[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12907]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF VETERANS', SENIORS', AND CHILDREN'S HEALTH TECHNICAL 
                        CORRECTIONS ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 13, 2010

  Mr. LEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Veterans', 
Seniors', and Children's Health Technical Corrections Act of 2010. This 
bill contains many time-sensitive provisions that affect our nation's 
veterans, seniors, and children and that have already been considered 
by the House as part of H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax 
Loopholes Act of 2010, which passed the House before the Memorial Day 
recess. I understand that the Senate is renewing their consideration of 
this jobs legislation. I encourage them to do so--and to do so 
quickly--as it contains critical provisions to create jobs, cut taxes, 
and support American workers. Should the Senate face delays in passing 
that larger legislation, this bill guarantees the consideration of 
necessary, time-sensitive, and non-controversial health care 
provisions.
  This legislation contains clarifications and extensions under 
Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. For 
veterans, this legislation clarifies a special enrollment period to 
ensure that they can properly enroll in Medicare Part B and retain 
their TRICARE eligibility.
  For children, this legislation clarifies that eligible children's 
hospitals retain access to discounts for expensive orphan drugs. 
Children will also benefit from technical corrections in this bill that 
relate to Medicaid and CHIP.
  For teaching hospitals that train our newest physicians, this 
legislation makes a technical correction to clarify that residency 
positions currently shared between teaching hospitals will not be 
redistributed. In 36 states, this will affect more than 300 hospitals 
with affiliation agreements in place that are currently using these 
residency slots.
  For Medicare beneficiaries receiving care at a skilled nursing 
facility, this legislation guarantees that they will be covered under 
the most current refined payment system.
  We pay for this bill largely with funds from the Medicare Improvement 
Fund. CBO estimates that this bill results in small savings to the 
federal government.
  So colleagues, I ask you to join me in supporting this time-sensitive 
and noncontroversial legislation pertaining to veterans, Medicare 
providers including skilled nursing facilities, teaching hospitals, and 
children's hospitals.

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