increased for 
     2022; and
       ``(B) 2023 shall be determined to be an amount that does 
     not significantly exceed the monthly actuarial rate for 
     enrollees age 65 and over for 2022 (as determined under 
     subparagraph (A)) increased the percentage by which benefit 
     amounts under title II are increased for 2023.''.
       (c) Transitional Government Contribution.--Section 1844 of 
     the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following 
     new sentence: ``In applying paragraph (1), the amounts 
     transferred under subsection (g)(1) with respect to enrollees 
     described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such subsection 
     shall be treated as premiums payable and deposited in the 
     Trust Fund under subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, of 
     paragraph (1).''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(g)(1) For 2022 and 2023, there shall be transferred from 
     the General Fund to the Trust Fund an amount, as estimated by 
     the Chief Actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
     Services, equal to the reduction in aggregate premiums 
     payable under this part for a month in such year (excluding 
     any changes in amounts collected under section 1839(i)) that 
     are attributable to the application of section 1839(a)(8) 
     with respect to--
       ``(A) enrollees age 65 and over; and
       ``(B) enrollees under age 65.
     Such amounts shall be transferred from time to time as 
     appropriate.
       ``(2) Premium increases affected under section 1839(a)(6) 
     shall not be taken into account in applying subsection (a).
       ``(3) There shall be transferred from the Trust Fund to the 
     General Fund of the Treasury amounts equivalent to the 
     additional premiums payable as a result of the application of 
     section 1839(a)(6), excluding the aggregate payments 
     attributable to the application of section 
     1839(i)(3)(A)(ii)(II).''.
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