SOCIAL SECURITY

Amendments

Benefits: eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals (H.R. 5), S1429, S1430 [9MR], S1489, S1492, S1527 [21MR], H1441 [28MR]

Crime: prevent identity fraud (S. 2924), S11426, S11427, S11428 [31OC], S11941 [15DE], H12512 [15DE]

Health Care Financing Administration: reform the regulatory processes used to administer the Medicare program (S. 2999), S9293 [26SE]

Medicaid: coverage of breast and cervical cancer treatment for certain women and research on relationship between cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (H.R. 4386), Senate amendment (H. Res. 628), H9847 [12OC]

Taxation: repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (H.R. 4865), H7166 [27JY]

Analyses

Child Protection/Alcohol and Drug Partnership Act (S. 2435), S2750 [13AP]

Health Care Provider Bill of Rights (S. 2999), S8097-S8099 [6SE]

Protection of Enrollees in Managed Health Care Plans and HMO's: Sara Rosenbaum, David M. Frankford, and Rand E. Rosenblatt, S7516 [25JY]

Appointments

Social Security Advisory Board, S9866 [4OC]

Articles and editorials

Ad Blitz Erodes Democrats' Edge on Prescription Drugs, S11290 [27OC]

Binges Becoming Regular Budget Fare, S10979 [25OC]

Budget Surplus Induces Frenzy, S7496 [25JY]

Bush Hits Gore on Drugs, Taxes, S8631 [15SE]

Bye-Bye, Surplus, S11885 [15DE]

Cabinet Opens Up on Bush—Treasury Secretary Says Social Security Math Doesn't Add Up, S11049 [26OC]

Canada's Medicine Won't Cure U.S. System, E1104 [23JN]

Clinton Announces Record $237B Surplus, S11045 [26OC]

Contract Not Now Mentioned—Tax Reduction for Social Security Benefits Would Aid Elderly Payers, E1414 [6SE]

Dual Edged Sword of Medicare Reimbursement—The Medicare Provider and Health Maintenance Organization Perspective, E2041-E2043 [31OC]

Entitlement Reform the Way To Go, H3123 [16MY]

Full Hospitals Make Canadians Wait and Look South, H94 [1FE]

High-Risk Surgery—Follow the Crowd, E361 [21MR]

Issue No. 1—Health-Care System Wanted, E1910 [25OC]

Moynihan Applauds as Medicare ``Backs Off'' Payment Reductions, E1588 [25SE]

One Thing I Would Change About Congress . . . Entitlement Reform the Way To Go, H516 [29FE]

Payment Change May Spell End of Outpatient Chemotherapy, E1588 [25SE]

Prescription Drug Costs—Has Canada Found the Answer?, E1673 [4OC]

Reckonings—Prescription for Failure, E1346 [27JY]

Say Goodbye to the Surplus, S11046 [26OC]

Three-Part Attack on Gore, S8750 [19SE]

Why the High Cost of Prescription Drugs Is a Problem We Can't Afford To Ignore, H5309 [28JN]

Bills and resolutions

Account statements: include additional information (see S. 2381), S2438 [7AP] (see H.R. 5028), H7207 [27JY]

Alaska: increase the Federal medical assistance percentage (see S. 2693), S4820 [8JN]

Armed Forces: improve access to treatment facilities, provide Medicare reimbursement, and permit enrollment in Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for veterans and their dependents (see H.R. 4124), H1588 [29MR]

———restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services (see S. 2669), S4564 [6JN]

Balanced Budget Act: make corrections in Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program (see S. 3077), S8823 [20SE] (see S. 3165), S9944 [5OC] (see H.R. 5291), H8199 [26SE] (see H.R. 5324), H8406 [27SE] (see H.R. 5543), H11193 [25OC] (see H.R. 5601), H11620 [30OC] (see H.R. 5612), H11781 [1NO] (see H.R. 5661), H12094 [14DE]

Benefits: eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals (see S. 2074), S680 [22FE] (see H.R. 3599), H254 [8FE]

———eliminate waiting period for divorced spouse's benefits following the divorce (see H.R. 5575), H11206 [26OC]

———guarantee the right of individuals to receive certain benefits in full with an accurate annual cost-of-living adjustment (see S. 2930), S7656 [26JY] (see H.R. 5373), H8735 [3OC]

———increase in widow's and widower's insurance benefits relative to delayed retirement (see H.R. 5576), H11206 [26OC]

———level of payment in the month of the beneficiary's death (see S. 2926), S7656 [26JY] (see H.R. 3890), H921 [9MR] (see H.R. 4310), H2338 [13AP]

———provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (see S. 2477), S3023 [27AP] (see H.R. 4651), H4336 [13JN]

———provide full benefits for disabled widows and widowers regardless of age (see H.R. 5577), H11206 [26OC]

———provide that if failure to monitor a representative payee results in misuse of benefits, that payment of such benefits is made to the beneficiary or alternate payee (see H.R. 3666), H454 [15FE]

———repeal eligibility restrictions on widow's and widower's insurance benefits based on disability (see H.R. 5578), H11206 [26OC]

———use earnings level currently applicable solely to blind individuals as uniform level in determining disabilities (see H.R. 5553), H11194 [25OC]

Bipartisan Commission on Social Security Reform: establish (see H.R. 5593), H11445 [27OC]

Budget: protect Social Security and provide for repayment of the Federal debt (see S. 2220), S1315 [8MR] (see H.R. 4195), H1851 [5AP]

———provide for reconciliation of the concurrent resolution to reduce the public debt, decrease the statutory debt limit, and provide for retirement security (see H.R. 5203), H7870 [19SE]

Children and youth: expand access to health care (see H.R. 4932), H6777 [24JY]

———extend availability of State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments (see S. 2434), S2728 [13AP] (see H.R. 4393), H2654 [8MY]

———improve coverage of low-income children under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (see H.R. 5192), H7651 [14SE]

———improve the quality and availability of training for judges, attorneys, and volunteers working in abuse and neglect courts (see S. 2271), S1596 [22MR]

———prevent conflicts of interest in the use of administrative vendors in the administration of State children's health insurance plans (see H.R. 3600), H254 [8FE]

———provide for more equitable distribution of block grant funds under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see H.R. 5281), H8061 [25SE]

Claims: improve the payment system for representation of claimants (see H.R. 4633), H4174 [9JN]

Congress: require report on solvency (see S. 2249), S1461 [20MR]

Constitutional amendments: treatment under balanced budget (see S.J. Res. 38), S285 [2FE]

Crime: prevent identity fraud (see S. 2328), S1986 [30MR] (see S. 2924), S7656 [26JY] (see H.R. 5299), H8199 [26SE]

Dept. of Defense: participation of certain Medicare-eligible individuals in pharmacy programs (see H.R. 3697), H510 [16FE]

Disability insurance program: eliminate the waiting period (see H.R. 5412), H9504 [6OC]

ERISA: provide emergency protection for retiree health benefits (see H.R. 5405), H9011 [5OC]

Families and domestic relations: create a grant program to promote joint activities between Federal, State, and local child welfare and alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment agencies (see S. 2435), S2728 [13AP] (see H.R. 5081), H7209 [27JY]

———permit States with proven cost-effective and efficient child support collection systems to continue operation (see S. 2349), S2107 [4AP]

———provide an exception to certain marriage requirements for widows and widowers relative to State restrictions on divorce from a prior spouse institutionalized due to mental incompetence (see H.R. 5007), H7206 [27JY]

———simplify and improve rules governing the distribution of child support collected by States (see H.R. 3824), H641 [2MR]

Government regulations: modify reporting requirements (see H.R. 3578), H212 [3FE]

Health: allow certain retirees who lose employer-based coverage to acquire coverage under Medicare or COBRA and require employers to notify retirees of any changes in their health benefits (see H.R. 3631), H340 [10FE]

———establish Alzheimer's clinical research and training awards, expand Medicare definition of homebound relative to home health services, and revise tax treatment of long-term care insurance (see H.R. 4029), H1119 [16MR]

———establish demonstration projects for States to provide universal, comprehensive, and cost-effective health care coverage with simplified administration (see H.R. 4412), H2770 [9MY]

———expand Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families (see S. 2923), S7656 [26JY] (see H.R. 4927), H6776 [24JY]

———expand State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families (see S. 2976), S7840 [27JY]

———improve access to health insurance and Medicare benefits for individuals aged 55 to 65 and allow tax credits for payment of such premiums and COBRA coverage premiums (see S. 2918), S7542 [25JY]

———increase State immunization programs funding (see S. 2443), S2728 [13AP] (see H. Con. Res. 315), H2511 [3MY]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (see S. 2888), S7229 [19JY] (see H.R. 4992), H7205 [27JY]

———prevent group and individual health insurance coverage, and group health plans, from seeking to recover more than costs in cases of third party recoveries (see H.R. 3765), H573 [29FE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (see S. 3057, 3058), S8635 [15SE] (see H.R. 5628), H11842 [3NO]

———sustain access to vital emergency medical services in rural areas (see S. 3125), S9381 [27SE]

Health care facilities: modify qualifications for community mental health centers and postpone application of Medicare prospective payment system to partial hospitalization services (see H.R. 5055), H7208 [27JY]

———provide relief for essential hospitals in certain regions and assist in the long-range economic recovery of such hospitals (see H.R. 4622), H4173 [9JN] (see H.R. 5228), H7932 [20SE]

———provide targeted payment relief for hospitals that serve primarily Medicare and Medicaid patients that have been disproportionately impacted by certain payment reductions (see H.R. 4624), H4173 [9JN]

Health Care Financing Administration: consider the impact of implementing new reimbursement rules on existing emergency medical services systems (see S. Res. 302), S3328 [3MY]

———reform the regulatory processes used to administer the Medicare program (see S. 2999), S7840 [27JY]

———revise performance standards and certification process for organ procurement organizations (see S. 2235), S1392 [9MR] (see S. 2625), S4379 [24MY] (see H.R. 4152), H1674 [3AP] (see H.R. 4592), H4035 [7JN]

Health Care Infrastructure Advisory Commission: establish (see H.R. 5622), H11812 [2NO]

Health care professionals: provide reimbursement and a tax deduction for patient bad debt (see H.R. 5093), H7209 [27JY]

Insurance: coverage of long-term care services (see H. Con. Res. 412), H8406 [27SE]

———guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children (see S. 2515), S3514 [4MY] (see H.R. 4390), H2606 [4MY]

———provide equitable payments to providers of services under the Medicare Program and provide coverage of additional children under the Medicaid Program (see H.R. 5001), H7206 [27JY]

———require comprehensive coverage for childhood immunizations (see S. 2444), S2728 [13AP] (see H.R. 4563), H3868 [25MY]

———require that group and individual health insurance plans and Medicare+Choice organizations provide prompt payment of claims (see H.R. 3993), H1077 [15MR]

———restore children's insurance benefits in the case of children of a certain age who attend postsecondary schools (see H.R. 4873), H6469 [18JY] (see H.R. 5329), H8406 [27SE]

Investments: provide for personal Social Security accounts and extend solvency of Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program (see H.R. 5659), H12094 [14DE]

KidSave accounts: open for every child at birth and invest such accounts to build retirement savings (see S. 3200), S10412 [12OC]

Medicaid: apply aggregate upper payment limits to non-State publicly owned or operated facilities (see S. 3187), S10252 [11OC]

———apply the disproportionate share hospital payment transition rule to public hospitals (see S. 3255), S11252 [27OC] (see H.R. 5621), H11781 [1NO]

———assure preservation of safety net hospitals through maintenance of Disproportionate Share Hospital Program (see S. 2308), S1815 [28MR] (see H.R. 3710), H572 [29FE]

———coverage of breast and cervical cancer treatment for certain women and research on relationship between cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (see H.R. 4386), H2606 [4MY]

———coverage of breast and cervical cancer treatment for certain women and research on relationship between cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (H.R. 4386), Senate amendment (see H. Res. 628), H9766 [11OC]

———coverage of community-based attendant services (see H.R. 4416), H2905 [10MY]

———implement regulations clarifying allowable costs for school-based health services provided to children with disabilities (see S. 3088), S8941 [21SE] (see H.R. 5248), H7990 [21SE]

———improve quality of care furnished in nursing homes (see H.R. 4949), H7002 [25JY]

———increase the personal needs allowance for institutionalized individuals under Medicare (see H.R. 5087), H7209 [27JY]

———make drug pricing information available to the public (see S. 2963), S7839 [27JY]

———permit additional States to enter into long-term care partnerships in order to promote the use of long-term care insurance (see H.R. 5002), H7206 [27JY]

———provide families and disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage (see S. 2274), S1596 [22MR] (see H.R. 4825), H5954 [12JY]

———provide public access to quality medical imaging procedures and radiation therapy procedures (see H.R. 5274), H8061 [25SE]

———provide States with the option of covering intensive community mental health treatment (see H.R. 5572), H11206 [26OC]

———remove the cap on payments for Puerto Rico and certain other territories and adjust the statutory matching rate (see H.R. 5126), H7364 [7SE]

———State funding for disproportionate share hospitals (see S. 2299), S1747 [27MR] (see H.R. 3698), H510 [16FE]

———State requirements for financial recovery from an individuals estate relative to any medical assistance under a State health plan (see H.R. 3912), H996 [14MR]

———waive disproportionate share hospital designation for certain rural hospitals relative to obstetrician requirements (see H.R. 4793), H5654 [29JN]

Medicare: adjust wages and wage-related costs for certain items and services furnished in geographically reclassified hospitals (see S. 2241), S1392 [9MR]

———allow tax deduction for Medigap and Medicare+Choice plans including outpatient prescription drug and long-term care benefits, and establish new Medigap policies including such benefits (see S. 2237), S1392 [9MR]

———assure quality of care to beneficiaries and reduce the incidence of medical errors (see H.R. 5404), H9011 [5OC]

———clarify definition of homebound relative to home health services (see S. 2298), S1747 [27MR] (see S. 3106), S9195 [25SE] (see H.R. 5067), H7208 [27JY] (see H.R. 5303), H8200 [26SE]

———combat fraud and abuse relative to partial hospitalization services (see H.R. 5449), H9767 [11OC]

———conduct study on physician reimbursement rates for diagnosis, treatment, and management of Alzheimer's disease (see H.R. 4016), H1118 [16MR]

———correct reductions to service providers payment rates previously reduced under the Balanced Budget Act (see H.R. 4937), H6777 [24JY]

———coverage for surgical first assisting services of certified registered nurse first assistants (see H.R. 3911), H996 [14MR]

———coverage of adult day care services (see S. 2826), S6121 [29JN]

———coverage of ambulance services to certain rural outpatient facilities (see H.R. 4549), H3867 [25MY]

———coverage of augmentative communication devices (see H.R. 4479), H3308 [17MY]

———coverage of bone mass measurements (see S. 2524), S3692 [9MY] (see H.R. 3840), H756 [8MR]

———coverage of coordinated lifestyle changes program relative to heart attack prevention (see H.R. 4107), H1476 [28MR]

———coverage of drugs and biologicals (see H.R. 5501), H10472 [19OC]

———coverage of glaucoma detection services (see S. 3024), S8342 [11SE]

———coverage of home health services (see H.R. 4874), H6469 [18JY]

———coverage of inpatient hospital services in Puerto Rico (see S. 3037), S8413 [12SE]

———coverage of Lyme disease vaccinations (see H.R. 5050), H7208 [27JY]

———coverage of medically appropriate actinic keratoses treatment and removal (see H. Con. Res. 341), H3868 [25MY]

———coverage of medically necessary pancreas transplantation procedures (see H.R. 4495), H3412 [18MY]

———coverage of oral drugs to treat low blood calcium levels or elevated parathyroid hormone levels for patients with end stage renal disease (see H.R. 4628), H4174 [9JN]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (see S. 2758), S5460 [20JN] (see S. 2836), S6257 [30JN] (see S. 3016, 3017), S8197 [7SE] (see S. 3107), S9267 [26SE] (see H.R. 4149), H1674 [3AP] (see H.R. 4607), H4120 [8JN] (see H.R. 4743), H5168 [26JN] (see H.R. 4770), H5240 [27JN] (see H.R. 5151), H7501 [12SE] (see H. Res. 435), H756 [8MR]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs and enhanced preventative benefits (see S. 2541), S3832 [10MY] (see S. 2753), S5360 [19JN]

———coverage of paramedic intercept ambulance support services (see H.R. 4952), H7002 [25JY]

———coverage of pharmaceutical care services (see H.R. 5140), H7365 [7SE]

———coverage of screening mammography, pap smears, and pelvic exams (see H.R. 4330), H2339 [13AP]

———coverage of screening pap smears and pelvic exams (see S. 3141), S9605 [2OC] (see H.R. 4571), H3868 [25MY]

———coverage of self-administered drugs that, when used as a replacement for covered drugs, result in overall cost savings to the program (see H.R. 4375), H2511 [3MY]

———create official website that allows beneficiaries to purchase safe and competitively priced domestic and international prescription drugs (see H.R. 5142), H7365 [7SE]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates, add intensive residential services, and expand the number of eligible professionals relative to mental health care services (see S. 3233), S10999 [25OC]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (see H.R. 5434), H9634 [10OC]

———eliminate reduction in payment rates to home health agencies for home health services (see S. 2365), S2233 [5AP] (see H.R. 4219), H1957 [6AP]

———eliminate reduction in the market basket percentage under the prospective payment system for payments to small rural hospitals (see H.R. 4996), H7206 [27JY]

———eliminate time limitation on benefits for immunosuppressive drugs (see S. 2399), S2527 [11AP]

———enhance the critical access hospital program (see S. 2600), S4237 [22MY]

———ensure adequacy of digital mammography payments (see S. 3112), S9267 [26SE] (see H.R. 5088), H7209 [27JY] (see H.R. 5172), H7577 [13SE]

———ensure reimbursement for certain ambulance services, apply reasonable standard to determination of medical necessity for ambulance services, and recognize additional costs of ambulance services in rural areas (see S. 2858), S6677 [13JY] (see H.R. 5153), H7501 [12SE]

———establish a demonstration project to stabilize coverage and benefits under the Medicare+Choice Program (see H.R. 4555), H3867 [25MY]

———establish a hospice demonstration and grant program for beneficiaries (see S. 3026), S8412 [12SE]

———establish a minimum adjustment to payments to hospitals for costs attributable to wages (see H.R. 4998), H7206 [27JY]

———establish a physician recruitment and retention project (see S. 3167), S9944 [5OC]

———establish a special payment rate for psychiatric hospital services (see H.R. 4702), H4783 [20JN]

———establish a voluntary plan under which eligible beneficiaries may elect to receive coverage for outpatient prescription drugs (see S. 2319), S1884 [29MR]

———establish a voluntary program for low-income beneficiaries to obtain assistance in paying for outpatient prescription drugs (see H.R. 4235), H2121 [11AP]

———establish standards for payment of certain orthotic, prosthetic, and pedorthic devices (see H.R. 5156), H7502 [12SE]

———expand coverage of certain self-injected biologicals (see S. 2644), S4460 [25MY] (see S. 2957), S7839 [27JY]

———expand definition of homebound relative to home health services to allow beneficiaries to attend adult day care programs for treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other conditions (see H.R. 4028), H1119 [16MR]

———expand medical residency training programs in geriatric medicine (see S. 2910), S7656 [26JY] (see H.R. 4930), H6776 [24JY]

———extend community nursing organization demonstration projects (see H.R. 5080), H7209 [27JY]

———extend the option to use rebased target amounts to all sole community hospitals (see S. 2037), S381 [7FE] (see H.R. 5011), H7206 [27JY]

———geographic reclassification of a county to provide for more equitable payments to hospitals located in that county (see H.R. 5108), H7280 [6SE]

———graduate medical education payments (see S. 2394), S2526 [11AP] (see H.R. 4239), H2122 [11AP]

———improve access to benefits for certain individuals and provide financial assistance to individuals who are too poor to afford premiums (see H.R. 3529), H48 [27JA]

———improve access to health insurance by offering certain individuals a Medicare buy-in option and allow tax credit for payment of premiums (see H.R. 4938), H6777 [24JY]

———improve access to Medicare+Choice plans through an increase in annual capitation rates (see S. 2937), S7656 [26JY]

———improve fee-for-services reimbursement rates in rural States (see S. 2610), S4297 [23MY]

———improve geographic fairness in Medicare+Choice payments and hospital payments (see H.R. 5070), H7208 [27JY]

———improve health of senior citizens and disabled individuals (see S. 2727), S5106 [14JN]

———improve Medicare-dependent, small rural hospital program (see S. 2768), S5662 [22JN] (see H.R. 4997), H7206 [27JY]

———improve methodology for the calculation of Medicare+Choice program payment rates (see S. 3029), S8412 [12SE] (see H.R. 4951), H7002 [25JY]

———improve payments under the Medicare+Choice program (see H.R. 4236), H2122 [11AP]

———improve payments under the outpatient prospective payment system (see H.R. 5003), H7206 [27JY]

———improve the manner in which new medical technologies are made available to beneficiaries (see S. 3082), S8823 [20SE] (see H.R. 4395), H2654 [8MY]

———increase access to health care for beneficiaries through telehealth services (see H.R. 4841), H5955 [12JY]

———increase access to health care for beneficiaries through telemedicine (see S. 2505), S3513 [4MY] (see H.R. 4771), H5240 [27JN]

———increase awareness of the availability of cost-sharing assistance to eligible low-income beneficiaries (see S. 2814), S6121 [29JN] (see H.R. 4797), H5654 [29JN]

———increase payment amount and establish an annual payment review process for renal dialysis services (see H.R. 5152), H7501 [12SE]

———increase payment amount for renal dialysis services (see S. 3038), S8413 [12SE]

———increase payment rates to Medicare+Choice organizations to correct inequities in rural and urban areas (see H.R. 5288), H8061 [25SE]

———increase proportion of charges recognized for mental health services furnished to qualified beneficiaries residing in congregate residences (see H.R. 4950), H7002 [25JY]

———increase the percentage of bad hospital debt that is reimbursable (see H.R. 4878), H6469 [18JY]

———limit number of residents in allopathic and osteopathic medicine eligible for graduate medical education payments (see H.R. 5348), H8551 [29SE]

———limit reductions in Federal payments under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services (see S. 3028), S8412 [12SE]

———make improvements to the Medicare+Choice program (see S. 2905), S7448 [21JY] (see H.R. 5039), H7207 (see H.R. 5099), H7209 [27JY] (see H.R. 5320), H8405 [27SE] (see H.R. 5614), H11781 [1NO]

———make improvements to the prospective payment system for skilled nursing facility services (see S. 3050), S8585 [14SE]

———make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit (see S. 2342), S2106 [4AP] (see S. 2807), S6015 [28JN] (see H.R. 4680), H4591 [15JN]

———make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit (H.R. 4680), consideration (see H. Res. 539), H5239 [27JN]

———modify billing requirements for certain Indian health care providers (see S. 3270), S11537 [14NO]

———payment levels for certain medically unsupervised certified registered nurse anesthetists (see H.R. 5251), H7990 [21SE]

———payment of claims by health care providers against insolvent Medicare+Choice organizations (see S. 2110), S867 [28FE] (see H.R. 4087), H1405 [23MR]

———payments made under the prospective payment system for home health services (see H.R. 4727), H5036 [22JN]

———preserve access to outpatient cancer treatment by ensuring any changes in reimbursement rates are based on appropriate guidelines and analysis by GAO (see S. 3003), S8019 [5SE]

———preserve essential rural hospitals (see H.R. 5220), H7932 [20SE]

———prohibit the use of risk-based managed care payments for certain administrative costs (see H.R. 3682), H509 [16FE]

———promote access to health care services in rural areas (see S. 2987), S7840 [27JY]

———promote research for health promotion and disease prevention and add preventive benefits (see S. 2232), S1392 [9MR] (see H.R. 3887), H920 [9MR]

———protect beneficiaries under the Medicare+Choice program (see H.R. 4356), H2410 [2MY]

———protect right of beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare+Choice plans to receive services at any skilled nursing facility (see H.R. 5042), H7207 [27JY]

———provide appropriate transition from interim payment system to prospective payment system for home health services (see S. 2835), S6257 [30JN]

———provide attending physicians greater authority in determining whether a beneficiary is eligible for hospice care (see H.R. 5222), H7932 [20SE]

———provide bad hospital debt relief to certain facilities and provide beneficiaries with cost-sharing under Medicaid (see S. 2981), S7840 [27JY]

———provide beneficiaries with accurate and understandable managed care information and negotiate with Medicare+Choice organizations to improve and expand benefit plans (see H.R. 4753), H5168 [26JN]

———provide comprehensive and coordinated care for individuals with serious and disabling chronic illnesses (see H.R. 4981), H7128 [26JY]

———provide for equitable reimbursement rates to Medicare+Choice organizations (see S. 2974), S7840 [27JY] (see H.R. 4968), H7127 [26JY]

———provide for equity in the amount of disproportionate share payment adjustments between urban and rural hospitals (see H.R. 4995), H7206 [27JY]

———provide for moratorium on mandatory delay of payment of claims and establish advanced informational infrastructure for administration of Federal health benefit programs (see S. 2312), S1883 [29MR] (see H.R. 4401), H2769 [9MY]

———provide for the classification of certain hospitals as cancer hospitals for payment of services (see H.R. 4967), H7127 [26JY]

———provide guidance to health care providers attempting to properly submit claims and target truly fraudulent activity for enforcement of billing regulations rather than inadvertent errors (see S. 3131), S9466 [28SE] (see H.R. 5200), H7722 [18SE]

———provide more equitable payments for direct graduate medical education (see H.R. 5005), H7206 (see H.R. 5089), H7209 [27JY]

———provide off-budget treatment for the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund (see H.R. 3640), H341 [10FE]

———provide relief for small business from consolidated billing requirements and exclude services of certain providers from the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (see H.R. 5392), H9010 [5OC]

———redesignate ``Medicare+Choice'' as ``Medicare-No-Choice'' (see H.R. 5558), H11194 [25OC]

———reduce waiting period for benefits for disabled individuals (see H.R. 5556), H11194 [25OC]

———reductions in prescription drug prices for beneficiaries and women with breast cancer (see H.R. 5467), H9900 [12OC]

———reimburse essential access home health providers for costs for services in rural areas (see S. 2992), S7840 [27JY]

———reimbursement for certain midwife services (see S. 2523), S3692 [9MY]

———reimbursement for services provided to eligible veterans by certain Dept. of Veterans Affairs facilities (see H.R. 4684), H4591 [15JN]

———require home health agencies to conduct criminal background checks for all applicants for employment as patient care providers (see H.R. 5246), H7990 [21SE]

———require submission and posting of nursing staff level data, assess adequacy of training requirements, and improve quality of care provided by skilled nursing facilities (see H.R. 4614), H4120 [8JN]

———require wage adjustment of actual, rather than estimated proportion of a hospital's costs that are attributable to wages and wage-related costs (see S. 2828), S6121 [29JN]

———revise and improve (see H.R. 5296), H8199 [26SE]

———revise coverage of immunosuppressive drugs (see H.R. 5276), H8061 [25SE]

———revise inflation update factor used in making payments to prospective payment system hospitals (see S. 2018), S213 [1FE] (see H.R. 3576), H212 [3FE] (see H.R. 3580), H219 [7FE]

———revise payments for certain physician pathology services (see S. 3055), S8585 [14SE] (see H.R. 5209), H7870 [19SE]

———revise the calculation of base payment rates for the prospective payment system for home health services (see S. 2766), S5662 [22JN] (see S. 3034), S8413 [12SE] (see H.R. 4623), H4173 [9JN] (see H.R. 5163), H7577 [13SE]

———State accreditation of diabetes self-management training programs (see S. 3084), S8823 [20SE] (see H.R. 5074), H7209 [27JY]

———study anesthesia services and expand service arrangements for certified registered nurse anesthetists (see H.R. 5286), H8061 [25SE]

———use of additional projected surplus funds to supplement funding previously reduced under the Balanced Budget Act (see H. Res. 535), H5240 [27JN]

———waive late enrollment penalty for certain beneficiaries living abroad and provide a special Medigap open enrollment period which prohibits underwriting (see H.R. 5197), H7722 [18SE]

———waive waiting period for coverage of individuals disabled with AIDS and provide coverage of drugs used for treatment (see H.R. 4557), H3867 [25MY]

Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act: implementation of a prospective payment system for psychiatric hospitals (see S. 2556), S3946 [15MY]

Medicare Payment Advisory Commission: conduct a study on certain hospital costs (see S. 3161), S9944 [5OC]

Medicare/Medicaid: assure financial solvency of Medicare+Choice organizations and Medicaid managed care organizations (see H.R. 3690), H510 [16FE]

———establish minimum nursing staff levels for nursing facilities and improve quality of care provided by nursing facilities (see S. 3177), S10083 [6OC]

———improve patient safety by reducing medical errors (see S. 2378), S2347 [6AP]

———require certain staffing in nursing facilities (see H.R. 5166), H7577 [13SE]

———require criminal background checks for nursing facility workers (see S. 3066), S8759 [19SE]

———require nursing facilities to be air conditioned to receive funding (see H.R. 4898), H6717 [20JY]

———waive certain nurse aide training requirements (see H.R. 4547), H3867 [25MY] (see H.R. 5282), H8061 [25SE]

Patients Before Paperwork Medicare Red Tape Reduction Commission: establish (see S. 2708), S4820 [8JN] (see H.R. 5334), H8468 [28SE]

Pensions: provide for personalized retirement security through personal retirement savings accounts and increase individual control over retirement income (see H.R. 4839), H5955 [12JY]

———provide retirement security through payroll deductions and extend solvency of Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program (see S. 2774), S5663 [22JN]

Pharmaceuticals: provide access and choice for use of generic drugs under Federal health care programs (see S. 2501), S3328 [3MY]

Privacy: enhance privacy protections for individuals, prevent fraudulent misuse of account numbers, and provide additional safeguards for beneficiaries with representative payees (see H.R. 4857), H6051 [13JY]

———prohibit appearance of Social Security numbers on, or through, unopened Dept. of the Treasury mailings (see S. 3219), S10801 [19OC]

———prohibit mailing of matter which bears an individual's Social Security number on its outside (see H.R. 4910), H6717 [20JY]

———prohibit the display of an individual's Social Security number for commercial purposes without the consent of the individual (see S. 2554), S3946 [15MY]

———prohibit the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers by financial institutions and define such numbers as nonpublic personal information (see S. 2871), S6841 [14JY]

———protect individuals from certain acts and practices in the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers and Social Security account numbers (see S. 2699), S4820 [8JN] (see S. 2876), S6841 [14JY] (see H.R. 4611), H4120 [8JN]

Public debt: protect surplus by requiring a sequester to eliminate any deficit (see S. 2001), S37 [24JA]

Public welfare programs: restore Social Services Block Grant funding and the ability of States to transfer Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds to such block grant (see S. 2585), S4103 [17MY] (see H.R. 4481), H3308 [17MY]

Railroads: provide a transition for railroad workers (see H.R. 5387), H8799 [4OC]

Rural areas: promote and improve access to health care services (see S. 2735), S5240 [15JN] (see H.R. 4677), H4591 [15JN]

Safety Net Organizations and Patient Advisory Commission: establish (see S. 3035), S8413 [12SE] (see H.R. 5162), H7502 [12SE]

Senior citizens: establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security benefits (see H.R. 4551), H3867 [25MY]

———increase accountability of nursing facilities and ensure adequate nurse staffing for patient needs in the facilities under the Medicare and Medicaid programs (see H.R. 5646), H12045 [7DE]

———repeal tax increase on benefits, eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals, and raise age for minimum distributions from pension plans (see S. 2180), S1118 [2MR]

Smoking cessation: promote under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Maternal and Child Health Program (see S. 3073), S8759 [19SE] (see H.R. 5208), H7870 [19SE]

Social Security Protection, Preservation, and Reform Commission: establish (see S. 2510), S3514 [4MY] (see H.R. 4714), H4817 [21JN]

SSA: prepare for the needs of the 21st century (see H.R. 5447), H9767 [11OC]

———require publications to include additional information on Social Security's current and future solvency (see S. 2364), S2233 [5AP]

SSI: disregard State annuities paid to blind veterans in the determination of benefits (see H.R. 4817), H5736 [10JY]

States: permit the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see H.R. 4707), H4816 [21JN]

Taxation: allow a credit to individuals attaining age 65 for certain drug and health insurance expenses (see H.R. 4234), H2121 [11AP]

———allow employees and self-employed individuals to deduct taxes paid for Social Security and Medicare (see H.R. 5064), H7208 [27JY]

———phase out taxation of benefits (see S. 2304), S1815 [28MR]

———prohibit treatment of workmen's compensation benefits as Social Security benefits (see H.R. 3857), H756 [8MR]

———provide incentives for older Americans to remain in the workforce beyond the age of eligibility for full Social Security benefits (see S. 2085, 2086), S680 [22FE]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (see H.R. 4865), H6354 [17JY]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (H.R. 4865), consideration (see H. Res. 564), H7092 [26JY]

———treatment of retirement benefits received by members of certain religious orders (see H.R. 4325), H2339 [13AP]

———waive the employee portion of Social Security taxes imposed on individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer or a terminal disease (see H.R. 4265), H2336 [13AP]

Trust funds: budget treatment (see H.R. 5670), H12531 [15DE]

———protect Social Security and Medicare surpluses through strengthened budgetary enforcement mechanisms (see H.R. 3859), H756 [8MR]

———reduce the public debt by the amount of net surplus in trust fund each fiscal year (see H.R. 4694), H4783 [20JN]

Briefs

Medicare+Choice reimbursement system: Minnesota congressional delegation, E1173-E1176 [30JN]

Conference reports

Minimum Wage Increase, Taxpayer Relief, Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program Corrections, Pain Management Promotion, and Small Business Programs Improvement (H.R. 2614), H10909-H11087 [25OC]

Descriptions

Chronic Illness Care Improvement Act (H.R. 4981), E1335 [27JY]

Senior Citizens' Freedom To Work Act (H.R. 5): Roth Amendment, S1492 [21MR]

Excerpts

Court depositions in Chetan Desai, et al. v. Jayaprakash K. Kamath, et al. relative to profits from the sale of chemotherapy drugs, E1578 [25SE]

Medicare Preservation and Improvement Act studies: Congressional Research Service, E384, E387 [22MR]

Factsheets

Child Protection/Alcohol and Drug Partnership Act (S. 2435), S2751 [13AP]

Medicare Health Improvement Act (S. 2727), S5112 [14JN]

Privatizing Social Security—A Riverboast Gamble: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, S4248 [23MY]

Letters

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Treatment and Assistance Act: Senator Torricelli, S9890 [5OC]

Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act: Fran Visco, National Breast Cancer Coalition, H2690 [9MY]

Budget treatment of Social Security trust funds: Dan L. Crippen, CBO, S11051 [26OC]

———Senator Domenici, Committee on the Budget (Senate), S11050 [26OC]

Family Care Act: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt and Jennifer L. Howse, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, S7661 [26JY]

———Deborah F. Dietrich, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, S7661 [26JY]

———Gregg Haifley, Children's Defense Fund (organization), S7661 [26JY]

———Kathy Thornton and Catherine Pinkerton, NETWORK (organization), S7662 [26JY]

———Kerb Kuhn, Premier, Inc., S7662 [26JY]

———Lawrence A. McAndrews, National Association of Children's Hospitals, S7661 [26JY]

———Rick Pollack, American Hospital Association, S7662 [26JY]

———Ronald F. Pollack, Families USA (organization), S7662 [26JY]

———Stanley B. Peck, American Dental Hygienists' Association, S7661 [26JY]

FDA investigation of drug manufacturer pricing practices: Representative Stark, E1656 [3OC], E1764 [12OC], E1792 [13OC]

FDA investigation of drug manufacturer pricing practices relative to Medicare and Medicaid: Fred Hassan, Pharmacia Corp., E1883 [23OC]

———Representative Stark, E2033, E2037-E2039 [31OC]

Graduate medical education payments: several Members of Congress, S6208 [30JN]

Health Care Provider Bill of Rights: Ann B. Howard, American Federation of HomeCare Providers, Inc., S8096 [6SE]

———Brian Peters, Michigan Health & Hospital Association, S8095 [6SE]

———Charles H. Roadman II, American Health Care Association, S8097 [6SE]

———Mary R. Grealy, Healthcare Leadership Council, S8096 [6SE]

———Thomas A. Scully, Federation of American Hospitals, S8096 [6SE]

———Val J. Halamandaris, National Association for Home Care, S8096 [6SE]

Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program expansion to include parents of low-income families: several organizations, S2414 [7AP]

Medicaid coverage of breast and cervical cancer treatment services for certain women screened under federally funded programs: Barbara Morrow, S2325 [6AP]

Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act: Deborah F. Dietrich, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, S8853 [20SE]

———Howard Bedlin, National Council on the Aging, S8853 [20SE]

———Kenneth E. Raske, Greater New York Hospital Association, S8854 [20SE]

———Larry S. Gage, National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, S8852 [20SE]

———National Immigration Law Center, S8852 [20SE]

———Robert Greenstein, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, S8853 [20SE]

———Ronald F. Pollack, Families USA (organization), S8853 [20SE]

———Thomas J. Van Coverden, National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc., S8853 [20SE]

Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program corrections relative to the Balanced Budget Act: Alliance To Save Cancer Care Access, H11224 [26OC]

———American Association of Blood Banks, American Red Cross, and America's Blood Centers (organization), H11226 [26OC]

———American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, H11221 [26OC]

———American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, H11227 [26OC]

———Ann B. Howard, American Federation of HomeCare Providers, Inc., H11221 [26OC]

———Armin D. Weinberg, Intercultural Cancer Council, H11224 [26OC]

———Bill Finerfrock, Rural Health Clinics (organization), H11218 [26OC]

———Carolyn S. Markey, Visiting Nurse Associations of America, H11221 [26OC]

———Charles B. Mullins, University of Texas, H11220 [26OC]

———Charles L. DeBrunner, National Association of Urban Critical Access Hospitals, H11218 [26OC]

———Clark R. Law, Association for Ohio Philanthropic Homes, Housing and Service for the Aging, H11222 [26OC]

———Craig A. Becker, FACHE (organization), H11219 [26OC]

———Daniel E. Smith, American Cancer Society, H11223 [26OC]

———David LaBlanc, Lifecare Management Services (organization), H11223 [26OC]

———Donald W. Fisher, American Medical Group Association, H11219 [26OC]

———Edward A. Eckenhoff, American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association, H11217 [26OC]

———Gary Goldstein, Kennedy Krieger Institute, H11218 [26OC]

———George N. Miller, Jr., Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital, H11550 [30OC]

———Geraldine Brueckner, National Association of Long Term Hospitals, H11218 [26OC]

———Howard G. Capek and Matthew J. Ripperger, U.S. Healthcare (business), H11228 [26OC]

———Howard J. Braverman, American Optometric Association, H11226 [26OC]

———Jane V. White, American Dietetic Association, H11226 [26OC]

———Jeff Immelt, General Electric Co., H11227 [26OC]

———John Davis, National Kidney Foundation, H11225 [26OC]

———John W. Corwin, Glaucoma Foundation, H11225 [26OC]

———Judith Baskins, National PACE Association, H11222 [26OC]

———Karen A. Davie, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, H11222 [26OC]

———Leah Mullin, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, H11225 [26OC]

———Mark Covall, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, H11220 [26OC]

———Mary R. Grealy, Health Care Leadership Council, H11220 [26OC]

———Michael Walker, Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care, H11221 [26OC]

———Mike Dugan, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, H11225 [26OC]

———Nancy Brinker, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, H11225 [26OC]

———National Orthotic Manufacturers Association, H11227 [26OC]

———Pam Bailey, Advanced Medical Technology Association, H11227 [26OC]

———Patient Access to Transplantation Coalition, H11222 [26OC]

———Peters D. Willson, National Association of Children's Hospitals, H11218 [26OC]

———Phyllis Landrieu, Tenet Healthcare Corp., H11227 [26OC]

———Richard M. Scrushy, Health South (business), H11217 [26OC]

———Rick Pollack, American Hospital Association, S11110 [26OC], S11203 [27OC]

———Rowen K. Zetterman, American College of Gastroenterology, H11226 [26OC]

———S. Bradley Traverse, Acute Long Term Hospital Association, H11218 [26OC]

———Sam W. Cameron, Mississippi Hospital Association, H11219 [26OC]

———Thomas A. Connaughton, American Association for Homecare, H11220 [26OC]

———Thomas A. Scully, Federation of American Hospitals, H11217 [26OC]

———Thomas J. Van Coverden, National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc., H11217 [26OC]

———Val J. Halamandaris, National Association for Home Care, H11220 [26OC]

———William L. Rich III, American Academy of Ophthalmology, H11226 [26OC]

———William Teutsch, Association of Surgical Technologists, H11227 [26OC]

———several Representatives, E2031 [30OC]

———several hospital and healthcare associations, H11500 [29OC]

———several religious organizations, H11222 [26OC]

Medicare coverage of augmentative communication devices: Kirsten A. Nyrop, United Cerebral Palsy Association, E753 [17MY]

———Steven A. Jaye, Sunrise Medical (business), E753 [17MY]

Medicare coverage of outpatient prescription drugs, E1882 [23OC]

———Adam Zaveski, E1179 [30JN]

———Gail Rattigan, S837 [28FE]

———Harriett Simmons, H8894 [5OC]

———Horace B. Deets, Leadership Council of Aging Organizations, E124 [10FE]

———Julia Kanopsky, H4169 [9JN]

———Louise Jarnac, H3401 [18MY]

———Mary Hudson, H9806 [11OC]

———Paul and Lois Van Valkenburgh, H8281 [27SE]

———Representative Stark, Committee on Ways and Means (House), E279 [9MR]

———Virginia Langell, H7900 [20SE]

Medicare coverage of outpatient prescription drugs and allow importation of prescription drugs into the U.S. by pharmacists and wholesalers for resale and by U.S. citizens for personal use: President Clinton, S10524 [13OC]

Medicare reimbursement of prescription drug costs at the average wholesale price: Representative Stark, Committee on Ways and Means (House), E1620, E1622-E1624 [28SE]

Medicare Rx 2000 Act: Laurie M. Flynn, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, H5359 [28JN]

Medicare+Choice program improvements: several senior citizen organizations, S10669 [18OC]

Protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's: Representatives Dingell and Norwood, Committee on Commerce (House), S4788 [8JN]

———several individuals, H97 [1FE]

Protection of enrollees in managed health care plans and HMO's: Representative Ganske, S7516 [25JY]

Senior Citizens' Freedom To Work Act: Martha A. McSteen, National Committee To Preserve Social Security and Medicare, S1488 [21MR]

Social Security Number Confidentiality Act: Representative Archer, Committee on Ways and Means (House), E1846 [19OC]

———Representative Burton, Committee on Government Reform (House), E1846 [19OC]

Social Security reform: Roger Zion, H3633 [23MY]

State Children's Health Insurance Program funding: Frank O'Bannon, Governor of Indiana, S5827 [27JN]

———Michael O. Leavitt and Parris N. Glendening, National Governors' Association, S5827 [27JN]

———Mike Huckabee and James B. Hunt, Jr., National Governors' Association, S5826 [27JN]

———several health care and community service organizations, S5825 [27JN]

———several Senators, S5826, S5827 [27JN]

Tax treatment of Social Security benefits: Robert Shreve, AARP, H7154 [27JY]

Treatment of any budget surpluses: Jill Lancelot, Taxpayers for Common Sense (organization), S2409 [7AP]

———Robert L. Bixby, Concord Coalition, S2408 [7AP]

Voluntary Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Act: Mark E. Litow, Milliman & Robertson, Inc., S2652 [13AP]

———Roland E. (Guy) King, King Associates (business), S2651 [13AP]

Voluntary plan under which eligible Medicare beneficiaries may elect to receive coverage for outpatient prescription drugs: Roland E. (Guy) King, King Associates (business), S1901 [29MR]

Lists

Cosponsors of S. 2365, Home Health Payment Fairness Act, S8807 [20SE]

Legislation cleared by Congress, signed into law, or en route to the President for his signature since Labor Day, S10887 [23OC]

Organizations supporting Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program corrections relative to the Balanced Budget Act, S11110 [26OC], S11203 [27OC]

Patient Access to Transplantation Coalition members, H11223 [26OC]

Possible State losses of State-Children's Health Insurance Program funds, S7892 [27JY]

Voluntary Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Act savings for monthly expenses, S2653 [13AP]

Memorandums

Budget Treatment of Social Security Trust Funds: Stephen C. Goss, SSA, S11050 [26OC]

Is Quality of Care Affected by Hospital and Physician Volumes? Lisa Shulman, E9 [27JA]

Physician Prescribing Practices in Japan, E1620 [28SE]

Messages

Agreement Between the U.S. and Chile on Social Security: President Clinton, S4295 [23MY], H3496 [22MY]

Agreement Between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea on Social Security: President Clinton, S4295 [23MY], H3496 [22MY]

Motions

Benefits: eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals (H.R. 5), S1494 [21MR], H1441 [28MR]

Health: national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 2990), H67 [31JA], H129 [1FE]

Medicaid: coverage of breast and cervical cancer treatment for certain women and research on relationship between cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (H.R. 4386), H9847 [12OC]

Medicare: make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit (H.R. 4680), H5383, H5397, H5398 [28JN]

———make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit (H.R. 4680), consideration (H. Res. 539), H5303, H5316, H5317 [28JN]

Opinion polls

Prescription drug plan for stronger Medicare: Glen Bolger, Public Opinion Strategies (business), S4975 [13JN]

Outlines

Democratic proposal on Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program corrections relative to the Balanced Budget Act: Representatives Rangel and Dingell, H11553 [30OC]

Papers

Graduate Physician Training Positions: Dept. of Veterans Affairs, S7785 [27JY]

Press releases

House To Decide Whether Americans Should Be Told the Truth About the Most Common STD, Human Papilloma Virus: Medical Institute on Human Papilloma Virus, H2692 [9MY]

Protection of Enrollees in Managed Care Plans and HMO's: AMA, S4788 [8JN]

Proposals

Attorney fee payment system: Representative Shaw, E971 [9JN]

Medicare use of additional projected surplus funds to supplement funding previously reduced under the Balanced Budget Act: Senate Democratic Caucus, S7784 [27JY]

Questions and answers

Medicare coverage of outpatient prescription drugs: Senators Domenici and Graham, S5646 [22JN]

Regulations

Hospital Outpatient Department prospective payment system for prescription drugs: Health Care Financing Administration, E1276 [19JY]

Remarks in House

Balanced Budget Act: make corrections in Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program, H8435 [28SE], H11200, H11201, H11210-H11217, H11228, H11245, H11247-H11261 [26OC], H11451, H11453, H11455 [28OC], H11497, H11499, H11500, H11504, H11505, H11506 [29OC], H11547-H11554, H11595-H11601 [30OC], H11793, H11802 [2NO], H12490, H12491, H12494, H12495, H12498, H12500, H12501 [15DE], E1997, E2004 [28OC], E2031 [30OC], E2039, E2041 [31OC], E2052 [1NO], E2194 [15DE]

———make corrections in Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 5291), E1601 [27SE]

———make corrections in Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 5324), E1615 [27SE]

———make corrections in Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 5612), E2051 [1NO]

Benefits: disbursement of benefit checks, H10816 [25OC]

———eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals (H.R. 5), H379 [15FE], H458, H459, H491 [16FE], H518, H547-H552 [29FE], H578, H579, H580, H582-H603, H617-H621, H628 [1MR], H1421 [28MR], H2109 [11AP], H2332 [13AP], E222 [2MR], E228 [6MR], E240 [8MR], E258, E262, E273 [9MR]

———eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals (H.R. 5), Senate amendment, H1441-H1447 [28MR]

———eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals (H.R. 5), unanimous-consent agreement, H580-H582 [1MR]

———ensure solvency, survivor benefits, and disability coverage, H2641 [8MY]

———level of payment in the month of the beneficiary's death (H.R. 3890), E265 [9MR]

Budget: allocation of funds, H257, H258, H268-H275 [9FE], H1251-H1264 [22MR], H1770 [5AP]

———enforcement of spending caps on appropriations legislation, H10819-H10822 [25OC]

———ensure Medicare coverage of prescription drugs prior to consideration of any tax cuts, H1976-H1984 [10AP]

———ensure solvency of Social Security and Medicare, H258, H260 [9FE], H516 [29FE]

———protect Social Security and provide for repayment of the Federal debt, H10068 [18OC]

———provide for reconciliation of the concurrent resolution to reduce the public debt, decrease the statutory debt limit, and provide for retirement security (H.R. 5203), H7780-H7798 [19SE], E1594 [26SE]

———require that certain surplus amounts be used for paying down the national debt, H260 [9FE]

———treatment of any budget surpluses, H95, H138 [1FE], H259, H268-H275 [9FE], H1000, H1001, H1002 [15MR], H1079 [16MR], H1251-H1264 [22MR], H2415 [3MY], H3138-H3141 [16MY], H3534, H3626-H3632 [23MY], H4031-H4033 [7JN], H6361, H6441-H6448 [18JY], H7351-H7357 [7SE], H7570-H7572 [13SE], H7936 [21SE], H8047-H8053, H8056-H8058 [25SE], H8067 [26SE], H8286-H8306 [27SE], H8418, H8419, H8441-H8444 [28SE], H8629 [3OC], H8745, H8746 [4OC], H8814, H8815, H8903-H8909 [5OC], H9454 [6OC], H9638, H9640 [11OC], H9818, H9820 [12OC], H10226 [18OC], H10815, H10846-H10848, H10879 [25OC], H11216 [26OC], H11512 [29OC], H11769-H11774 [1NO], E431, E433, E434 [28MR]

Canada: national health care system, H93 [1FE]

Children and youth: prevent conflicts of interest in the use of administrative vendors in the administration of State children's health insurance plans (H.R. 3600), E88 [8FE]

———provide health insurance for uninsured children, H19 [27JA], H367 [14FE]

———use of State Children's Health Insurance Program funds, H8038-H8040 [25SE]

Claims: improve the payment system for representation of claimants (H.R. 4633), E956, E970 [9JN]

Community development: provide grant funding for additional empowerment zones, enterprise communities, and strategic planning communities, E990 [13JN]

Congress: accomplishments of the 106th Congress, H1 [24JA], H5848, H5850 [12JY], H6783 [25JY], H8300 [27SE], H10403 [19OC], H10755 [24OC], H10814 [25OC], H11201 [26OC], H11451 [28OC], H11787, H11788 [2NO], H11835-H11840 [3NO]

Conservation and Reinvestment Act: condition funding on solvency of Social Security and Medicare, H2872-H2875 [10MY], H2949-H2951 [11MY], E779 [19MY]

Crime: prevent identity fraud (S. 2924), H12511-H12513 [15DE]

Deafness Research Foundation: tribute to efforts to raise awareness through the National Campaign for Hearing Health, E2178 [13DE]

Democratic Party: national agenda, H10, H16-H23 [27JA], H168 [2FE], H8592 [2OC], H11203 [26OC], H11608-H11617 [30OC], E2004 [28OC]

Dept. of Defense: allow Medicare-eligible military health care system beneficiaries to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, H3191 [17MY]

———authorize comparison study of coverage of physical, speech, and occupational therapies under TRICARE, CHAMPUS, Medicare, and the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, H3278 [17MY]

Dept. of HHS: filing of discrimination complaints by limited-English-speaking and hearing-impaired persons relative to benefits, H4243 [13JN]

———Medicare+Choice organizations funding, H5423 [28JN]

———prohibit funding to Medicare+Choice organizations that fail to comply with certain requirements of the Social Security Act, H4287, H4288 [13JN]

———senior citizens programs funding, H4297-H4300 [13JN]

Families and domestic relations: create a grant program to promote joint activities between Federal, State, and local child welfare and alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment agencies (H.R. 5081), E1366 [27JY]

———simplify and improve rules governing the distribution of child support collected by States (H.R. 3824), E221 [2MR]

FDA: investigate drug manufacturer pricing practices relative to Medicare, E1655 [3OC], E1764 [12OC], E1792 [13OC]

———investigation of drug manufacturer pricing practices relative to Medicare and Medicaid, E1882 [23OC], E2033, E2037 [31OC]

Federal-State relations: reduce State and local costs due to unfunded Federal mandates relative to Medicare Rx 2000 Act, H5301, H5302 [28JN]

Flint, MI: relocation of SSA Office of Hearings and Appeals, E1907 [25OC]

Health: allow certain retirees who lose employer-based coverage to acquire coverage under Medicare or COBRA and require employers to notify retirees of any changes in their health benefits (H.R. 3631), E116 [10FE]

———ethical standards of health care facilities and medical corporations, E1269 [19JY]

———increase State immunization programs funding (H. Con. Res. 315), H2486 [3MY]

———managed care system reform proposal, E200 [29FE]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, H79 [31JA], H93 [1FE], H7563 [13SE], H7713-H7715 [18SE], H7875 [20SE], H7939 [21SE], H10238-H10242 [18OC], H11201 [26OC], H11516-H11520 [29OC], H11595-H11601 [30OC]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 2990), H67 [31JA], H139-H143 [1FE], H367-H370 [14FE], H1465-H1468 [28MR], H2110-H2114 [11AP]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 2990), motion to instruct conferees, H129-H137 [1FE]

———prohibit implementation of a uniform medical identifier, H4285, H4286 [13JN], H4434 [14JN]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, H16-H19 [27JA], H77-H81 [31JA], H96, H97, H98, H129-H137, H139-H143, H157 [1FE], H170 [2FE], H248-H252 [8FE], H275-H277 [9FE], H367-H370 [14FE], H376, H426 [15FE], H1465-H1468 [28MR], H2488, H2504 [3MY], H2745-H2748, H2750 [9MY], H5831-H5836 [11JY], H7086-H7090 [26JY], H7572-H7575 [13SE], H7985-H7988 [21SE], H10224, H10240 [18OC], H10399 [19OC], H10892-H10905 [25OC], H11245, H11247, H11248, H11250, H11253, H11254 [26OC], H11435-H11442 [27OC], H11452, H11476-H11483 [28OC], H11512-H11520 [29OC], H11595-H11608, H11609 [30OC], H11754-H11761 [1NO], H11807, H11808 [2NO], H12012-H12016 [5DE], H12036-H12040 [7DE], E7 [27JA]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2723), H739-H747 [8MR], H970-H974 [14MR], H6448-H6450 [18JY], H7986 [21SE]

Health care facilities: provide relief for essential hospitals in certain regions and assist in the long-range economic recovery of such hospitals (H.R. 4622), H4171 [9JN]

———provide relief for essential hospitals in certain regions and assist in the long-range economic recovery of such hospitals (H.R. 5228), E1546 [20SE]

———provide targeted payment relief for hospitals that serve primarily Medicare and Medicaid patients that have been disproportionately impacted by certain payment reductions (H.R. 4624), E1099 [23JN]

Health Care Financing Administration: oversight of Medicare contractors, H717 [8MR]

———reform the regulatory processes used to administer the Medicare program, H7904, H7907 [20SE]

———revise performance standards and certification process for organ procurement organizations (H.R. 4152), E476 [3AP]

Health Care Infrastructure Advisory Commission: establish (H.R. 5622), H11794 [2NO]

House of Representatives: legislative priorities, H8909-H8914 [5OC], H9458-H9461 [6OC]

Indian Health Service: extend program for direct billing of Medicare, Medicaid, and other third party payors and expand program eligibility to other tribes and tribal organizations (S. 406), H9957-H9959 [17OC]

Insurance: guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children (H.R. 4390), E660 [4MY], E2144 [7DE]

———require comprehensive coverage for childhood immunizations, H2486 [3MY]

Medicaid: apply the disproportionate share hospital payment transition rule to public hospitals (H.R. 5621), E2123 [5DE]

———coverage of breast and cervical cancer treatment for certain women and research on relationship between cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (H.R. 4386), H2661, H2687-H2698, H2737 [9MY], H8595 [2OC], H9820, H9847-H9852 [12OC], H11454 [28OC]

———coverage of breast and cervical cancer treatment for certain women and research on relationship between cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (H.R. 4386), Senate amendment (H. Res. 628), H9843-H9847 [12OC]

———coverage of breast and cervical cancer treatment services for certain women screened under federally funded programs (H.R. 1070), H1624 [30MR], H1681 [4AP], H1769 [5AP], H1962 [10AP], H2020 [11AP], H2126, H2127 [12AP], H2553 [4MY], E533 [11AP], E579 [13AP]

———coverage of community-based attendant services (H.R. 4416), H6756 [24JY]

———establish a new prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics (H.R. 2341), H7900 [20SE]

———increase the cap on payments for U.S. territories, H7967 [21SE]

———permit public schools and other entities to determine presumptive eligibility for low-income children, H12490 [15DE]

———permit State waiver authority to provide medical assistance in cases of congenital heart defects (H.R. 3325), E125 [14FE]

———provide families and disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage (H.R. 4825), H11787 [2NO]

———provide public access to quality medical imaging procedures and radiation therapy procedures (H.R. 5274), E1587 [25SE]

———provide State options to allow eligibility for legal immigrant pregnant women, children, and certain disabled individuals, H12489 [15DE]

———provide States with the option of covering intensive community mental health treatment (H.R. 5572), E1949 [26OC]

———reform, E2031 [30OC]

———remove the cap on payments for Puerto Rico and certain other territories and adjust the statutory matching rate (H.R. 5126), E1421 [7SE]

———require States to establish reasonable reimbursement rates, H11682 [31OC], E2083 [3NO]

Medicare: allow beneficiaries the option of having elective surgery performed at certain high volume hospitals, E361 [21MR]

———approve all cost-sharing amounts of Medicare+Choice plans and prohibit such plans from manipulating cost-sharing amounts to avoid sicker patients, E1833 [19OC]

———assure quality of care to beneficiaries and reduce the incidence of medical errors (H.R. 5404), E1703 [6OC]

———calculation of Medicare+Choice payments for medical services at Dept. of Veterans Affairs and Dept. of Defense facilities (H.R. 2447), E1652 [3OC]

———clarify definition of homebound relative to home health services (H.R. 5067), E1412 [6SE]

———clarify definition of homebound relative to home health services (H.R. 5303), E1631 [28SE]

———combat fraud and abuse relative to partial hospitalization services (H.R. 5449), E1757-E1759 [12OC]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse, H2619 [8MY], E956 [9JN]

———contracting with certain hospitals to provide certain surgical procedures and related services at a single rate (H.R. 1392), E8 [27JA]

———contractor management funding, H4214 [12JN]

———correct reductions to service provider payment rates previously reduced under the Balanced Budget Act, H7638-H7640 [14SE], H7900 [20SE], H7985 [21SE]

———coverage for surgical first assisting services of certified registered nurse first assistants (H.R. 3911), E310 [14MR]

———coverage of augmentative communication devices (H.R. 4479), E752, E755 [17MY]

———coverage of chronic disease prescription drugs (H.R. 1796), E1866 [19OC]

———coverage of home health services (H.R. 4874), E1549 [20SE]

———coverage of medically necessary pancreas transplantation procedures (H.R. 4495), E766 [18MY]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs, H16-H18 [27JA], H79 [31JA], H367 [14FE], H496-H501 [16FE], H579, H580 [1MR], H1000 [15MR], H1127 [21MR], H1303, H1304, H1305, H1333 [23MR], H1945, H1946 [6AP], H2186, H2190-H2200 [12AP], H2257, H2320 [13AP], H2485, H2488-H2501 [3MY], H2619 [8MY], H2974 [15MY], H3057 [16MY], H3183, H3184, H3185 [17MY], H3312, H3313, H3401 [18MY], H3620-H3625 [23MY], H3934, H3963 [7JN], H4168 [9JN], H4226 [13JN], H4343, H4345, H4480 [14JN], H4596, H4659-H4670 [19JN], H4679, H4680 [20JN], H4910, H4911, H4916-H4928 [21JN], H5077 [23JN], H5175 [27JN], H5821-H5827 [11JY], H5878-H5880 [12JY], H6031 [13JY], H6097-H6102 [17JY], H6526-H6528, H6566, H6569, H6570, H6573-H6576 [19JY], H7067 [26JY], H7221, H7253-H7259 [6SE], H7284, H7348 [7SE], H7546, H7563 [13SE], H7707-H7715 [18SE], H7875, H7899, H7902-H7916 [20SE], H7936, H7937, H7938, H7939, H7968-H7970, H7983-H7985 [21SE], H8036, H8041-H8047, H8052 [25SE], H8066 [26SE], H8205, H8206, H8281, H8298, H8299 [27SE], H8410, H8411 [28SE], H8629, H8732-H8734 [3OC], H8744, H8796 [4OC], H8894 [5OC], H9454, H9455 [6OC], H9706, H9806 [11OC], H10240 [18OC], H10399 [19OC], H10816, H10882, H10892-H10905 [25OC], H11435-H11442 [27OC], H11476-H11483 [28OC], H11535, H11595-H11601, H11609 [30OC], H11750, H11754-H11761 [1NO], H11786, H11792, H11803-H11807 [2NO], H12036-H12040 [7DE], E123 [10FE], E279 [9MR], E531 [11AP], E697 [10MY], E722 [15MY], E1179 [30JN], E1302 [21JY], E1346 [27JY], E1485 [14SE], E1613 [27SE], E1673 [4OC], E1779 [13OC], E1866 [19OC], E1882 [23OC], E1910 [25OC]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs for military retirees, H7507 [13SE], H9642 [11OC]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (H.R. 1495), H458, H459, H460, H461 [16FE], H1461-H1463 [28MR], E411 [23MR]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (H.R. 3482), H3753 [24MY]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (H.R. 4607), E951 [9JN]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (H.R. 4770), H5426 [28JN], E1188 [10JY], E1276 [19JY]

———coverage of vision rehabilitation services (H.R. 2870), E1144 [29JN]

———create official website that allows beneficiaries to purchase safe and competitively priced domestic and international prescription drugs (H.R. 5142), E1423 [7SE]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (H.R. 5434), E1733 [10OC]

———establish a demonstration project to stabilize coverage and benefits under the Medicare+Choice Program (H.R. 4555), H3859 [25MY]

———establish a voluntary plan under which eligible beneficiaries may elect to receive coverage for prescription drugs, H4293-H4296 [13JN]

———expand and make permanent the subvention demonstration project for military retirees and dependents, H3327, H3328, H3378-H3392 [18MY], H7058-H7061 [26JY], E792 [19MY]

———expand medical residency training programs in geriatric medicine (H.R. 4930), E1306 [24JY]

———graduate medical education payments (H.R. 4239), E531 [11AP]

———impact of State spending levels on the quality of health care services, E1840 [19OC]

———improve access to health insurance by offering certain individuals a Medicare buy-in option and allow tax credit for payment of premiums (H.R. 4938), E1304 [24JY]

———improve fee-for-services reimbursement rates in rural States, H7875 [20SE]

———improve payments under the Medicare+Choice program, H6606 [20JY]

———improve payments under the Medicare+Choice program (H.R. 4236), E527 [11AP]

———improve the manner in which new medical technologies are made available to beneficiaries (H.R. 4395), H7900 [20SE], H8817 [5OC], E1573 [22SE]

———increase access to health care for beneficiaries through telehealth services (H.R. 4841), H7543 [13SE]

———increase awareness of the availability of cost-sharing assistance to eligible low-income beneficiaries (H.R. 4797), E1165 [30JN]

———increase payment amount and establish an annual payment review process for renal dialysis services (H.R. 5152), E1469 [13SE]

———make improvements to the Medicare+Choice program, H10816 [25OC], H11806 [2NO]

———make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit (H.R. 4680), H4916 [21JN], H5073, H5077, H5078, H5079 [23JN], H5088 [26JN], H5173 [27JN], H5319-H5415 [28JN], H5439, H5440, H5441, H5442 [29JN], H6781 [25JY], H7852-H7858 [19SE], H7977-H7983 [21SE], H8110 [26SE], H8745 [4OC], H9701 [11OC], H11532 [30OC], E1104 [23JN], E1159, E1162, E1172, E1179 [30JN], E1188 [10JY], E1203 [11JY]

———make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit (H.R. 4680), consideration (H. Res. 539), H5300-H5318 [28JN]

———make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit (H.R. 4680), motion to recommit, H5396 [28JN]

———payment of claims by health care providers against insolvent Medicare+Choice organizations (H.R. 4087), E398 [23MR]

———payments made under the prospective payment system for home health services (H.R. 4727), E1093 [23JN]

———preserve and improve (S. 1895), E358 [21MR], E384, E387 [22MR]

———preserve essential rural hospitals (H.R. 5220), E1536 [20SE]

———promote access to health care services in rural areas (S. 2987), H11513 [29OC]

———promote research for health promotion and disease prevention and add preventive benefits (H.R. 3887), E270 [9MR]

———protect right of beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare+Choice plans to receive services at any skilled nursing facility (H.R. 3004), H9514 [10OC]

———provide attending physicians greater authority in determining whether a beneficiary is eligible for hospice care (H.R. 5222), E1540 [20SE]

———provide beneficiaries with accurate and understandable managed care information and negotiate with Medicare+Choice organizations to improve and expand benefit plans (H.R. 4753), H5365 [28JN]

———provide comprehensive and coordinated care for individuals with serious and disabling chronic illnesses (H.R. 4981), E1335 [27JY]

———provide for equitable reimbursement rates to Medicare+Choice organizations, E2041 [31OC]

———provide for moratorium on mandatory delay of payment of claims and establish advanced informational infrastructure for administration of Federal health benefit programs (H.R. 4401), H2748 [9MY]

———redesignate ``Medicare+Choice'' as ``Medicare-No-Choice'' (H.R. 5558), E1909 [25OC]

———reductions in prescription drug prices, H579, H580 [1MR], H4916, H4920-H4928 [21JN]

———reductions in prescription drug prices (H.R. 664), H336 [10FE], H418-H425 [15FE], H458, H459, H460, H461 [16FE], H1461-H1463 [28MR], H3297-H3300 [17MY], H4659-H4664 [19JN], H7910, H7911 [20SE]

———reform, H3753 [24MY], H8204 [27SE], H9514 [10OC], H10892-H10899 [25OC], H11435-H11442 [27OC], H11508, H11512-H11520 [29OC], H12483, H12490, H12495, H12496 [15DE]

———reform purchasing, payment, and administrative requirements (H.R. 2115), E959 [9JN]

———reimbursement of prescription drug costs at the average wholesale price, E1524 [19SE], E1620, E1622 [28SE]

———reimbursement of routine patient care costs for individuals participating in approved clinical trials (H.R. 61), H3931 [7JN]

———reimbursement rates for drugs, E2194 [15DE]

———require HMO's participating in the Medicare+Choice program to commit to 3-year contracts, H11495-H11503, H11505 [29OC], E2040 [31OC]

———revise coverage of immunosuppressive drugs (H.R. 5276), E1581 [25SE]

———revise inflation update factor used in making payments to prospective payment system hospitals (H.R. 3580), H7639 [14SE], H11258 [26OC]

———revise the calculation of base payment rates for the prospective payment system for home health services (H.R. 5163), H7900 [20SE]

———use of additional projected surplus funds to supplement funding previously reduced under the Balanced Budget Act (H. Res. 535), H5423-H5426 [28JN], E1182 [30JN]

———waive waiting period for coverage and provide coverage of drugs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, H12445, H12485 [15DE]

Medicare/Medicaid: reimbursement levels for chemotherapy drugs, E1578 [25SE]

———require nursing facilities to be air conditioned to receive funding (H.R. 4898), E1326 [26JY]

Nevada: tribute to prescription drug plan for senior citizens, H7219 [6SE]

Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program: budget treatment (H.R. 167), H12504 [15DE]

Older Americans Month: observance, H3400 [18MY], E707 [11MY]

Pensions: computation system for benefits relative to spouses' and surviving spouses' Government pensions (H.R. 1217), H8410 [28SE]

———create personalized retirement accounts, H936 [14MR]

———provide for personalized retirement security through personal retirement savings accounts and increase individual control over retirement income (H.R. 4839), H5849 [12JY]

———provide for personalized retirement security through personal retirement savings accounts, increase individual control over retirement income, and protect surpluses (H.R. 3206), H5088 [26JN], H10528-H10532 [23OC], H11431-H11435 [27OC]

———tie benefit increases to inflation and establish personal savings accounts, E2185 [14DE]

Personal investment plans: diversion of percentage of payroll tax payments, H577 [1MR], H1128 [21MR], H3052, H3058 [16MY], H3402-H3410 [18MY], H3632-H3637 [23MY], H3754-H3756 [24MY], H4031-H4033 [7JN], H6758-H6764 [24JY], H8058 [25SE], H8787 [4OC], H11871-H11873 [13NO]

Pharmaceuticals: eliminate barriers to improve access to generic drugs, H7742 [19SE], E1527, E1528, E1529 [19SE]

———reductions in prescription drug prices, H5441 [29JN], H7908-H7915 [20SE], H8053 [25SE]

Political campaigns: assessment of Presidential candidates, H11835 [3NO]

Privacy: enhance privacy protections for individuals, prevent fraudulent misuse of account numbers, and provide additional safeguards for beneficiaries with representative payees (H.R. 4857), E1270 [19JY]

———prohibit appearance of Social Security numbers on, or through, unopened Dept. of the Treasury mailings (H.R. 3218), H9990, H9991 [17OC], E1845, E1846, E1852 [19OC]

———prohibit the display of an individual's Social Security number for commercial purposes without the consent of the individual, H11203 [26OC]

———protect individuals from certain acts and practices in the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers and Social Security account numbers, H11238, H11283-H11286, H11291 [26OC]

———protect individuals from certain acts and practices in the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers and Social Security account numbers (H.R. 4611), E938 [9JN]

Public welfare programs: reform, H8747 [4OC]

Reform, H2415 [3MY], H2738 [9MY], H3402-H3410 [18MY], H3632-H3637 [23MY], H3754-H3756 [24MY], H3912 [6JN], E1861 [19OC]

Republican Party: national agenda, H52 [31JA], H96, H139 [1FE], H260 [9FE], H460 [16FE], H999, H1064-H1070 [15MR], H1143-H1149 [21MR], H1483, H1493 [29MR], H1769 [5AP], H2330-H2334 [13AP], H3535 [23MY], H6368 [18JY], H6475 [19JY], H6758-H6764 [24JY], H6783 [25JY], H8455-H8459 [28SE], H8606-H8610 [2OC], H8909-H8914 [5OC], H11201 [26OC], H11548 [30OC], H11774-H11779 [1NO], H12053 [8DE]

Senior citizens: increase accountability of nursing facilities and ensure adequate nurse staffing for patient needs in the facilities under the Medicare and Medicaid programs (H.R. 5646), E2139 [7DE]

Social Security Act: anniversary, E1378 [27JY]

Social Security Protection, Preservation, and Reform Commission: establish (H.R. 4714), E1069 [21JN]

Solvency: ensure, H1680 [4AP], H2378 [2MY], H2596 [4MY], H2657 [9MY], H3531, H3534 [23MY], H5732-H5734 [10JY], H7220, H7221 [6SE], H8894 [5OC], H9512 [10OC], H10233-H10238 [18OC], H10528-H10532 [23OC], H11431-H11435 [27OC], H11835 [3NO], H11871-H11873 [13NO]

SSA: administrative expenses funding, H1571 [29MR]

———funding, H4306 [13JN]

———prepare for the needs of the 21st century (H.R. 5447), E1754 [12OC]

———tribute for Government Performance Project rating, E646 [4MY]

SSI: combat waste, fraud, and abuse, H3312 [18MY]

———denial of benefits to convicted criminals while confined, H1769 [5AP]

States: permit the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, H11257 [26OC]

Sterling Life Insurance Co.: enrollment policies for Medicare+Choice fee-for-service plan, E1833 [19OC]

Taxation: allow a credit to individuals attaining age 65 for certain drug and health insurance expenses (H.R. 4234), H2019 [11AP]

———condition phase-out and repeal of estate and gift taxes on solvency of Social Security and Medicare and public debt reduction, H4078, H4081-H4085 [8JN], H4132, H4135, H4138, H4145 [9JN], E974 [12JN]

———condition repeal of excise tax on telephone use and other communications services on solvency of Social Security and Medicare, H3834 [25MY]

———condition repeal of tax increase on Social Security benefits on solvency of Social Security and Medicare, H7166-H7175 [27JY]

———disclosure of employer's share of taxes paid for old-age, survivors, disability, and hospital insurance for the employee (H.R. 1264), H6380-H6382 [18JY]

———make marriage tax penalty relief contingent on Social Security and Medicare solvency certification and public debt elimination, H314, H315, H318-H327 [10FE], H5866, H5869-H5871, H5874-H5877 [12JY]

———provide tax credits to individuals aged 55 to 64 to buy into Medicare or purchase COBRA health coverage, H1418 [28MR]

———reduce payroll taxes, H10233-H10238 [18OC]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (H.R. 4865), H7007 [26JY], H7153-H7176 [27JY], E1412, E1413 [6SE], E1493 [14SE]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (H.R. 4865), consideration (H. Res. 564), H7136-H7143, H7150 [27JY]

Texas: implementation of legislation to protect enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, H17-H19 [27JA], H426 [15FE], H970-H974 [14MR], H11202 [26OC]

———participation in State Children's Health Insurance Program, H3895-H3901 [6JN], E923 [9JN]

Trust funds: budget treatment, H10, H16 [27JA], H95, H138 [1FE], H170 [2FE], H247 [8FE], H862, H863 [9MR], H1079 [16MR], H1305, H1334, H1335, H1348 [23MR], H1507 [29MR], H2347 [2MY], H4031-H4033 [7JN], H5849 [12JY], H6722 [24JY], H7563 [13SE], H8048-H8050 [25SE], H8066 [26SE], H8282, H8286-H8300, H8306, H8311 [27SE], H8747 [4OC], H9515 [10OC], H9818, H9820, H9894-H9897 [12OC], H10233-H10238 [18OC], H10464-H10468 [19OC], H10477 [23OC], H10536 [24OC], H10813, H10815, H10879 [25OC], H11431-H11435 [27OC], H11511 [29OC], H11710-H11714 [31OC], H11835-H11840 [3NO]

———budget treatment (H.R. 5670), E2215 [15DE]

———payroll taxes, H10815 [25OC]

———protect Social Security and Medicare surpluses through strengthened budgetary enforcement mechanisms (H.R. 3859), H4708-H4714 [20JN], H5100 [26JN]

———reduce the public debt by the amount of net surplus in trust fund each fiscal year (H.R. 420), H12504 [15DE]

———reduce the public debt by the amount of net surplus in trust fund each fiscal year (H.R. 4694), H12504 [15DE]

———treatment, H169 [2FE]

———use of surplus to pay down national debt, H2738 [9MY]

Women: effects of reform proposals, H3402-H3404 [18MY]

Remarks in Senate

Alaska: increase the Federal medical assistance percentage (S. 2693), S4820 [8JN]

Armed Forces: restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services, S4620-S4633 [7JN], S4812, S4813 [8JN], S10335, S10342 [12OC]

———restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services (S. 2669), S4565 [6JN]

Balanced Budget Act: make corrections in Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program, S77 [26JA], S6984 [14JY], S10653 [18OC], S11104, S11109-S11111 [26OC], S11195, S11197-S11204, S11217-S11224, S11283-S11290 [27OC], S11455-S11457, S11472, S11486 [1NO], S11818, S11861-S11863, S11870, S11871 [15DE]

———make corrections in Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 3077), S8825-S8857 [20SE], S8879 [21SE], S11882 [15DE]

———make corrections in Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 3165), S9946, S9947, S10027 [5OC]

Benefits: age eligibility for full unreduced old-age benefits, S1489-S1494 [21MR]

———eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals (H.R. 5), S1203 [7MR], S1441, S1442, S1450-S1453 [20MR], S1473, S1474, S1483-S1503 [21MR], S1533-S1541 [22MR]

———eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals (H.R. 5), placed on calendar, S1155 [2MR]

———eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals (H.R. 5), unanimous-consent agreement, S1429 [9MR]

———eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals (S. 2074), S680-S682 [22FE]

———increase spousal survivors' benefit and allow women taking leave to care for a child or relative to exempt those years from benefit calculations, S6656-S6659 [13JY]

———level of payment in the month of the beneficiary's death (S. 2926), S7665 [26JY]

———provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (S. 2477), S3024 [27AP]

Budget: allocation of funds, S317 [3FE], S458-S462 [8FE], S1696-S1698 [27MR]

———enforcement of spending caps on appropriations legislation, S5980-S5984 [28JN], S6226, S6227, S6236-S6242 [30JN], S6462 [11JY], S7100 [18JY]

———ensure Medicare coverage of prescription drugs prior to consideration of any tax cuts, S2087-S2094 [4AP], S2145-S2155 [5AP], S2667, S2678 [13AP]

———ensure solvency of Social Security and Medicare, S2149-S2151 [5AP], S6784 [14JY], S7044 [17JY]

———protect Social Security and provide for repayment of the Federal debt (S. 2220), S1324 [8MR]

———provide for reconciliation of the concurrent resolution to reduce the public debt, decrease the statutory debt limit, and provide for retirement security (H.R. 5203), S8866 [20SE], S8871 [21SE]

———treatment of any budget surpluses, S317 [3FE], S461 [8FE], S782-S784 [24FE], S1549-S1553 [22MR], S1700, S1702 [27MR], S1851-S1853-S1855 [29MR], S2065, S2075 [4AP], S2179-S2190, S2226 [5AP], S2408-S2410, S2421-S2423 [7AP], S2571 [12AP], S6601 [13JY], S7084, S7103, S7112-S7117 [18JY], S7494-S7496, S7504 [25JY], S7607 [26JY], S7817-S7819 [27JY], S8620-S8623 [15SE], S8650 [18SE], S8868-S8870 [20SE], S9918, S9923 [5OC], S10264 [11OC], S10653, S10654 [18OC], S10978, S11018 [25OC], S11045-S11048, S11082, S11098-S11100, S11111-S11113 [26OC], S11267-S11269 [27OC], S11858 [15DE]

———treatment of trust funds relative to deficit and surplus forecasts, S601-S603 [10FE], S784-S787 [24FE]

Bush, George W.: economic plan, S10646-S10648 [18OC], S11104, S11111-S11113 [26OC]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: increase State immunization programs funding, S6192-S6195 [30JN]

Children and youth: extend availability of State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments, S11876 [15DE]

———extend availability of State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments (S. 2434), S2744, S2745 [13AP]

———improve the quality and availability of training for judges, attorneys, and volunteers working in abuse and neglect courts (S. 2271), S1602-S1606 [22MR]

———use of State Children's Health Insurance Program funds, S11052 [26OC]

Committee on the Budget (Senate): report on Vice President Gore's economic plan, S11087 [26OC]

Congress: accomplishments of the 106th Congress, S77 [26JA], S4402-S4405 [25MY], S7496, S7503-S7509 [25JY], S8642 [18SE], S10745 [19OC], S10886 [23OC], S10899-S10901 [24OC], S10962 [25OC]

———require report on solvency, S1483, S1484, S1493 [21MR], S1535 [22MR]

———require report on solvency (S. 2249), S1462 [20MR]

Constitutional amendments: treatment under balanced budget (S.J. Res. 38), S290 [2FE]

Crime: prevent identity fraud (S. 2328), S1987 [30MR]

———prevent identity fraud (S. 2924), S7663 [26JY], S11427-S11432 [31OC], S11491 [1NO], S11941 [15DE]

Democratic Party: national agenda, S122-S124 [31JA], S7494-S7498, S7503-S7507 [25JY], S8045-S8048 [6SE], S8250 [8SE], S8359 [12SE], S8785-S8787 [20SE], S9420 [28SE], S10048 [6OC], S10962 [25OC], S11343, S11344 [29OC], S11350 [30OC], S11401-S11404 [31OC]

Dept. of HHS: Medicare Integrity Program funding, S6204, S6205 [30JN]

———State Children's Health Insurance Program funding, S5823-S5829, S5871 [27JN], S6101 [29JN]

Diseases: neurofibromatosis research funding, S3827 [10MY]

Families and domestic relations: create a grant program to promote joint activities between Federal, State, and local child welfare and alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment agencies (S. 2435), S2745 [13AP]

———permit States with proven cost-effective and efficient child support collection systems to continue operation (S. 2349), S2114 [4AP]

Gore, Vice President: economic plan, S10646-S10648 [18OC]

Health: expand Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families, S2412-S2414 [7AP], S6790-S6792 [14JY], S7048 [17JY]

———expand Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families (S. 2923), S7660-S7663 [26JY]

———expand State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families (S. 2923) (S. 2976), S7891 [27JY]

———improve access to health insurance and Medicare benefits for individuals aged 55 to 65 and allow tax credits for payment of such premiums and COBRA coverage premiums (S. 2918), S7552 [25JY]

———increase State immunization programs funding (S. 2443), S2763 [13AP]

———increase State immunization programs funding (S. 2443), star print, S3268 [2MY]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, S4513, S4514 [6JN], S4977 [13JN], S5821 [26JN], S7504, S7508 [25JY], S8045-S8048 [6SE], S9565 [2OC], S10967-S10972 [25OC], S11064-S11067, S11074-S11076, S11111 [26OC], S11340-S11342 [29OC]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 2990), S1698 [27MR], S6412 [11JY]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (S. 2888), S7229-S7232 [19JY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, S1111-S1113 [2MR], S2339 [6AP], S2450 [10AP], S2891 [26AP], S4787-S4808 [8JN], S5729 [23JN], S6079-S6093 [29JN], S7516-S7519 [25JY], S7980 [5SE], S8630 [15SE], S9401 [27SE], S9427, S9428 [28SE], S9926, S9927 [5OC], S10127-S10129 [10OC], S10746, S10748 [19OC], S10886 [23OC], S10963, S10967-S10972 [25OC], S11064, S11082, S11111 [26OC], S11334, S11335, S11337 [29OC]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 3057), S8641 [18SE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 3058), S8641 [18SE]

———sustain access to vital emergency medical services in rural areas (S. 3125), S9390 [27SE]

Health Care Financing Administration: consider the impact of implementing new reimbursement rules on existing emergency medical services systems (S. Res. 302), S3333 [3MY]

———imposition of fines for improper Medicaid coverage changes, S6204 [30JN]

———reform the regulatory processes used to administer the Medicare program, S8808 [20SE], S8875, S8876 [21SE]

———reform the regulatory processes used to administer the Medicare program (S. 2999), S8093-S8097 [6SE]

———revise performance standards and certification process for organ procurement organizations (S. 2235), S1407 [9MR]

———revise performance standards and certification process for organ procurement organizations (S. 2625), S4389 [24MY], S4718 [7JN]

Income: address problems of the wealth gap in the U.S. and barriers to wealth accumulation, S2660 [13AP]

Insurance: guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children (S. 2515), S3538 [4MY]

———require comprehensive coverage for childhood immunizations (S. 2444), S2763 [13AP]

KidSave accounts: open for every child at birth and invest such accounts to build retirement savings, S6638-S6640 [13JY]

———open for every child at birth and invest such accounts to build retirement savings (S. 3200), S10420 [12OC]

Medicaid: apply aggregate upper payment limits to non-State publicly owned or operated facilities (S. 3187), S10270 [11OC]

———assure preservation of safety net hospitals through maintenance of Disproportionate Share Hospital Program (S. 2308), S1822 [28MR]

———coverage of breast and cervical cancer treatment for certain women and research on relationship between cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (H.R. 4386), S3852 [10MY], S3858 [11MY], S9821-S9823 [4OC], S10215 [11OC]

———coverage of breast and cervical cancer treatment for certain women and research on relationship between cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (H.R. 4386), insert S. 662 language in lieu, S9821 [4OC]

———coverage of breast and cervical cancer treatment services for certain women screened under federally funded programs, S2226 [5AP], S2324, S2325 [6AP]

———coverage of breast and cervical cancer treatment services for certain women screened under federally funded programs (S. 662), S4950 [12JN], S5784 [26JN], S7472 [24JY], S7824 [27JY], S9821 [4OC]

———coverage of community-based attendant services (S. 1935), S7640 [26JY]

———coverage of lead poisoning screening and treatment for children, S6797, S6808 [14JY]

———implement regulations clarifying allowable costs for school-based health services provided to children with disabilities (S. 3088), S8952 [21SE]

———make drug pricing information available to the public (S. 2963), S7855-S7858 [27JY]

———provide families and disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage (S. 2274), S1607, S1608 [22MR], S5305 [16JN], S6819 [14JY], S10748 [19OC]

———reform, S5879 [27JN]

———State funding for disproportionate share hospitals, S11876 [15DE]

———State funding for disproportionate share hospitals (S. 2299), S1748 [27MR]

———State funding for disproportionate share hospitals (S. 2299), star print, S4327 [23MY]

Medicare: adjust wages and wage-related costs for certain items and services furnished in geographically reclassified hospitals (S. 2241), S1414 [9MR]

———allow tax deduction for Medigap and Medicare+Choice plans including outpatient prescription drug and long-term care benefits, and establish new Medigap policies including such benefits (S. 2237), S1411 [9MR]

———anniversary, S5879 [27JN]

———clarify definition of homebound relative to home health services (S. 2298), S1748 [27MR]

———clarify definition of homebound relative to home health services (S. 3106), S9200 [25SE]

———coverage of adult day care services (S. 2826), S6138 [29JN]

———coverage of bone mass measurements (S. 2524), S3695 [9MY]

———coverage of glaucoma detection services (S. 3024), S8343 [11SE]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services (S. 660), S8337 [11SE]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs, S132-S134 [31JA], S657 [22FE], S705-S709 [23FE], S837 [28FE], S1188-S1191 [6MR], S1659 [23MR], S1698 [27MR], S1851-S1853 [29MR], S1947 [30MR], S2030 [3AP], S2059, S2063, S2084 [4AP], S2324 [6AP], S2390, S2427 [7AP], S2571 [12AP], S2675, S2676, S2681, S2683, S2688, S2689 [13AP], S2891, S2893 [26AP], S2958 [27AP], S4171 [18MY], S4513 [6JN], S4974-S4978 [13JN], S5609, S5636-S5641, S5643, S5645, S5646 [22JN], S5721, S5726, S5731 [23JN], S5779, S5786 [26JN], S6442, S6446 [11JY], S6632-S6636, S6643 [13JY], S6796 [14JY], S7006, S7050 [17JY], S7085 [18JY], S7627 [26JY], S7962, S7980 [5SE], S8045-S8048 [6SE], S8160 [7SE], S8245-S8250, S8272-S8274 [8SE], S8536-S8538, S8569, S8600-S8604 [14SE], S8629, S8630 [15SE], S8748-S8750 [19SE], S8773-S8776, S8780-S8789 [20SE], S9127 [25SE], S9334, S9335 [27SE], S9415-S9418, S9422 [28SE], S9565 [2OC], S9835-S9838 [4OC], S9923, S9927 [5OC], S10127-S10129 [10OC], S10667-S10669 [18OC], S10960-S10962, S10968 [25OC], S11065 [26OC], S11531 [14NO], S11564 [5DE]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs and enhanced preventative benefits (S. 2541), S3839-S3850 [10MY]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs for military retirees, S10383 [12OC]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (S. 1480), S7, S8 [24JA], S124, S125 [31JA], S315 [3FE], S656 [22FE], S751-S753 [23FE], S787 [24FE], S1042 [1MR], S1162-S1164 [6MR], S1203 [7MR], S1267 [8MR], S1482 [21MR], S2032-S2034 [3AP], S3694 [9MY]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (S. 1535), S104 [26JA], S5879 [27JN], S6253 [30JN]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (S. 2758), S5465-S5467 [20JN], S5719 [23JN]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (S. 2836), S8091-S8093 [6SE]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (S. 3016), S8198-S8204 [7SE]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (S. 3017), S8204 [7SE]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (S. 3107), S9254 [26SE], S9357 [27SE]

———Disproportionate Share Hospital Program funding, S6216 [30JN]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates, add intensive residential services, and expand the number of eligible professionals relative to mental health care services (S. 3233), S11000 [25OC], S11528 [14NO]

———eliminate reduction in payment rates to home health agencies for home health services (S. 2365), S2242-S2244 [5AP], S8094 [6SE], S8807-S8809 [20SE], S8874-S8877 [21SE]

———eliminate time limitation on benefits for immunosuppressive drugs (S. 2399), S2541 [11AP], S2713 [13AP]

———enhance the critical access hospital program (S. 2600), S4237 [22MY]

———ensure reimbursement for certain ambulance services and improve the efficiency of the emergency medical system (S. 911), S3686 [9MY]

———establish a hospice demonstration and grant program for beneficiaries (S. 3026), S8413 [12SE]

———establish a physician recruitment and retention project (S. 3167), S9949 [5OC]

———establish a voluntary plan under which eligible beneficiaries may elect to receive coverage for outpatient prescription drugs (S. 2319), S1899-S1901 [29MR], S2650-S2653 [13AP]

———expand and make permanent the subvention demonstration project for military retirees and dependents (S. 915), S2228 [5AP]

———expand coverage of certain self-injected biologicals, S11898 [15DE]

———expand coverage of certain self-injected biologicals (S. 2644), S4557 [6JN], S4921 [9JN]

———expand coverage of certain self-injected biologicals (S. 2957), S7849 [27JY]

———extend the option to use rebased target amounts to all sole community hospitals (S. 2037), S381 [7FE]

———graduate medical education payments, S6208 [30JN], S7785 [27JY], S11817 [15DE]

———graduate medical education payments (S. 2394), S2534, S2535 [11AP]

———improve access to Medicare+Choice plans through an increase in annual capitation rates (S. 2937), S7679-S7687 [26JY]

———improve coverage determination process relative to new advances in medical technology (S. 1626), S78 [26JA]

———improve fee-for-services reimbursement rates in rural States (S. 2610), S4315, S4316 [23MY]

———improve health of senior citizens and disabled individuals (S. 2727), S5109 [14JN]

———improve Medicare-dependent, small rural hospital program (S. 2768), S5666 [22JN]

———improve methodology for the calculation of Medicare+Choice program payment rates (S. 3029), S8407 [12SE]

———improve the manner in which new medical technologies are made available to beneficiaries, S11861-S11863 [15DE]

———improve the manner in which new medical technologies are made available to beneficiaries (S. 3082), S8858 [20SE]

———increase access to health care for beneficiaries through telemedicine (S. 2505), S3519, S3520 [4MY]

———increase awareness of the availability of cost-sharing assistance to eligible low-income beneficiaries (S. 2814), S6124 [29JN]

———increase payment amount and establish an annual payment review process for renal dialysis services (S. 3038), S8420 [12SE]

———make improvements to the Medicare+Choice program, S10669 [18OC]

———make improvements to the Medicare+Choice program (S. 2905), S7449 [21JY]

———make improvements to the prospective payment system for skilled nursing facility services (S. 3050), S8588, S8589 [14SE]

———make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit, S8775, S8869 [20SE]

———make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit (H.R. 4680), S6182 [29JN], S6185 [30JN]

———make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit (S. 2807), S6020 [28JN]

———payment of claims by health care providers against insolvent Medicare+Choice organizations (S. 2110), S867 [28FE]

———preserve access to outpatient cancer treatment by ensuring any changes in reimbursement rates are based on appropriate guidelines and analysis by GAO (S. 3003), S8022 [5SE], S8093 [6SE]

———promote access to health care services in rural areas (S. 2987), S7895, S7900 [27JY]

———promote research for health promotion and disease prevention and add preventive benefits, S8536, S8537 [14SE], S8748-S8750 [19SE]

———promote research for health promotion and disease prevention and add preventive benefits (S. 2232), S1400-S1402 [9MR]

———provide appropriate transition from interim payment system to prospective payment system for home health services (S. 2835), S6257-S6259 [30JN]

———provide for additional payment of services for certain high-cost individuals under the prospective payment system for skilled nursing facility service (S. 1500), S77 [26JA]

———provide for equitable reimbursement rates to Medicare+Choice organizations, S11234 [27OC], S11621 [6DE], S11682 [7DE]

———provide for moratorium on mandatory delay of payment of claims and establish advanced informational infrastructure for administration of Federal health benefit programs (S. 2312), S1893 [29MR]

———provide guidance to health care providers attempting to properly submit claims and target truly fraudulent activity for enforcement of billing regulations rather than inadvertent errors (S. 3131), S9469 [28SE]

———reductions in prescription drug prices, S2032-S2034 [3AP], S4974-S4978 [13JN], S9839 [4OC]

———reductions in prescription drug prices (S. 731), S838-S840 [28FE], S11564 [5DE]

———reform, S348 [7FE], S6204 [30JN], S8091-S8097 [6SE], S8272-S8274 [8SE], S8629 [15SE], S10667-S10669 [18OC], S11455 [1NO]

———reimbursement levels for free-standing cancer hospitals for outpatient services, S11481 [1NO]

———revise inflation update factor used in making payments to prospective payment system hospitals (S. 1609), S3688 [9MY]

———revise inflation update factor used in making payments to prospective payment system hospitals (S. 2018), S213 [1FE], S8776-S8778 [20SE], S9883 [5OC]

———revise payments for certain physician pathology services (S. 3055), S8592 [14SE]

———revise the calculation of base payment rates for the prospective payment system for home health services (S. 2766), S5663 [22JN]

———revise the calculation of base payment rates for the prospective payment system for home health services (S. 3034), S8418 [12SE]

———State accreditation of diabetes self-management training programs (S. 3084), S8862 [20SE]

———use of additional projected surplus funds to supplement funding previously reduced under the Balanced Budget Act, S6984 [14JY], S7784-S7786 [27JY]

———waive waiting period for coverage and provide coverage of drugs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, S11225 [27OC], S11821 [15DE]

———waive waiting period for coverage and provide coverage of drugs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (S. 1074), S9889, S9890 [5OC]

———waive waiting period for coverage of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, S6797 [14JY]

Medicare/Medicaid: establish minimum nursing staff levels for nursing facilities and improve quality of care provided by nursing facilities (S. 3177), S10085-S10088 [6OC]

———improve patient safety by reducing medical errors (S. 2378), S2349 [6AP]

———require criminal background checks for nursing facility workers (S. 3066), S8759 [19SE]

———restrict use and require recording and reporting of information on use of physical and chemical restraints and seclusion in mental health facilities, S6204 [30JN]

National objectives: role of Federal Government, S10135-S10137 [10OC]

Patients Before Paperwork Medicare Red Tape Reduction Commission: establish (S. 2708), S4851 [8JN]

Pensions: computation system for benefits relative to spouses' and surviving spouses' Government pensions (S. 717), S10587 [13OC]

———create personalized retirement accounts (S. 1103), S104 [26JA], S1196-S1201 [7MR], S4243-S4247 [23MY], S4515-S4518 [6JN]

———provide retirement security through payroll deductions and extend solvency of Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program (S. 1383), S2660 [13AP]

———provide retirement security through payroll deductions and extend solvency of Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program (S. 2774), S5668 [22JN]

Personal investment plans: diversion of percentage of payroll tax payments, S4243-S4253 [23MY], S4339 [24MY], S4978-S4980 [13JN], S5317 [19JN], S5773 [26JN]

Pharmaceuticals: provide access and choice for use of generic drugs under Federal health care programs (S. 2501), S3328 [3MY], S11564 [5DE]

Privacy: prohibit appearance of Social Security numbers on, or through, unopened Dept. of the Treasury mailings (H.R. 3218), S11013 [25OC]

———protect individuals from certain acts and practices in the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers and Social Security account numbers (S. 2699), S4834 [8JN]

———protect individuals from certain acts and practices in the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers and Social Security account numbers (S. 2876), S6845 [14JY]

Public debt: protect surplus by requiring a sequester to eliminate any deficit (S. 2001), S10 [24JA], S104 [26JA]

Public welfare programs: restore Social Services Block Grant funding and the ability of States to transfer Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds to such block grant (S. 2585), S4114, S4115 [17MY]

———Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program funding, S5871 [27JN], S6101 [29JN]

Reform, S3938-S3940 [15MY], S4243-S4253 [23MY], S4339 [24MY], S5317 [19JN]

Republican Party: national agenda, S125-S130 [31JA], S1167-S1169 [6MR], S7464-S7466 [24JY], S8250 [8SE]

Rural areas: promote and improve access to health care services, S9366 [27SE]

———promote and improve access to health care services (S. 2735), S5254, S5255 [15JN]

Safety Net Organizations and Patient Advisory Commission: establish (S. 3035), S8407, S8419 [12SE]

Senate: legislative priorities, S5323-S5325 [19JN], S7595 [26JY], S7960-S7962, S7983-S7985 [5SE], S8265 [8SE], S8627-S8629 [15SE], S8642-S8644 [18SE], S9400, S9401 [27SE], S9565 [2OC], S10611 [17OC], S10884, S10885, S10886 [23OC], S11082 [26OC]

Senior citizens: repeal tax increase on benefits, eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals, and raise age for minimum distributions from pension plans (S. 2180), S1126 [2MR]

Smoking cessation: promote under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Maternal and Child Health Program (S. 3073), S8765 [19SE]

Social Security Act: anniversary, S7821 [27JY]

Social Security Protection, Preservation, and Reform Commission: establish (S. 2510), S3524-S3529 [4MY]

Social Services Block Grant: funding, S5318-S5320 [19JN], S5839-S5842, S5871 [27JN], S6101 [29JN]

Solvency: ensure, S2433 [7AP], S4515-S4518 [6JN], S4978-S4980 [13JN]

SSA: administrative expenses funding, S6107 [29JN]

———provide information on Social Security trust funds, personal earnings, and benefit estimates to eligible individuals (S. 1104), S1535 [22MR]

———require publications to include additional information on Social Security's current and future solvency (S. 2364), S2239-S2242 [5AP]

SSI: funding, S5980-S5984 [28JN]

Taxation: disclosure of employer's share of taxes paid for old-age, survivors, disability, and hospital insurance for the employee (H.R. 1264), S7952 [27JY]

———phase out taxation of benefits (S. 2304), S1817 [28MR]

———provide incentives for older Americans to remain in the workforce beyond the age of eligibility for full Social Security benefits (S. 2085), S689 [22FE], S1534 [22MR]

———provide incentives for older Americans to remain in the workforce beyond the age of eligibility for full Social Security benefits (S. 2086), S689 [22FE], S1534 [22MR]

———provide tax credits to individuals aged 55 to 64 to purchase COBRA health coverage through elimination of the percentage depletion allowance for hardrock mining on Federal lands, S6788 [14JY], S7046 [17JY]

———rates, S2294, S2295 [6AP]

———treatment of Social Security benefits, S6640-S6642, S6644 [13JY]

Trust funds: budget treatment, S348 [7FE], S459, S460 [8FE], S1533, S1535, S1539 [22MR], S1702 [27MR], S2031 [3AP], S2063, S2078 [4AP], S2177, S2179-S2190, S2193, S2266 [5AP], S2279 [6AP], S2386, S2410, S2433 [7AP], S2663, S2690 [13AP], S3684 [9MY], S3938-S3940 [15MY], S4243-S4253 [23MY], S4339 [24MY], S4515-S4518 [6JN], S4943 [12JN], S5317 [19JN], S6054, S6057-S6067 [29JN], S10141 [10OC], S10264 [11OC], S10901, S10903-S10906 [24OC], S10960-S10962 [25OC], S11045-S11052, S11082, S11098-S11100, S11111-S11113 [26OC], S11350, S11360-S11365 [30OC]

———budget treatment (H.R. 1259), S8160, S8161 [7SE]

———budget treatment (H.R. 1259), unanimous-consent request, S8492 [13SE]

———ensure solvency, S6656-S6659 [13JY]

———prohibit investment in private financial markets, S2388, S2389 [7AP], S3684 [9MY], S4290 [23MY]

———protect Social Security and Medicare surpluses through strengthened budgetary enforcement mechanisms, S2385, S2394, S2395 [7AP]

———protect Social Security and Medicare surpluses through strengthened budgetary enforcement mechanisms (H.R. 3859), S5580 [21JN], S5654, S5710 [22JN]

Women: effects of reform proposals, S4247 [23MY]

Reports

Social Security Board as Case Study: Congressional Research Service, E358 [21MR]

Vulnerable Populations and Medicare Services: Marian E. Gornick, Century Foundation, E1635 [29SE]

Reports filed

Alaska Native and American Indian Direct Reimbursement Act: Committee on Resources (House) (S. 406) (H. Rept. 106-818), H7279 [6SE]

Beneficiary Improvement and Protection Act: Committee of Conference (H.R. 5291) (H. Rept. 106-1019), H11620 [30OC]

Consideration of H.R. 4680, Medicare Rx 2000 Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 539) (H. Rept. 106-705), H5239 [27JN]

Consideration of H.R. 4865, Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 564) (H. Rept. 106-795), H7092 [26JY]

Internet False Identification Prevention Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 2924), S9464 [28SE]

Medicaid Coverage of Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Services for Certain Women Screened Under Federally Funded Programs: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 662) (S. Rept. 106-323), S5883 [27JN]

Medicare Rx 2000 Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 4680) (H. Rept. 106-703), H5239 [27JN]

Privacy and Identity Protection Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 4857) (H. Rept. 106-996), H10807 [24OC]

Senate Amendment to H.R. 4386, Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 628) (H. Rept. 106-975), H9766 [11OC]

Senior Citizens' Freedom To Work Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 5) (H. Rept. 106-507), H630 [1MR]

Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 4865) (H. Rept. 106-780), H6776 [24JY]

Rulings of the Chair

Medicare: make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit (H.R. 4680), H5397 [28JN]

Taxation: repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (H.R. 4865), H7158 [27JY]

Statements

Family Care Act: Patricia Quezada, S7661 [26JY]

Prescription Drug Costs: Kayla Gildersleeve, Angela Deblasio, and Tess Grossi, E1579 [25SE]

Protection of Enrollees in Managed Care Plans and HMO's: National Conference of State Legislatures, S4797 [8JN]

Treatment of Budget Trust Funds Relative to Deficit and Surplus Forecasts: Senator Hollings, S6999-S7002 [17JY]

Studies

Impact on Patients of Delays in Passing a Patients' Bill of Rights: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) Minority Staff, S2340 [6AP]

Rural Case Studies on Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage, S8 [24JA]

Summaries

Exclusion of Social Security Trust Funds From the Federal Budget, S785 [24FE]

Guarantee Comprehensive Health Care Coverage for All Children (H.R. 4390), E660 [4MY]

Internet False Identification Prevention Act (S. 2924), S11430 [31OC]

Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act (H.R. 5324), E1615 [27SE]

Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act (S. 3077), S8851 [20SE]

Medicare Early Access and Tax Credit Act (H.R. 4938), E1305 [24JY]

Medicare Health Improvement Act (S. 2727), S5112 [14JN]

MediKids Health Insurance Act (S. 2515), S3543 [4MY]

State Children's Health Insurance Program, S11052 [26OC]

Stop All Frequent Errors (SAFE) in Medicare and Medicaid Act (S. 2378), S2349 [6AP]

Tables

Average Medicare+Choice payment rates in metropolitan and primary metropolitan statistical areas, S7680-S7685 [26JY]

Clinton Administration Medicare funding, S2063 [4AP]

Comparision between the Voluntary Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Act and the Clinton administration proposal on Medicare coverage of outpatient prescription drugs, S2652, S2653 [13AP]

Comparision of prescription drug prices in Washington (State) and Canada, S2091 [4AP]

Comparison between George W. Bush's and Vice President Gore's Medicare reform plans, S10962 [25OC]

Comparison of Medicare payment rates across settings for selected high volume ambulatory care services, E959 [9JN]

Effects of proposed transfers from the general fund to the Social Security trust funds on cumulative interest payments, S11052 [26OC]

Federal Government financing and debt, S786 [24FE]

Federal trust funds used to balance the budget, S602 [10FE], S2181 [5AP], S7001 [17JY], S11045 [26OC]

Growth in the number of uninsured Americans (1988-98), S7238 [19JY]

Most important reasons for not having health insurance (2000), S7238 [19JY]

Proposed steps to eliminating Social Security long-term deficit, S1534 [22MR]

Public debt to the penny, S1782 [28MR], S2181 [5AP]

Socio-demographic characteristics of long-term care insurance purchasers, E8 [27JA]

Testimonies

Protection of Enrollees in Managed Care Plans and HMO's: Mary Munnings Lewandowski, S10128 [10OC]

Texts of

H. Res. 535, use of additional projected surplus funds to supplement Medicare funding previously reduced under the Balanced Budget Act, H5423 [28JN]

H. Res. 539, consideration of H.R. 4680, Medicare Rx 2000 Act, H5300 [28JN]

H. Res. 628, Senate amendment to H.R. 4386, Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act, H9843 [12OC]

H.R. 5, Senior Citizens' Freedom To Work Act, H582, H583 [1MR]

H.R. 1264, Right-To-Know National Payroll Act, H6380 [18JY]

H.R. 3218, Social Security Number Confidentiality Act, H9990 [17OC]

H.R. 3859, Social Security and Medicare Lock-Box Act, H4708 [20JN]

H.R. 4386, Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act, H2687-H2689 [9MY], H9847 [12OC]

H.R. 4401, Health Care Infrastructure Investment Act, H2749 [9MY]

H.R. 4680, Medicare Rx 2000 Act, H5319, H5334-H5349 [28JN]

H.R. 4865, Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act, H7153 [27JY]

H.R. 5203, Debt Relief and Retirement Security Reconciliation Act, H7780 [19SE]

H.R. 5622, Medicare Program Infrastructure Investment Act, H11794-H11796 [2NO]

S. 406, Alaska Native and American Indian Direct Reimbursement Act, H9957 [17OC]

S. 662, Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act, S9821 [4OC]

S. 2074, Social Security Earnings Test Elimination Act, S681 [22FE]

S. 2220, American Social Security Protection and Debt Repayment Act, S1325 [8MR]

S. 2235, Organ Procurement Organization Certification Act, S1408 [9MR]

S. 2237, Seniors' Security Act, S1411-S1413 [9MR]

S. 2241, Medicare Wage-Index Reclassification Act, S1415 [9MR]

S. 2271, Training and Knowledge Ensure Children a Risk-Free Environment (TAKE CARE) Act, S1602-S1604 [22MR]

S. 2299, Medicaid DSH Preservation Act, S1749 [27MR]

S. 2308, Medicaid Safety Net Hospital Act, S1822 [28MR]

S. 2394, Teaching Hospital Preservation Act, S2534 [11AP]

S. 2399, Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Transplantation Patients Act, S2541 [11AP]

S. 2434, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Preservation Act, S2744 [13AP]

S. 2435, Child Protection/Alcohol and Drug Partnership Act, S2746-S2749 [13AP]

S. 2501, Generic Pharmaceutical Access and Choice for Consumers Act, S3329-S3331 [3MY]

S. 2510, Social Security Protection, Preservation, and Reform Commission Act, S3526-S3528 [4MY]

S. 2515, MediKids Health Insurance Act, S3539-S3543 [4MY]

S. 2541, Medicare Expansion for Needed Drugs (MEND) Act, S3840-S3848 [10MY]

S. 2554, prohibit the display of an individual's Social Security number for commercial purposes without the consent of the individual, S3946 [15MY]

S. 2556, implementation of a prospective payment system for psychiatric hospitals under the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act, S3947 [15MY]

S. 2610, Medicare Fairness in Reimbursement Act, S4316 [23MY]

S. 2625, revise performance standards and certification process for organ procurement organizations, S4718 [7JN]

S. 2669, restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services, S4566 [6JN]

S. 2693, Alaska Medicaid Equity Act, S4821 [8JN]

S. 2727, Medicare Health Improvement Act, S5109-S5112 [14JN]

S. 2774, Bipartisan Social Security Reform Act, S5669-S5676 [22JN]

S. 2826, Medicare Adult Day Services Alternative Act, S6138 [29JN]

S. 2888, Health Security for All Americans Act, S7232-S7238 [19JY]

S. 2905, Medicare+Choice Program Improvement Act, S7450 [21JY]

S. 2918, Medicare Early Access and Tax Credit Act, S7546-S7552 [25JY]

S. 2924, Internet False Identification Prevention Act, S11427, S11431 [31OC], S11941 [15DE], H12511 [15DE]

S. 2926, Social Security Family Relief Act, S7666 [26JY]

S. 2937, Medicare Geographic Fair Payment Act, S7679 [26JY]

S. 2957, Medicare Self-Administered Medications Act, S7849 [27JY]

S. 2987, Rural Health Care in the 21st Century Act, S7901-S7905 [27JY]

S. 3003, Cancer Care Preservation Act, S8023 [5SE]

S. 3016, Medicare Temporary Drug Assistance Act, S8199-S8204 [7SE]

S. 3017, Medicare Temporary Drug Assistance Act, S8204-S8209 [7SE]

S. 3026, Hospice Improvement Program Act, S8414 [12SE]

S. 3055, Physician Pathology Services Fair Payment Act, S8592 [14SE]

S. 3066, Senior Care Safety Act, S8760 [19SE]

S. 3077, Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced Budget Refinement Act, S8826-S8851 [20SE]

S. 3131, Medicare Billing and Education Act, S9470-S9472 [28SE]

S. 3167, Physician Recruitment and Retention Act, S9949 [5OC]

S. Res. 302, Health Care Financing Administration consideration of the impact of implementing new reimbursement rules on existing emergency medical services systems, S3333 [3MY]

S.J. Res. 38, treatment of Social Security under balanced budget constitutional amendment, S291 [2FE]