[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23573]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             AMENDING TITLE XIX OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

  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 
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.''.

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