SOCIAL SECURITY

Addresses

Thrift Savings Components for Social Security—Bipartisanship Beckons: Daniel Patrick Moynihan, S5431-S5433 [22MY]

Amendments

Health: protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), H5247, H5262, H5276 [2AU]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), S6548, S6582, S6622 [21JN], S6633, S6634, S6671 [22JN], S6856, S6865 [25JN], S6895, S6902, S6909, S6930, S6931, S6933, S6934 [26JN], S6961, S6964, S7003, S7004, S7005, S7006, S7007 [27JN], S7016, S7026, S7040, S7043, S7045, S7046, S7053, S7055, S7056, S7058, S7062, S7064, S7066, S7073, S7114, S7117, S7118, S7119, S7120, S7121, S7122, S7123 [28JN], S7129, S7132, S7138, S7142, S7146, S7149, S7155, S7158, S7160, S7161, S7162, S7163, S7164, S7262, S7263, S7281, S7282 [29JN]

Analyses

Child Protection/Alcohol and Drug Partnership Act (S. 484), S1996 [7MR]

Dissipation of the Budget Surplus, H10061 [13DE]

Articles and editorials

Assuring Home Health Care, E1557 [3AU]

Blame Congress for HMOs, E226 [27FE]

Curb on Sale of Consumer Data Upheld, S4595 [9MY]

Fiscal Souffle, S1109 [7FE]

Flatlining, the Coming Collapse of Managed Care and the Only Way Out, E875-E877 [21MY]

Iffy Long-Term Numbers Are Poor Excuse for Huge Tax Cuts and Wild Spending, S1109 [7FE]

Know Your Customer, E172 [13FE]

MD, VA Foster-Care Adoptions Up—Rise in Funding, Change in Federal Law Credited for Increase, H8092 [13NO]

Nursing Home Neglect in an Age of Surpluses, E415 [21MR]

Patient Rights Get Some Life, S6431 [19JN]

Patients' Bill of Rights Not End-All to Health Care Issues, S7142 [29JN]

Second-Guessing the Insurers—Independent Review Process Appears To Be Working, H298-H300 [13FE]

Sharp Adjustment, S447 [23JA]

Social Security Checks Late, Recipients Say, S11751 [14NO]

Tax-Cut Mania, S446 [23JA]

Timeout for the Uninsured, S4135, S4169 [2MY]

Bills and resolutions

Account statements: include additional information (see S. 354), S1462 [15FE] (see H.R. 634), H394 [14FE]

Benefits: allow certain remarried widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses to become or remain entitled to widow's or widower's insurance benefits (see H.R. 3023), H6378 [4OC]

———authorize waivers of certain waiting periods for benefits based on disability in cases in which such waiting period would cause undue hardship to terminally ill beneficiaries (see H.R. 3133), H6918 [16OC]

———choice of benefit payment method for certain workers affected by changes in benefit computation rules (see H.R. 97), H27 [3JA]

———choice of benefit payment method relative to computation rule application to workers attaining age 65 in or after 1982 (see S. 825), S4246 [3MY] (see H.R. 853), H623 [1MR]

———earnings test for blind individuals (see S. 682), S3340 [3AP] (see H.R. 498), H222 [7FE]

———eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals (see H.R. 1731), H1924 [3MY]

———eliminate waiting period for divorced spouse's benefits following the divorce (see H.R. 3325), H8337 [16NO]

———guarantee the right of individuals to receive certain benefits in full with an accurate annual cost-of-living adjustment (see S. 806), S4099 [1MY] (see S. 1558), S10769 [16OC] (see H.R. 832), H622 [1MR] (see H.R. 3135), H6918 [16OC]

———improve benefit computation formula for certain workers affected by changes in benefit computation rules (see H.R. 81), H27 [3JA]

———improve benefit computation formula for workers attaining age 65 in or after 1982 (see H.R. 870), H648 [6MR]

———increase in widow's and widower's insurance benefits relative to delayed retirement (see H.R. 3328), H8337 [16NO]

———increase lump-sum death benefit and allow payment of such benefit to legal representative of the deceased's estate in the absence of a surviving spouse or child (see H.R. 2378), H3803 [28JN] (see H.R. 3119), H6780 [12OC]

———level of payment in the month of the beneficiary's death (see S. 882), S4940 [15MY] (see H.R. 210), H62 [6JA] (see H.R. 1091), H959 [19MR] (see H.R. 1464), H1485 (see H.R. 1464), H1495 [4AP] (see H.R. 2845), H5454 [6SE]

———provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (see S. 693), S3436 [4AP]

———provide full benefits for disabled widows and widowers regardless of age (see H.R. 3326), H8337 [16NO]

———provide lump-sum death payments to surviving spouses (see H.R. 266), H109 [30JA]

———repeal eligibility restrictions on widow's and widower's insurance benefits based on disability (see H.R. 3327), H8337 [16NO]

Bipartisan Commission on Social Security Reform: establish (see H.R. 14), H25 [3JA]

Bipartisan Social Security Reform and Results Commission: establish (see H.R. 1069), H954 [15MR]

Budget: constitutional amendment to treat certain trust funds as outside the budget (see H.J. Res. 26), H623 [1MR]

———public disclosure on treatment of Social Security trust funds (see H.R. 1204), H1114 [22MR]

———remove the Medicare Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund from the budget and remove Social Security and Medicare from budget pronouncements (see H.R. 1207), H1121 [26MR]

———require sequestration of certain discretionary non-defense spending equal to the size of any on-budget deficit (see H.R. 2865), H5455 [6SE]

———require two-thirds vote for legislation changing discretionary spending limits or pay-as-you-go requirements if the budget for the current or immediately preceding year was not in surplus (see H.R. 816), H621 [1MR] (see H.R. 1065), H954 [15MR]

Children and youth: ensure health coverage, promote parental support and family stability, improve early education and child care, reduce poverty, create youth development programs, and provide a safe environment (see S. 940), S5542 [23MY] (see H.R. 1990), H2710 [24MY]

———extend Promoting Safe and Stable Families and Foster Care Independent Living programs, support mentoring programs for children of incarcerated parents, and assist youths aging out of foster care (see S. 1503), S10287 [4OC] (see H.R. 2873), H5487 [10SE]

———improve health benefits coverage of infants and children under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (see S. 1016), S6127 [12JN]

———provide benefits to certain uninsured children living without parents (see H.R. 2698), H5125 [1AU]

———require lead poisoning screening and treatment for enrollees in Head Start programs and WIC (see S. 1469), S9874 [26SE]

———require lead poisoning screening and treatment for enrollees in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see S. 1471), S9874 [26SE]

———require lead poisoning screening for enrollees in certain Federal programs (see H.R. 2788), H5336 [2AU]

———restore children's insurance benefits in the case of children of a certain age who attend postsecondary schools (see H.R. 410), H218 [7FE]

Claimants: provide greater equity and efficiency to the SSA payment system for claimant representation (see H.R. 3332), H8337 [16NO]

Constitutional amendments: treatment under balanced budget (see S.J. Res. 2), S101 [22JA]

Crime: prevent identity fraud (see S. 1399), S9122 [5SE]

Dept. of Defense: allow Medicare-eligible military health care system beneficiaries to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (see H.R. 779), H506 [28FE]

Dept. of HHS: make grants to promote innovative outreach and enrollment efforts under State Children's Health Insurance Program (see S. 1390), S8911 [3AU]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: seek SSA assistance in providing outreach to veterans, their dependants, and their survivors (see S. Res. 152), S8911 [3AU]

Disability insurance program: eliminate the waiting period (see H.R. 2850), H5454 [6SE]

Disabled: eliminate the waiting period for disability benefits and Medicare benefits for disabled individuals (see H.R. 344), H164 [31JA]

———eliminate waiting period for individuals to be eligible for disability benefits (see H.R. 3265), H7959 [8NO]

Employment: treatment of severe spinal cord injuries relative to certain earnings (see H.R. 509), H222 [7FE]

ERISA: provide emergency protection for retiree health benefits (see H.R. 1322), H1345 [29MR]

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. 484), S1971 [7MR] (see H.R. 1909), H2334 [17MY]

———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. 319), H162 [31JA]

———provide grants to States to encourage media campaigns to promote responsible fatherhood skills (see S. 653), S3152 [29MR] (see H.R. 1300), H1344 [29MR]

Federal aid programs: provide for emergency unemployment compensation program and emergency health coverage assistance (see H.R. 3141), H6919 [16OC]

Government: urge that any reform not include mandatory coverage of State and local employees (see H. Con. Res. 229), H5704 [14SE]

Government regulations: extend date for compliance by entitled entities with certain regulations providing for the electronic exchange of health information (see S. 1684), S11789 [14NO]

———modify reporting requirements (see H.R. 930), H740 [7MR]

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. 1078), H954 [15MR]

———assure coverage of emergency services under group health plans and health insurance (see S. 823), S4246 [3MY] (see H.R. 1674), H1859 [2MY]

———ensure entitled entities comply with certain regulations providing for the electronic exchange of health information (see H.R. 3323), H8337 [16NO]

———ensure that children at highest risk for asthma, vision, hearing, and other health problems are identified and treated (see S. 1012), S6055 [11JN]

———establish demonstration projects for States to provide universal, comprehensive, and cost-effective health care coverage with simplified administration (see H.R. 1033), H928 [14MR]

———expand Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families (see S. 1244), S8203 [25JY] (see H.R. 2630), H4633 [25JY]

———expand State Children's Health Insurance Program to include certain children (see S. 1266), S8353 [27JY]

———expand State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families (see S. 574), S2582 [20MR]

———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. 623), S2979 [27MR] (see H.R. 1255), H1189 [27MR]

———improve access to prescription drugs under Medicare and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and health care coverage for seniors, the self-employed, and children (see H.R. 1387), H1481 (see H.R. 1387), H1491 [4AP]

———modify the deadline for compliance with certain regulations providing for the electronic exchange of health information (see H.R. 1975), H2679 [23MY]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (see S. 24), S98 [22JA] (see H.R. 16), H25 [3JA] (see H.R. 1200), H1114 [22MR] (see H.R. 3080), H6504 [10OC] (see H. Con. Res. 99), H1487 (see H. Con. Res. 99), H1499 [4AP]

———prohibit Federal health insurance programs from reimbursing health care providers who charge membership or extraneous fees as a prerequisite to service to a patient (see S. 1592), S11198 [30OC] (see S. 1606), S11286 [31OC]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (see S. 6), S97 [22JA] (see S. 283), S1122 [7FE] (see S. 872), S4890 [14MY] (see S. 889), S4940 [15MY] (see S. 1052), S6318 [14JN] (see H.R. 526), H252 [8FE] (see H.R. 2315), H3618 [26JN] (see H.R. 2563), H4351 [19JY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), consideration (see H. Res. 219), H5332 [2AU]

———sustain access to vital emergency medical services in rural areas (see S. 587), S2662 [21MR] (see H.R. 1353), H1408 [3AP]

Health care facilities: establish a health information technology grant program and a methodology under Medicare to provide reimbursement to hospitals for implementing information technology systems (see S. 705), S3530 [5AP]

———establish an informatics grant program for hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (see S. 824), S4246 [3MY]

Health care professionals: alleviate nursing profession shortage by improving educational programs and partnerships and supporting additional training (see S. 1597), S11286 [31OC]

———alleviate nursing profession shortage by inproving educational programs and partnerships and supporting additional training (see S. 706), S3530 [5AP] (see H.R. 1436), H1484 (see H.R. 1436), H1493 [4AP]

———expand medical residency training programs in geriatrics (see S. 1362), S8910 [3AU]

———help solve the nursing shortage in hospitals and continuing care settings (see H.R. 1897), H2333 [17MY]

Immigration: eligibility of certain aliens suffering from domestic abuse for Federal aid programs (see H.R. 2258), H3357 [20JN]

Income: honor commitments (see H. Con. Res. 282), H9077 [6DE]

———repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (see S. 1523), S10457 [10OC] (see H.R. 2638), H4634 [25JY]

———restrict application of windfall elimination provisions to certain individuals (see H.R. 1073), H954 [15MR]

Information services: provide for coordination of implementation of administrative simplification standard for health care information (see S. 836), S4416 [7MY]

INS: extend Basic Pilot employment verification system (see S. 1891), S13944 [20DE] (see H.R. 3030), H6379 [4OC]

Insurance: clarify coordination of benefits among health plans (see H.R. 2745), H5334 [2AU]

———coverage of long-term care services (see H. Con. Res. 37), H399 [14FE]

———coverage of screening mammography (see H.R. 292), H110 [30JA] (see H.R. 1064), H953 [15MR]

———eliminate benefit penalties to individuals receiving pensions from noncovered employment (see H.R. 848), H623 [1MR]

———establish hospital lengths of stay based on a determination by an appropriate physician in consultation with the patient (see S. 575), S2582 [20MR]

———guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children (see S. 827), S4246 [3MY] (see H.R. 1733), H1924 [3MY]

———provide premium assistance for COBRA continuation coverage for certain individuals and permit States to provide temporary Medicaid coverage for certain uninsured individuals (see H.R. 3364), H8564 [28NO]

———require comprehensive coverage for childhood immunizations (see S. 1297), S8575 [1AU] (see H.R. 580), H323 [13FE]

———require group health plans to provide coverage of pediatric care (see H.R. 2342), H3712 [27JN]

———require that group and individual health insurance plans and Medicare+Choice organizations provide prompt payment of claims (see H.R. 287), H110 [30JA]

Investments: establish and maintain individual investment accounts (see H.R. 2110), H2997 [7JN]

Medicaid: allow States to expand coverage to uninsured, poor adults (see H.R. 2789), H5336 [2AU]

———allow States to expand family planning coverage to certain women (see S. 1343), S8705 [2AU] (see H.R. 2777), H5335 [2AU]

———allow States to use their allotment under the State Children's Health Insurance Program to increase the enrollment of children eligible for medical assistance (see S. 1625), S11362 [1NO]

———assure that funds provided for State emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens are used to reimburse hospitals and related providers that treat undocumented aliens (see H.R. 519), H223 [7FE]

———clarify Dept. of HHS authority to treat certain State prescription drug discount demonstration projects as medical assistance for purposes of rebate agreements (see S. 1177), S7589 [12JY] (see H.R. 2513), H4111 [17JY]

———clarify that Native American women eligible for coverage under Indian health plans are eligible for optional breast and cervical cancer coverage (see S. 535), S2306 [14MR] (see S. 1741), S12100 [28NO] (see H.R. 1383), H1409 [3AP]

———coverage of all medically necessary services for uninsured families and individuals (see H.R. 2627), H4633 [25JY]

———coverage of disabled children and individuals who became disabled as children without regard to income or assets (see H.R. 567), H322 [13FE]

———coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (see S. 53), S99 [22JA]

———delay changes in regulations that modify upper payment limit for non-State government-owned or operated hospitals (see S. 1745), S12161 [29NO] (see H.R. 3360), H8564 [28NO]

———establish a demonstration grant program to assist States in providing subsidies for group health insurance premiums for low-income, Medicaid-eligible individuals (see H.R. 1903), H2333 [17MY]

———extend certain modifications to disproportionate share hospital allotments (see S. 572), S2582 [20MR] (see H.R. 854), H623 [1MR]

———extend the higher Federal medical assistance payment percentage for Indian Health Service facilities to urban Indian health programs (see S. 1753), S12247 [30NO]

———improve access to advanced practice nurses (see H.R. 3594), H10965 [20DE]

———improve quality of care furnished in nursing homes (see H.R. 2677), H4862 [30JY]

———increase Federal medical assistance payment percentage for nursing facilities with a high proportion of Medicaid patients (see H.R. 3565), H10964 [20DE]

———increase Federal medical assistance percentage to help States finance increases in enrollment (see H.R. 3414), H8948 [5DE]

———increase the personal needs allowance for institutionalized individuals under Medicare (see H.R. 1763), H2022 [8MY]

———permit additional States to enter into long-term care partnerships in order to promote the use of long-term care insurance (see H.R. 1041), H952 [15MR]

———permit children covered under the State Children's Health Insurance Program to be eligible for the Federal Vaccines for Children Program (see S. 573), S2582 [20MR] (see H.R. 2701), H5125 [1AU]

———permit State waiver authority to provide medical assistance in cases of congenital heart defects (see H.R. 1793), H2140 [10MY]

———permit States the option to provide coverage for low-income individuals infected with HIV (see S. 987), S5831 [5JN] (see H.R. 2063), H2888 [5JN]

———permit uninsured individuals to obtain coverage to assure coverage of prescription drugs, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and long-term care services (see H.R. 1142), H1059 [21MR]

———provide families of disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage (see S. 321), S1270 [13FE] (see H.R. 600), H323 [13FE]

———provide public access to quality medical imaging procedures and radiation therapy procedures (see H.R. 1011), H876 [13MR]

———provide States with the option of covering intensive community mental health treatment (see H.R. 2364), H3802 [28JN]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (see S. 1298), S8575 [1AU]

———remove the cap on payments for Puerto Rico and certain other territories and adjust the statutory matching rate (see H.R. 48), H26 [3JA]

———require criminal background checks on drivers providing medical assistance transportation services (see H.R. 453), H220 [7FE]

———require prorating of beneficiary contributions relative to partial coverage for nursing facility services during a month (see H.R. 566), H322 [13FE]

———require States that provide prescription drug coverage to cover drugs that treat obesity (see H.R. 1641), H1659 [26AP]

———revise and simplify the transitional medical assistance program (see S. 1269), S8397 [30JY] (see H.R. 2775), H5335 [2AU]

———State funding for disproportionate share hospitals (see S. 776), S3921 [25AP] (see H.R. 1604), H1658 [26AP]

———State requirements for financial recovery from an individual's estate relative to any medical assistance under a State health plan (see H.R. 1001), H876 [13MR]

———waive disproportionate share hospital designation for certain rural hospitals relative to obstetrician requirements (see H.R. 2553), H4216 [18JY]

Medical Education Trust Fund: establish (see S. 743), S3706 [6AP]

Medicare: accelerate reduction on the amount of beneficiary copayment liability for outpatient services (see S. 1679), S11719 [13NO] (see H.R. 3284), H8132 [13NO]

———adjust wages and wage-related costs for certain items and services furnished in geographically reclassified hospitals (see S. 659), S3152 [29MR] (see H.R. 1375), H1409 [3AP]

———allow beneficiaries direct access to physical therapists without a physician referral (see H.R. 3363), H8564 [28NO]

———apply the bloodborne pathogens standard to hospitals not subject to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (see H.R. 2933), H5926 [21SE]

———clarify definition of homebound relative to home health services (see H.R. 1490), H1487 (see H.R. 1490), H1496 [4AP]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse (see H.R. 18), H25 [3JA]

———comprehensive financing for graduate medical education (see H.R. 2178), H3201 [14JN]

———continue conversion factor under the physician fee schedule (see H.R. 3511), H10355 [18DE]

———coverage for qualified World War II Filipino veterans (see H.R. 594), H323 [13FE]

———coverage for rehabilitation services provided by State vocational rehabilitation agencies to older, blind individuals (see H.R. 2674), H4862 [30JY]

———coverage for surgical first assisting services of certified registered nurse first assistants (see H.R. 822), H621 [1MR]

———coverage of acupuncturist services (see H.R. 747), H441 [27FE]

———coverage of additional hemodialysis treatments for certain patients and increased update in composite rate for dialysis services (see S. 1605), S11286 [31OC] (see H.R. 2220), H3258 [19JN]

———coverage of adult day care services (see S. 1619), S11362 [1NO] (see H.R. 3585), H10964 [20DE]

———coverage of backup systems for durable medical equipment in case of power failure (see H. Con. Res. 209), H5338 [2AU]

———coverage of bone mass measurements for all individuals at clinical risk for osteoporosis (see S. 264), S1063 [6FE] (see H.R. 595), H323 [13FE]

———coverage of certain beta interferons and other biologicals and drugs for treatment of multiple sclerosis (see H.R. 1758), H2021 [8MY]

———coverage of certain chiropractic examination procedures (see H.R. 2284), H3464 [21JN]

———coverage of cholesterol and blood lipid screening (see S. 1761), S12368 [4DE] (see H.R. 3278), H8132 [13NO]

———coverage of hearing aids and related hearing services (see H.R. 2934), H5926 [21SE]

———coverage of home health services (see H.R. 2071), H2955 [6JN]

———coverage of home infusion drug therapies (see H.R. 2750), H5334 [2AU]

———coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for beneficiaries who receive an organ transplant (see S. 1204), S7955 [19JY]

———coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for beneficiaries who receive an organ transplant without regard to when the transplant was received (see H.R. 2057), H2888 [5JN]

———coverage of inpatient hospital services in Puerto Rico (see S. 813), S4100 [1MY] (see H.R. 1656), H1715 [1MY]

———coverage of marriage and family therapist services (see S. 1760), S12368 [4DE] (see H.R. 898), H649 [6MR]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases (see S. 960), S5616 [24MY] (see H.R. 2117), H2997 [7JN]

———coverage of medically necessary pancreas transplantation procedures (see H.R. 1361), H1408 [3AP]

———coverage of more frequent hemodialysis treatments (see S. 1303), S8703 [2AU] (see H.R. 1759), H2021 [8MY]

———coverage of nursing facilities and in-home services (see H.R. 913), H739 [7MR]

———coverage of oral anticancer drugs (see S. 913), S5118 [17MY] (see H.R. 1624), H1659 [26AP]

———coverage of oral drugs to reduce serum phosphate levels in patients with end stage renal disease (see S. 1304), S8703 [2AU] (see H.R. 3246), H7909 [7NO]

———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. 121), H59 [6JA]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (see S. 10), S97 [22JA] (see S. 925), S5438 [22MY] (see S. 1185), S7805 [17JY] (see S. Res. 74), S3922 [25AP] (see H.R. 339), H163 [31JA] (see H.R. 1512), H1498 [4AP] (see H.R. 1905), H2333 [17MY] (see H.R. 2632), H4633 [25JY]

———coverage of pharmacist services (see S. 974), S5694 [25MY] (see H.R. 2799), H5336 [2AU]

———coverage of remote monitoring services (see S. 1607), S11286 [31OC] (see H.R. 3572), H10964 [20DE]

———coverage of screening pap smears and pelvic exams (see S. 258), S1062 [6FE] (see H.R. 1202), H1114 [22MR]

———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. 3317), H8337 [16NO]

———deem hospitals in Hillsdale County, MI, as being located in the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area for purposes of reimbursement (see H.R. 2437), H3861 [10JY]

———delay the deadline for Medicare+Choice organizations to report plan information, including information on adjusted community rates (see H.R. 1993), H2710 [24MY]

———designate certain diabetes educators as certified providers for purposes of outpatient diabetes education services (see H.R. 1645), H1660 [26AP]

———determination of payment amounts for new clinical diagnostic laboratory tests (see S. 1066), S6518 [20JN] (see H.R. 1798), H2140 [10MY] (see H.R. 3388), H8746 [30NO]

———eliminate cost-sharing for bone mass measurements (see S. 826), S4246 [3MY] (see H.R. 1720), H1924 [3MY]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (see S. 841), S4508 [8MY] (see H.R. 599), H323 [13FE]

———eliminate reduction in payment rates under the prospective payment system for home health services and increase payments for such services in rural areas (see S. 326), S1394 [14FE] (see H.R. 975), H874 [13MR]

———ensure geographic reclassifications of hospitals in urban areas do not result in lower wage indexes (see H.R. 1638), H1659 [26AP]

———ensure that eligible individuals have sufficient time to consider information and make informed choice on enrollment in Medicare+Choice plans (see S. 1376), S8911 [3AU]

———ensure that participating hospitals can recognize and respond to epidemics resulting from natural causes and bioterrorism (see S. 1574), S11105 [25OC]

———establish a comprehensive centers for medical excellence demonstration program (see S. 1756), S12311 [3DE]

———establish a floor on area wage adjustment factors used under the prospective payment system for hospital services (see S. 1001), S5967 [7JN]

———establish a hospice demonstration and grant program for beneficiaries (see S. 1425), S9395 [13SE] (see H.R. 3492), H10066 [13DE]

———establish licensing and training programs for new positions and categories of nursing assistants to relieve nursing shortage and ensure funding for such positions and categories (see H.R. 3536), H10909 [19DE]

———establish minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services (see H.R. 3569), H10964 [20DE]

———establish voluntary outpatient prescription drug coverage program (see S. 1263), S8353 [27JY]

———establish voluntary outpatient prescription drug discount and security program (see S. 1239), S8203 [25JY]

———exclude clinical social worker services from coverage under the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (see S. 1083), S6601 [21JN] (see H.R. 2294), H3465 [21JN]

———exclude services of certain providers from coverage under the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (see H.R. 3094), H6701 [11OC]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services (see S. 690), S3435 [4AP] (see H.R. 1522), H1498 [4AP]

———expand benefits, establish payment incentives for furnishing quality services, and develop an effective national policy to care for individuals with chronic conditions (see S. 1589), S11198 [30OC] (see H.R. 3188), H7529 [30OC]

———expand coverage of certain self-injected biologicals (see S. 554), S2388 [15MR] (see H.R. 1089), H959 [19MR]

———expand coverage of preventive services and provide coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (see H.R. 828), H622 [1MR]

———expand medical residency training programs in geriatric medicine and provide for reimbursement of care coordination and assessment services (see S. 775), S3921 [25AP] (see H.R. 3027), H6379 [4OC]

———extend availability of cost contracts (see S. 1224), S8122 [24JY] (see H.R. 2612), H4539 [24JY]

———extend community nursing organization demonstration projects (see H.R. 3195), H7591 [31OC]

———extend coverage of immunosuppressive drugs to cases of transplants not paid for under the program (see H.R. 3032), H6379 [4OC]

———extend minimum deadlines for filing claims relative to adjustments from secondary payor status to primary payor status (see H.R. 3540), H10909 [19DE]

———facilitate use of private contracts (see H.R. 1640), H1659 [26AP]

———importance of comprehensive modernization (see H. Con. Res. 155), H2998 [7JN]

———improve access to Medicare+Choice plans for special needs beneficiaries by targeting enrollment and eliminating beneficiary lock-in and other administrative barriers (see H.R. 2709), H5125 [1AU]

———improve direct graduate medical education payments (see S. 135), S101 [22JA]

———improve fee-for-services reimbursement rates in rural States (see S. 1020), S6127 [12JN] (see H.R. 2483), H4008 [12JY]

———improve outpatient vision services (see H.R. 2484), H4008 [12JY]

———improve payments and regulation under the Medicare+Choice program (see H.R. 3584), H10964 [20DE]

———improve reimbursement for clinical social worker services (see S. 52), S99 [22JA]

———improve the telemedicine program and provide grants for the development of telehealth networks (see H.R. 2706), H5125 [1AU]

———increase payments for ambulance services in rural areas (see S. 1367), S8910 [3AU] (see H.R. 2346), H3712 [27JN]

———increase payments for ambulance services in rural areas, determine rural areas based on population density, and require the use of recent data in determining payment adjustments (see H.R. 3545), H10909 [19DE]

———increase reimbursement for screening mammography services (see H.R. 1328), H1351 [30MR]

———increase reimbursement for screening mammography services and funding for additional radiology residents and radiologic technologists (see S. 548), S2388 [15MR] (see H.R. 1354), H1408 [3AP]

———increase the payment amount for inpatient hospital services and freeze the reduction in payments to hospitals for indirect costs of medical education (see S. 839), S4416 [7MY] (see H.R. 1556), H1555 [24AP]

———limit hospital ownership exception to physician self-referral restrictions to interests purchased on terms generally available to the public (see H.R. 2490), H4008 [12JY]

———limit penalty for late enrollment (see H.R. 1177), H1113 [22MR]

———limit reductions in Federal payments under the prospective payment system for rural or sole community hospital outpatient department services (see S. 270), S1121 [7FE]

———make a technical correction in the definition of outpatient speech-language pathology services (see S. 1395), S9122 [5SE]

———make more competitive and efficient, extend solvency, provide a prescription drug benefit, improve quality of care, and make Medigap insurance more affordable (see H.R. 803), H507 [28FE]

———make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit (see S. 357, 358), S1463 [15FE]

———make permanent hold harmless treatment for small rural hospitals under the prospective payment system and provide a transitional adjustment for certain hospitals in order to limit any decline in payment under that system (see H.R. 2942), H5927 [21SE]

———make permanent the health coverage for certain disabled individuals that go back to work (see H.R. 481), H221 [7FE]

———make the social HMO a permanent option under Medicare+Choice program (see H.R. 2953), H6055 [25SE]

———modify calculation of wage index adjustment for inpatient hospital services (see H.R. 1901), H2333 [17MY]

———pay ambulance suppliers the full costs of providing such services (see S. 1350), S8910 [3AU] (see H.R. 3109), H6779 [12OC]

———payments to hospitals that have graduate medical education programs in critical need specialty areas (see H.R. 1928), H2387 [21MY]

———phase in the fee schedule for ambulance services to provide for equitable treatment of suppliers of such services that are required to equip all ambulances to provide advanced life support services (see S. 1866), S13943 [20DE]

———prevent sudden disruption of beneficiary enrollment in Medicare+Choice plans (see H.R. 148), H60 [6JA] (see H.R. 279), H109 [30JA]

———promote research for health promotion and disease prevention and add preventive benefits (see S. 982), S5830 [5JN] (see H.R. 2058), H2888 [5JN]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (see S. 1686), S11789 [14NO] (see H.R. 3238), H7852 [6NO]

———provide adequate coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for certain kidney transplant patients (see S. 880), S4939 [15MY] (see H.R. 1839), H2183 [15MY]

———provide continuing eligibility for medical care for individuals who become eligible for certain hospital insurance benefits (see S. 564), S2472 [19MR]

———provide for continuous open enrollment and disenrollment in Medicare+Choice plans (see S. 1851), S13700 [19DE] (see H.R. 3267), H7959 [8NO]

———provide for equitable reimbursement rates to Medicare+Choice organizations (see S. 1317), S8704 [2AU] (see H.R. 2549), H4215 [18JY] (see H.R. 2836), H5405 [5SE]

———provide for expeditious coverage of new medical technology and establish an Office of Technology and Innovation within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (see H.R. 2973), H6135 [2OC]

———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. 452), S1817 [5MR] (see H.R. 868), H648 [6MR]

———provide incentive payments for multi-year contracts entered into by Medicare+Choice organizations (see H.R. 274), H109 [30JA]

———provide more equitable payments for direct graduate medical education (see H.R. 1517), H1498 [4AP]

———provide regulatory relief, appeals process reforms, contracting flexibility, and education improvements (see S. 1738), S12100 [28NO] (see H.R. 3046), H6379 [4OC]

———provide regulatory relief and contracting flexibility (see S. 1545), S10693 [15OC] (see H.R. 2768), H5335 [2AU] (see H.R. 3391), H8842 [4DE]

———provide that geographic reclassifications of hospitals from one urban area to another do not result in lower wage indexes (see S. 954), S5616 [24MY] (see H.R. 2003), H2710 [24MY]

———reclassify certain counties for purposes of reimbursement (see S. 1736), S12100 [28NO] (see H.R. 2862), H5455 [6SE]

———reduce work hours and increase supervision of resident-physicians to ensure the safety of both patients and resident-physicians (see H.R. 3236), H7852 [6NO]

———reductions in prescription drug prices (see S. 125), S100 [22JA] (see S. 699), S3436 [4AP] (see H.R. 1400), H1482 (see H.R. 1400), H1491 [4AP]

———reductions in prescription drug prices for beneficiaries and women with breast cancer (see H.R. 758), H442 [27FE]

———reform (see S. 1135), S7084 [28JN]

———reimbursement for certain midwife services (see H.R. 3602), H10965 [20DE]

———reimbursement for chiropractic services (see H.R. 902), H649 [6MR]

———reimbursement for services provided to eligible veterans by certain Dept. of Veterans Affairs facilities (see H.R. 1911), H2334 [17MY]

———remove inpatient limitation on the proportion of hospice care that certain rural hospice programs may provide (see S. 1840), S13465 [18DE] (see H.R. 3270), H7959 [8NO]

———remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (see S. 51), S98 [22JA]

———remove restrictions on coverage of periodic health examinations (see H.R. 1568), H1555 [24AP]

———remove the sunset and numerical limitation on participation in Medicare+Choice medical savings account plans (see H.R. 2802), H5337 [2AU]

———repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps (see S. 1394), S9122 [5SE]

———require hospitals to establish and implement security procedures to reduce the likelihood of infant patient abduction and baby switching (see H.R. 72), H27 [3JA]

———require Medicare+Choice organizations to offer plans for a minimum period of three years, and permit beneficiaries to enroll and disenroll from such plans at any time (see H.R. 2127), H3066 [12JN]

———require providers to disclose staffing and performance data (see S. 863), S4822 [10MY] (see H.R. 1804), H2141 [10MY]

———require universal product numbers on claims forms for reimbursement for durable medical equipment and other items (see H.R. 186), H62 [6JA]

———specify the update for physician fee schedule payments (see H.R. 3318), H8337 [16NO]

———specify the update for physician fee schedule payments and conduct a study on replacing the use of the sustainable growth rate as a factor in such update (see S. 1660), S11612 [8NO] (see S. 1707), S11940 [15NO] (see H.R. 3351), H8420 [27NO]

———stabilize and improve the Medicare+Choice Program (see H.R. 2980), H6135 [2OC]

———standardize payment amounts for inpatient hospital services (see S. 885), S4940 [15MY] (see H.R. 1609), H1658 [26AP]

———State accreditation of diabetes self-management training programs (see S. 153), S456 [23JA] (see H.R. 836), H622 [1MR]

———study anesthesia services and expand service arrangements for certified registered nurse anesthetists (see S. 332), S1394 [14FE] (see H.R. 716), H398 [14FE]

———treatment of certain physician pathology services (see S. 730), S3705 [6AP] (see H.R. 1451), H1484 (see H.R. 1451), H1494 [4AP]

———waive late enrollment penalty and provide a special Part B enrollment period for certain military retirees (see H.R. 2073), H2955 [6JN]

———waive late enrollment penalty for certain beneficiaries living abroad and provide a special Medigap open enrollment period which prohibits underwriting (see H.R. 3314), H8337 [16NO]

———waive waiting period for coverage of certain disabled individuals who have no health insurance (see H.R. 569), H322 [13FE]

Medicare Eligible Military Retiree Health Care Consensus Task Force: establish (see H.R. 67), H26 [3JA]

Medicare/Medicaid: assure financial solvency of Medicare+Choice organizations and Medicaid managed care organizations (see H.R. 145), H60 [6JA]

———establish a national abusive and criminal background check system for patient care workers (see S. 1054), S6318 [14JN]

———require certain staffing in nursing facilities (see H.R. 3331), H8337 [16NO]

———streamline regulatory processes for home health agencies (see S. 1169), S7589 [12JY]

———waive certain nurse aide training requirements (see S. 728), S3705 [6AP] (see H.R. 1510), H1497 [4AP]

Mental health: application of employment criteria under management contracts for certain mental health facilities (see H.R. 3147), H6919 [16OC]

National Commission on Farmworkers and Federal Health Coverage: establish (see H.R. 2642), H4634 [25JY]

Native Americans: Federal funding for certain adoption and foster care programs (see H.R. 2335), H3711 [27JN]

Pensions: computation system for benefits relative to spouses' and surviving spouses' Government pensions (see S. 611), S2894 [26MR] (see H.R. 664), H395 [14FE]

———create individual accounts ensuring full benefits for all workers and their families, give Americans ownership of their retirement, and restore long-term solvency (see H.R. 3535), H10909 [19DE]

———create personal guarantee accounts ensuring full benefits for all workers and their families, restore long-term solvency, and make certain benefit improvements (see H.R. 3497), H10066 [13DE]

———reform relative to State and local government employees (see H. Con. Res. 120), H1716 [1MY]

Personal investment plans: diversion of percentage of payroll tax payments and extend the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program (see H.R. 2771), H5335 [2AU]

Pharmaceuticals: provide access and choice for use of generic drugs under Federal health care programs (see S. 186), S568 [25JA]

Privacy: enhance privacy protections for individuals and prevent fraudulent misuse of account numbers (see S. 1014), S6127 [12JN] (see H.R. 2036), H2847 [25MY]

———limit the misuse of Social Security numbers and establish criminal penalties for such misuse (see S. 848), S4589 [9MY]

———prohibit the establishment of any uniform national health care identifying number or health information database (see H.R. 2615), H4540 [24JY]

———prohibit the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers by financial institutions and define such numbers as nonpublic personal information (see S. 324), S1394 [14FE]

———prohibit the sale or purchase of Social Security numbers (see S. 451), S1747 [1MR]

———protect the integrity and confidentiality of Social Security numbers and prohibit the establishment of any uniform national identifying number (see H.R. 220), H63 [6JA]

———protection of Social Security numbers and other personal information (see H.R. 91), H27 [3JA] (see H.R. 1478), H1486 (see H.R. 1478), H1496 [4AP]

———require consent of an individual prior to the sale and marketing of personally identifiable information (see S. 1055), S6318 [14JN]

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. 501), S2071 [8MR] (see H.R. 956), H826 [8MR] (see H.R. 1470), H1485 (see H.R. 1470), H1495 [4AP]

———strengthen working families by improving responsible fatherhood and child support programs and expanding certain tax credits, block grants, and child care programs (see S. 685), S3340 [3AP]

Rural areas: promote and improve access to health care services (see S. 1030), S6212 [13JN] (see H.R. 2157), H3149 [13JN]

Senior citizens: establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits (see H.R. 390), H166 [31JA] (see H.R. 2035), H2847 [25MY]

Solvency: ensure (see H. Con. Res. 214), H5338 [2AU]

———improve (see H.R. 3315), H8337 [16NO]

SSA: require publications to include additional information on Social Security's current and future solvency and require an annual report on the Social Security Program (see S. 563), S2472 [19MR]

SSI: disregard State annuities paid to blind veterans in the determination of benefits (see H.R. 844), H623 [1MR] (see H.R. 3496), H10066 [13DE]

———include any veterans' or survivors' compensation or pension in the determination of benefits (see S. 1647), S11549 [7NO]

———increase incentives for working, saving, and pursuing an education (see H.R. 739), H441 [27FE]

State Children's Health Insurance Program: allocate allotments to territories in the same manner as for States (see H.R. 3508), H10355 [18DE]

States: assure coverage of legal immigrant children and pregnant women under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (see H.R. 1528), H1498 [4AP]

———permit the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see S. 582), S2662 [21MR] (see H.R. 1143), H1059 [21MR]

Strengthen and protect (see H.R. 166), H61 [6JA]

Taxation: allow a refundable credit against payroll taxes (see H.R. 493), H222 [7FE]

———allow a refundable credit for certain Medicare premiums (see H.R. 82), H27 [3JA]

———allow a refundable credit to military retirees for Medicare coverage (see H.R. 69), H26 [3JA]

———allow Medicare beneficiaries a refundable credit for purchase of outpatient prescription drugs (see S. 1600), S11286 [31OC]

———change certain threshold and other tests to decrease the amount of farm labor wages subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes (see H.R. 1079), H954 [15MR]

———disclose to State and local law enforcement agencies individuals using Social Security numbers of others to claim tax benefits (see H.R. 2077), H2955 [6JN]

———disclosure of employer's share of taxes paid for old-age, survivors, disability, and hospital insurance for the employee in addition to the total amount of such taxes for such employee (see H.R. 1584), H1604 [25AP]

———impose a tax on certain unearned income and provide tax relief by reducing the rate of the Social Security payroll tax (see H.R. 1573), H1555 [24AP]

———increase individual income tax rates and deposit increased funds into the Social Security trust funds (see H.R. 2935), H5926 [21SE]

———phase out taxation of benefits (see S. 181), S568 [25JA]

———provide a refund to individuals for payroll taxes (see H.R. 3015), H6260 [3OC]

———provide tax relief for health insurance and medical care expenses, establish more options for obtaining quality health care, and expand insurance coverage to the uninsured (see H.R. 2250), H3357 [20JN]

———reduce certain individual income tax rates and allow a payroll tax credit for those taxpayers who have no income tax liability (see S. 566), S2472 [19MR]

———reduce employer taxes, simplify tax filing, and reform administrative funding of unemployment compensation and employment service programs (see H.R. 2962), H6055 [25SE]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (see S. 237), S1012 [1FE] (see H.R. 122), H59 (see H.R. 192), H62 [6JA]

———simplify Internal Revenue Code through revenue neutral proposals (see H.R. 2529), H4112 [17JY]

———treatment of Government pensions relative to Social Security benefits (see H.R. 2462), H3959 [11JY]

———treatment of Social Security benefits (see H.R. 1532), H1499 [4AP] (see H.R. 2106), H2997 [7JN] (see H.R. 2548), H4215 [18JY]

———treatment of tax-exempt interest relative to Social Security benefits and income determination (see H.R. 209), H62 [6JA]

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program: increase limit on vocational education training to be counted as work activity (see S. 770), S3852 [24AP]

Tobacco cessation: promote under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Maternal and Child Health Program (see S. 622), S2979 [27MR] (see S. 854), S4590 [9MY] (see H.R. 1229), H1188 [27MR]

Trust funds: budget treatment (see H.R. 373), H165 [31JA]

———increase interest rate (see H.R. 1320), H1345 [29MR]

———invest in marketable interest-bearing securities and insured certificates of deposit, and protect from public debt limit (see H.R. 96), H27 [3JA] (see H.R. 219), H63 [6JA]

———preserve all budget surpluses until legislation is enacted to strengthen and protect Social Security and Medicare (see H.R. 120), H59 [6JA]

———protect Social Security and Medicare surpluses through strengthened budgetary enforcement mechanisms (see S. 21), S98 [22JA] (see H.R. 2), H252 [8FE] (see H.R. 560), H322 [13FE]

———redesignate certain as accounting funds (see S. 547), S2388 [15MR] (see H.R. 1068), H954 [15MR]

Veterans: repeal computation system that reduces annuity for surviving spouses at age 62 relative to Social Security offset (see H.R. 1232), H1188 [27MR]

Women: allow coverage of pregnancy-related assistance for targeted low-income pregnant women under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (see S. 724), S3705 [6AP] (see H.R. 2610), H4539 [24JY]

———effects of reform proposals (see H. Res. 128), H1716 [1MY]

———promote economic security and safety of domestic and sexual violence victims (see S. 1249), S8203 [25JY] (see H.R. 2670), H4779 [27JY]

Book reviews

``Insuring the Essentials—Bob Ball on Social Security,'' Robert Ourlian, E983 [25MY]

Explanations

Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program Funding, H6654 [11OC]

Factsheets

Child Protection/Alcohol and Drug Partnership Act (S. 484), S1995 [7MR]

Medicare+Choice Consumer Protection Act (S. 1851), S13709 [19DE]

Native American Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Technical Amendment Act (S. 1741), S12109 [28NO]

Start Healthy, Stay Healthy Act (S. 1016), S6134 [12JN]

Letters

Assure Access to Mammography Act: Daniel E. Smith, American Cancer Society, S2399 [15MR]

———Harvey L. Neiman, American College of Radiology, S2400 [15MR]

———Michael Del Vecchio, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, S2400 [15MR]

———Stephen A. Feig, Society of Breast Imaging, S2400 [15MR]

Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, S6497 [20JN], S6855 [25JN]

———Bill Merry, Jr., Herndon & Merry, Inc., S6651 [22JN]

———Billy G. Rogers, Jr., Billy Rogers Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., S6651 [22JN]

———Frank J. Nemec, S6509 [20JN]

———John W. Dillard, Jr., Dillard Door & Specialty Co., Inc., S6651 [22JN]

———Kathleen Sebelius, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, S6493 [20JN]

———Margaret LaMontagne, Executive Office of the President, S6652 [22JN]

———Michael Marcum, S6889 [26JN]

———R.I. Christensen, Christensen & Griffith Construction Co., S6482 [20JN]

Budget treatment of Social Security trust funds: Rick Pollack, American Hospital Association, S3512 [5AP], S3666 [6AP]

———William R. Abrams, American Health Care Association, S3665 [6AP]

Emergency unemployment compensation program and emergency health coverage assistance for economic recovery: several economists, E2102 [15NO]

FamilyCare Act: Anna Eleanor Roosevelt and Jennifer L. Howse, March of Dimes (organization), S8232 [25JY]

———Graham Newson, American Academy of Pediatrics, S8231 [25JY]

———Gregg Haifley, Children's Defense Fund, S8232 [25JY]

———Lawrence A. McAndrews, National Association of Children's Hospitals, S8231 [25JY]

———Marcia D. Greenberger and Regan Ralph, National Women's Law Center, S8230 [25JY]

———Michael D. Place, Catholic Health Association, S8232 [25JY]

———Rick Pollack, American Hospital Association, S8231 [25JY]

Geriatric Care Act: Howard Bedlin, National Council on the Aging, S3926 [25AP]

———Stephen Bartels, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, S3926 [25AP]

———William L. Minnix, Jr., American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, S3926 [25AP]

Guarantee Federal remedies that hold health plans accountable for medical decisions and limit non-economical and punitive damages: Frank M. Fitzgerald, Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services, H5272 [2AU]

Improve Medicare reimbursement policies relative to service payment sites: several health care professionals, E287 [6MR]

Insurance coverage for individuals participating in approved clinical trials: Cancer Leadership Council, S6587 [21JN]

———Daniel E. Smith, American Cancer Society, S6583, S6587 [21JN]

Investigation into Bristol-Myers Squibb, Inc., representation of average wholesale prices of prescription drugs relative to Medicare reimbursement: Representative Stark, E244 [28FE]

Make permanent Medicare health coverage for certain disabled individuals that go back to work: Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities, E116 [6FE]

Medicare Mental Illness Nondiscrimination Act: Daniel B. Borenstein, American Psychiatric Association, E157 [13FE], E179 [14FE]

Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act: Charlotte Hardt, National Rural Health Association, S12373, S12374 [4DE]

———Cindy Knight, Wyoming Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, S12373 [4DE]

———David M. Bergman, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, S12372, S12373 [4DE]

———Dee Kernodle, Arkansas Mental Health Counselors Association, S12372 [4DE]

———Dell Tyson, Arkansas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, S12373 [4DE]

———Jane Goodman, American Counseling Association, S12371 [4DE]

———Karen Robertson, David L. Beck, and Lesley Travers, Wyoming Counseling Association, S12371 [4DE]

———Mary Riemersma, California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, S12374 [4DE]

———Midge Williams, American Mental Health Counselors Association, S12372 [4DE]

Lists

Cancer Leadership Council, S6588 [21JN]

Cosponsors of H.R. 481, make permanent Medicare health coverage for certain disabled individuals that go back to work, E116 [6FE]

Health care legislation introduced from 1983-2000 by Senator Specter, S294 [22JA]

Staff that worked on H.R. 3391, Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act, H8794 [4DE]

Supporters of S. 775, Geriatric Care Act, S3926 [25AP]

Supporters of S. 982, Medicare Wellness Act, S5834 [5JN]

Supporters of S. 1052, Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, S6404-S6406, S6432 [19JN], S6510 [20JN], S6890 [26JN], S7074 [28JN]

Memorandums

Recent Economic Conditions' Impact on the 10-Year Projection of the Federal Budget Surplus: Alan Blinder, Gene Sperling, and Jason Furman, S3513 [5AP]

Motions

Health: protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), H5285 [2AU]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), S6403 [19JN], S6634 [22JN], S6870 [26JN], S6963 [27JN], S7015, S7025, S7054 [28JN], S7130, S7131, S7136, S7138, S7142, S7145, S7148, S7153 [29JN]

Press releases

Second Round of Medicare Competitive Bidding Project for Medical Supplies in Polk County, FL: Health Care Financing Administration, E361 [14MR]

Proclamations

Voluntary Medicare Outpatient Prescription Drug Discount and Security Program: National Pharmaceutical Association, E1631 [11SE]

Remarks in House

Benefits: allow certain remarried widows, widowers, and surviving divorced spouses to become or remain entitled to widow's or widower's insurance benefits (H.R. 3023), E1800 [4OC]

———guarantee the right of individuals to receive certain benefits in full with an accurate annual cost-of-living adjustment (H.R. 832), E264 [1MR]

———improve benefit computation formula for certain workers affected by changes in benefit computation rules (H.R. 81), E1, E5 [3JA]

———increase lump-sum death benefit and allow payment of such benefit to legal representative of the deceased's estate in the absence of a surviving spouse or child (H.R. 3119), E1886 [12OC]

———level of payment in the month of the beneficiary's death (H.R. 1091), E389 [19MR]

———provide lump-sum death payments to surviving spouses (H.R. 266), E46 [30JA]

Bipartisan Commission on Social Security Reform: establish (H.R. 14), E1 [3JA]

Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act: tribute, H114 [31JA]

Bristol-Myers Squibb, Inc.: investigation into representation of average wholesale prices of prescription drugs relative to Medicare reimbursement, E244 [28FE]

Budget: allocation of funds, H446, H468 [28FE], H722-H738 [7MR], H744, H745, H748-H758, H763-H793, H799-H804, H807, H811, H812, H813, H815-H821 [8MR], H834, H837, H838, H857 [13MR], H918-H923 [14MR], H963 [20MR], H1153 [27MR], H2391 [22MY]

———treatment of any budget surpluses, H208, H210-H212 [7FE], H307-H309 [13FE], H359-H365 [14FE], H414 [27FE], H630 [6MR], H834 [13MR], H1158, H1160, H1161 [27MR], H1389 [3AP], H1512, H1513 [24AP], H2961 [7JN], H5380-H5387 [5SE], H5492 [11SE], E1061 [8JN], E2355 [20DE]

———treatment of public debt, H753 [8MR], H1204, H1221 [28MR]

Children and youth: ensure health coverage, promote parental support and family stability, improve early education and child care, reduce poverty, create youth development programs, and provide a safe environment (H.R. 1990), H3946 [11JY], E936 [24MY]

———extend Promoting Safe and Stable Families and Foster Care Independent Living programs, support mentoring programs for children of incarcerated parents, and assist youths aging out of foster care (H.R. 2873), H8088-H8094 [13NO], E1622 [10SE]

———require lead poisoning screening for enrollees in certain Federal programs (H.R. 2788), E1535 [3AU]

Christofides, Alexander: SSA Commissioner's Citation recipient, E1249 [29JN]

Claimants: provide greater equity and efficiency to the SSA payment system for claimant representation (H.R. 3332), E2121, E2122 [16NO]

Colorado: results of 4th Congressional District constituent survey on national issues, E105 [6FE]

Constitutional amendments: require a two-thirds majority on the passage of legislation decreasing Social Security and Medicare benefits, H1575 [25AP]

Dept. of Defense: allow Medicare-eligible military health care system beneficiaries to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (H.R. 779), E229 [28FE]

Employment: treatment of severe spinal cord injuries relative to certain earnings (H.R. 509), E129 [7FE]

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. 1909), E844 [17MY]

———provide grants to States to encourage media campaigns to promote responsible fatherhood skills (H.R. 1300), H2153 [15MY], H3187 [14JN]

Federal aid programs: provide for emergency unemployment compensation program and emergency health coverage assistance, H7220, H7227-H7232, H7234, H7250-H7260, H7268-H7280, H7297 [24OC], H7359 [30OC], H7889 [7NO], H8408-H8412 [27NO], H8577, H8581 [29NO], H10060 [13DE], E1929 [25OC], E2102 [15NO]

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. 1078), E367 [15MR]

———assure coverage of emergency services under group health plans and health insurance (H.R. 1674), E704, E705 [2MY]

———ensure entitled entities comply with certain regulations providing for the electronic exchange of health information (H.R. 3323), H8772-H8778 [4DE], E2272 [13DE], E2525 [3JA]

———expand State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families, H1703, H1704 [1MY]

———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 (H.R. 1255), E453 [27MR]

———improve access to prescription drugs under Medicare and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and health care coverage for seniors, the self-employed, and children (H.R. 1387), H1474 [4AP], H1834 [2MY]

———managed care system reform proposal, E875 [21MY]

———modify the deadline for compliance with certain regulations providing for the electronic exchange of health information (H.R. 1975), H8777 [4DE]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, H309-H311 [13FE], H1587 [25AP], H1706, H1707 [1MY], E226 [27FE], E537 [4AP]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, H309-H311 [13FE], H720-H722 [7MR], H1596 [25AP], H1702, H1703, H1707 [1MY], H3245, H3250 [19JN], E226 [27FE], E875 [21MY], E1390 [20JY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 526), H297 [13FE], H467 [28FE], H870-H874 [13MR], H910 [14MR], H1464 [4AP], H1587 [25AP], H1833 [2MY], H2670-H2672 [23MY], H2866, H2869-H2876 [5JN], H3238-H3244 [19JN], H3502-H3505 [25JN], H3600-H3602 [26JN], H3623, H3624, H3625, H3626, H3689, H3698-H3705 [27JN], H3797-H3800 [28JN], H3810, H3811 [10JY], H3931 [11JY], H4119, H4204-H4211 [18JY], E1246 [29JN]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2315), H3602 [26JN], H3799 [28JN], H3868 [11JY], H4119 [18JY], H4368 [20JY], H4411-H4420 [23JY], H4432, H4435, H4436, H4437 [24JY], H4546 [25JY], H4770 [27JY], H4871 [31JY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), H4410, H4417-H4423 [23JY], H4432, H4434, H4435, H4437 [24JY], H4546, H4547, H4548, H4549 [25JY], H4719-H4721 [26JY], H4785, H4861 [30JY], H4867, H4870, H4967, H4976-H4982 [31JY], H5181, H5182, H5183, H5184, H5196-H5315 [2AU], H8239 [15NO], E1578, E1585 [5SE], E1630 [11SE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), consideration (H. Res. 219), H5185-H5196 [2AU]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), corrections in engrossment, H5315 [2AU]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), motion to recommit, H5313, H5314 [2AU]

———provide insurance for uninsured individuals, H1587 [25AP], H1704, H1705, H1706, H1707 [1MY]

Health Care Financing Administration: expand and make permanent the Medicare competitive bidding demonstration project for the purchase of durable medical equipment, E361 [14MR]

Health care professionals: alleviate nursing profession shortage by improving educational programs and partnerships and supporting additional training (H.R. 1436), E1246 [29JN], E2262 [12DE]

———alleviate nursing profession shortage by inproving educational programs and partnerships and supporting additional training (H.R. 1436), H1465 [4AP]

Immigration: eligibility of certain aliens suffering from domestic abuse for Federal aid programs (H.R. 2258), H3511-H3514 [25JN], E1159, E1164 [20JN], E1216 [26JN]

Income: honor commitments (H. Con. Res. 282), H9173-H9178 [11DE], E2220 [7DE], E2257 [12DE], E2275, E2277, E2282 [13DE]

INS: extend Basic Pilot employment verification system (H.R. 3030), H9187-H9189 [11DE], E2270, E2276 [13DE]

Insurance: comprehensive coverage for childhood immunizations funding, H10433 [19DE]

———eliminate benefit penalties to individuals receiving pensions from noncovered employment (H.R. 848), E263 [1MR]

———guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children (H.R. 1733), E721 [3MY]

———provide coverage for individuals participating in approved clinical trials, H3703 [27JN]

———require comprehensive coverage for childhood immunizations (H.R. 580), E163 [13FE]

Medicaid: clarify that Native American women eligible for coverage under Indian health plans are eligible for optional breast and cervical cancer coverage (S. 1741), H10904-H10906 [19DE], E2400 [20DE]

———extend certain modifications to disproportionate share hospital allotments (H.R. 854), H637 [6MR]

———improve quality of care furnished in nursing homes (H.R. 2677), E1471 [30JY]

———increase funding to improve quality of care furnished in nursing homes, E415 [21MR]

———permit children covered under the State Children's Health Insurance Program to be eligible for the Federal Vaccines for Children Program (H.R. 2701), E1509 [2AU]

———permit State waiver authority to provide medical assistance in cases of congenital heart defects (H.R. 1793), E779 [10MY]

———permit States the option to provide coverage for low-income individuals infected with HIV (H.R. 2063), H2865 [5JN]

———remove the cap on payments for Puerto Rico and certain other territories and adjust the statutory matching rate (H.R. 48), H3690, H3691 [27JN]

———require States that provide prescription drug coverage to cover drugs that treat obesity (H.R. 1641), E660 [26AP]

———revise and simplify the transitional medical assistance program (H.R. 2775), E1535 [3AU]

———State funding for disproportionate share hospitals (H.R. 1604), H1609 [26AP]

———State requirements for financial recovery from an individual's estate relative to any medical assistance under a State health plan (H.R. 1001), E345 [13MR]

Medicare: accelerate reduction on the amount of beneficiary copayment liability for outpatient services (H.R. 3284), E2066 [13NO]

———allow beneficiaries direct access to physical therapists without a physician referral (H.R. 3363), E2150, E2161 [28NO]

———comprehensive financing for graduate medical education (H.R. 2178), E1115 [14JN]

———coverage for qualified World War II Filipino veterans (H.R. 594), E169 [13FE]

———coverage for surgical first assisting services of certified registered nurse first assistants (H.R. 822), E260 [1MR]

———coverage of additional hemodialysis treatments for certain patients and increased update in composite rate for dialysis services (H.R. 2220), E1147 [19JN]

———coverage of adult day care services (H.R. 3585), E2393 [20DE]

———coverage of bone mass measurements for all individuals at clinical risk for osteoporosis (H.R. 595), E154 [13FE]

———coverage of cholesterol and blood lipid screening (H.R. 3278), E2062 [13NO]

———coverage of coordinated lifestyle changes program relative to heart attack prevention, E1464 [27JY]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases (H.R. 2117), E1053 [7JN]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs, H309-H311 [13FE], H820 [8MR], H1160, H1175 [27MR], H1471-H1475 [4AP], H1507-H1515 [24AP], H1575, H1594, H1596 [25AP], H1702, H1705, H1707 [1MY], H1835-H1842 [2MY], H2005 [8MY], H2862, H2866-H2870 [5JN], H3032-H3038 [12JN], H3690 [27JN], H5383 [5SE]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (H.R. 2632), H6413 [5OC]

———determination of payment amounts for new clinical diagnostic laboratory tests (H.R. 3388), E2184 [30NO]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (H.R. 599), E156 [13FE], E179 [14FE]

———establish minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services (H.R. 3569), H10939, H10948 [20DE]

———exclude clinical social worker services from coverage under the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (H.R. 2294), E1175 [21JN]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services, E535 [4AP]

———expand benefits, establish payment incentives for furnishing quality services, and develop an effective national policy to care for individuals with chronic conditions (H.R. 3188), E1943 [30OC]

———expand medical residency training programs in geriatric medicine and provide for reimbursement of care coordination and assessment services (H.R. 3027), E1796 [4OC]

———extend minimum deadlines for filing claims relative to adjustments from secondary payor status to primary payor status (H.R. 3540), E2342 [20DE]

———funding, H1203 [28MR], H1507-H1515 [24AP]

———improve reimbursement, H1594 [25AP]

———improve reimbursement policies relative to service payment sites, E287 [6MR]

———increase payments for ambulance services in rural areas, determine rural areas based on population density, and require the use of recent data in determining payment adjustments (H.R. 3545), E2344 [20DE]

———increase payments for ambulance services in rural areas (H.R. 2346), E1228 [27JN]

———limit hospital ownership exception to physician self-referral restrictions to interests purchased on terms generally available to the public (H.R. 2490), E1322 [12JY]

———make permanent the health coverage for certain disabled individuals that go back to work (H.R. 481), E116 [6FE]

———make the social HMO a permanent option under Medicare+Choice program (H.R. 2953), H6046 [25SE]

———payments to hospitals that have graduate medical education programs in critical need specialty areas (H.R. 1928), E871 [21MY]

———promote research for health promotion and disease prevention and add preventive benefits (H.R. 2058), E1008, E1017 [5JN]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (H.R. 3238), E2007 [6NO]

———protection of certain trust funds in coverage of outpatient prescription drugs, H1507-H1515 [24AP]

———provide for continuous open enrollment and disenrollment in Medicare+Choice plans (H.R. 3267), E2044 [8NO]

———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 (H.R. 868), E1309 [11JY]

———provide incentive payments for multi-year contracts entered into by Medicare+Choice organizations (H.R. 274), H1586 [25AP]

———provide regulatory relief and contracting flexibility (H.R. 2768), E1533, E1548 [3AU]

———provide regulatory relief and contracting flexibility (H.R. 3391), H8778-H8801 [4DE]

———reductions in home health care payment rates under the Balanced Budget Act, E1557 [3AU]

———reductions in prescription drug prices for beneficiaries and women with breast cancer (H.R. 758), H1110 [22MR]

———reductions in prescription drug prices (H.R. 1400), H1584, H1587 [25AP], H1838 [2MY], H2867 [5JN], E1315 [11JY]

———reform, H1225, H1284 [28MR], H2933-H2936 [6JN], E295 [7MR]

———reimbursement for use of base hospitals by military retirees, H5775 [20SE], H6014 [25SE]

———reimbursement of prescription drug costs at the average wholesale price, E44 [30JA]

———require universal product numbers on claims forms for reimbursement for durable medical equipment and other items (H.R. 186), E1 [3JA]

———waive late enrollment penalty and provide a special Part B enrollment period for certain military retirees, H6036 [25SE]

———waive late enrollment penalty and provide a special Part B enrollment period for certain military retirees (H.R. 2073), E1031 [6JN]

Medicare Eligible Military Retiree Health Care Consensus Task Force: establish (H.R. 67), E9 [3JA]

Medicare/Medicaid: Nursing Home Oversight Improvement Program funding, H6649, H6650 [11OC]

———waive certain nurse aide training requirements (H.R. 1510), E578 [5AP]

Mental health: application of employment criteria under management contracts for certain mental health facilities (H.R. 3147), E1897 [16OC]

———provide insurance coverage, H1704 [1MY]

Native Americans: Federal funding for certain adoption and foster care programs (H.R. 2335), E1223 [27JN]

Pensions: create personal guarantee accounts ensuring full benefits for all workers and their families, restore long-term solvency, and make certain benefit improvements (H.R. 3497), E2307 [14DE]

———create personalized retirement accounts, H315-H319 [13FE], H475-H479 [28FE]

President's Commission To Strengthen Social Security: final report, H9245 [12DE]

———prohibit OMB funding to implement final report, H4615-H4621 [25JY], E1478 [31JY]

Privacy: enhance privacy protections for individuals and prevent fraudulent misuse of account numbers (H.R. 2036), E988 [26MY]

———prohibit the establishment of any uniform national health care identifying number or health information database (H.R. 2615), E1417 [24JY]

———protect the integrity and confidentiality of Social Security numbers and prohibit the establishment of any uniform national identifying number (H.R. 220), E8 [3JA], E172 [13FE]

———protection of Social Security numbers and other personal information (H.R. 1478), E564 [5AP]

Privatization: establish commission to oppose, H4566-H4568 [25JY], E1461 [27JY]

Reform, H3005 [12JN], E983 [25MY]

Republican Party: national agenda, H79 [30JA], H365 [14FE], H1016 [21MR]

Rural areas: promote and improve access to health care services, H203, H204 [7FE]

Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) Act: make tax benefits contingent on the availability of sufficient surpluses outside Social Security and Medicare trust funds, H5174-H5176 [1AU]

Solvency: ensure, H1833 [2MY], H4434 [24JY], H9085 [11DE], E2275 [13DE]

———ensure (H. Con. Res. 214), E1539 [3AU]

———impact of increased spending, H2154 [15MY]

SSI: increase incentives for working, saving, and pursuing an education (H.R. 739), E215 [27FE], E239 [28FE]

States: permit the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 1143), H3264, H3265 [20JN], H3511, H3514 [25JN], E1164 [20JN], E1216 [26JN]

Taxation: allow a refundable credit against payroll taxes (H.R. 493), E142 [8FE]

———disclose to State and local law enforcement agencies individuals using Social Security numbers of others to claim tax benefits (H.R. 2077), E1030 [6JN]

———provide a refund to individuals for payroll taxes (H.R. 3015), H8908 [5DE], E1824 [5OC], E1842 [10OC], E1876 [12OC]

———simplify Internal Revenue Code through revenue neutral proposals (H.R. 2529), E1347 [17JY]

———treatment of Social Security payroll tax, H4371 [20JY], H4408 [23JY]

Territories: economic assistance relative to unemployment, Medicaid, and other Federal programs, H7259 [24OC], H10178 [18DE]

Tobacco products: national policy to reduce tobacco use, H4002-H4006 [12JY]

Trust funds: budget treatment, H208 [7FE], H315-H319 [13FE], H921, H922, H923 [14MR], H963 [20MR], H1159-H1161, H1167, H1174 [27MR], H1205, H1206, H1208 [28MR], H1507-H1515 [24AP], H1937 [8MY], H2647, H2649-H2652 [23MY], H2836, H2839 [25MY], H3005 [12JN], H4960-H4964 [31JY], H5108 [1AU], H5492 [11SE], H7228, H7229, H7249, H7254, H7255 [24OC], H8886 [5DE], H9328-H9332 [12DE], E358 [14MR], E1632 [11SE], E2355 [20DE]

———commission recommendation on investment of trust funds in private financial markets, H9328, H9330, H9332 [12DE]

———increase interest rate (H.R. 1320), E493 [29MR]

———payroll taxes, H315-H319 [13FE]

———prohibit investment in private financial markets, E1390 [20JY]

———protect Social Security and Medicare surpluses through strengthened budgetary enforcement mechanisms, H1570, H1571 [25AP]

———protect Social Security and Medicare surpluses through strengthened budgetary enforcement mechanisms (H.R. 2), H261, H262, H268-H276 [13FE], H354, H380-H384 [14FE], H656 [7MR], E185, E194, E200 [14FE], E208 [26FE], E214, E219 [27FE]

———protect Social Security and Medicare surpluses through strengthened budgetary enforcement mechanisms (H.R. 560), H1584 [25AP]

———reduce the public debt by the amount of net surplus in trust fund each fiscal year-H380-H384 [14FE], H475-H479 [28FE]

Veterans: prioritization of veterans programs funding relative to war on terrorism and economic recovery, H7834 [6NO]

———repeal computation system that reduces annuity for surviving spouses at age 62 relative to Social Security offset (H.R. 1232), H1832 [2MY]

Women: promote economic security and safety of domestic and sexual violence victims (H.R. 2670), E1972 [31OC]

———provide health care and reform insurance procedures for low-income women, H909, H910, H913 [14MR]

Remarks in Senate

Account statements: include additional information (S. 354), S1496 [15FE]

Armed Forces: provide families of disabled children enrolled in TRICARE health coverage similar to Medicaid, S9793 [25SE]

Bankruptcy: protection of nursing home patients, S2021 [8MR]

Benefits: computation rule application to workers attaining age 65 in or after 1982, S5417 [22MY]

———earnings test for blind individuals (S. 682), S3346 [3AP]

———guarantee the right of individuals to receive certain benefits in full with an accurate annual cost-of-living adjustment (S. 1558), S10773 [16OC]

———level of payment in the month of the beneficiary's death (S. 882), S4944 [15MY]

———provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (S. 693), S3443 [4AP]

Bipartisan Patient Protection Act: application of effective date to collective bargaining agreement plans, S7064-S7066 [28JN], S7130 [29JN]

———application of individual market rules to health insurance coverage consisting of excepted benefits, S7173 [29JN]

———include Federal health benefits programs, S7142-S7145 [29JN]

Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act: anniversary, S10977 [24OC]

Budget: allocation of funds, S1593-S1606 [27FE], S1660-S1669, S1682-S1684 [28FE], S1732-S1734 [1MR], S1923-S1925 [7MR], S2106-S2112 [9MR], S2141 [12MR], S2180-S2184 [13MR], S2807-S2812 [23MR], S2835-S2840 [26MR], S3290-S3302 [3AP], S3826-S3828 [24AP], S4776-S4778, S4781, S4785-S4787, S4792 [10MY], S4853-S4855 [14MY], S4923-S4926 [15MY], S7999-S8001 [20JY], S8147-S8152 [25JY], S8904 [3AU]

———require a three-fifths majority vote in the Senate to waive the point of order against considering spending of certain Medicare trust funds, S3665, S3666, S3667 [6AP]

———treatment of any budget surpluses, S19-S22 [4JA], S692, S693 [30JA], S836-S839 [31JA], S1028 [6FE], S1098-S1110 [7FE], S1167-S1176 [8FE], S1262-S1264 [13FE], S1440 [15FE], S1923-S1925 [7MR], S3265, S3270 [2AP], S3802 [24AP], S4411 [7MY], S4579 [9MY], S5511, S5513, S5522-S5524 [23MY], S5666, S5674 [25MY], S7313-S7316 [9JY], S9013, S9016, S9017 [4SE], S9155 [6SE], S9208 [10SE], S10546 [11OC], S11673 [13NO]

———treatment of public debt, S446-S449 [23JA], S2173-S2176 [13MR], S2838 [26MR], S3295, S3308-S3312, S3318 [3AP], S4158 [2MY]

Children and youth: ensure health coverage, promote parental support and family stability, improve early education and child care, reduce poverty, create youth development programs, and provide a safe environment (S. 940), S5549 [23MY]

———extend Promoting Safe and Stable Families and Foster Care Independent Living programs, support mentoring programs for children of incarcerated parents, and assist youths aging out of foster care, S11456 [6NO]

———extend Promoting Safe and Stable Families and Foster Care Independent Living programs, support mentoring programs for children of incarcerated parents, and assist youths aging out of foster care (H.R. 2873), S11916 [15NO], S11973 [16NO], S13141, S13225, S13226 [13DE], S13935 [20DE]

———extend Promoting Safe and Stable Families and Foster Care Independent Living programs, support mentoring programs for children of incarcerated parents, and assist youths aging out of foster care (S. 1503), S10297-S10302 [4OC]

———improve health benefits coverage of infants and children under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (S. 1016), S6130-S6132 [12JN]

———require lead poisoning screening and treatment for enrollees in Head Start programs and WIC (S. 1469), S9877, S9879 [26SE]

———require lead poisoning screening and treatment for enrollees in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 1471), S9877, S9879 [26SE]

Congress: legislative priorities, S71-S82 [22JA], S1028 [6FE], S2840-S2842 [26MR]

Constitutional amendments: treatment under balanced budget, S8371-S8373 [30JY]

Crime: prevent identity fraud (S. 1399), S9078, S9079 [4SE]

Democratic Party: national agenda, S5577 [24MY], S5844 [6JN], S8371-S8373 [30JY], S9182 [6SE]

Dept. of HHS: make grants to promote innovative outreach and enrollment efforts under State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 1390), S8966 [3AU]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: retain Civilian Health and Medical Program eligibility for Medicare-eligible beneficiaries, S5574-S5576 [24MY]

———seek SSA assistance in providing outreach to veterans, their dependants, and their survivors (S. Res. 152), S8974 [3AU]

Diseases: establish a national registry and improve the treatment for persons affected by Spina Bifida, S8671 [2AU]

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. 484), S1994-S1998 [7MR]

———provide grants to States to encourage media campaigns to promote responsible fatherhood skills (S. 653), S3167 [29MR]

Federal aid programs: provide for emergency unemployment compensation program and emergency health coverage assistance, S11645-S11651 [9NO], S11701-S11707, S11713, S11715 [13NO], S11757-S11762, S11771, S11778-S11781 [14NO], S12023 [27NO], S12071, S12072, S12073 [28NO], S12121, S12122 [29NO], S13836, S14038-S14040 [20DE]

Government regulations: extend date for compliance by entitled entities with certain regulations providing for the electronic exchange of health information (S. 1684), S12059 [27NO], S12096 [28NO]

Health: dedicate certain civil monetary penalties to a trust fund to provide assistance to individuals without health insurance, S7149-S7154 [29JN]

———ensure entitled entities comply with certain regulations providing for the electronic exchange of health information (H.R. 3323), S13077, S13078 [12DE], S13690 [19DE]

———ensure that children at highest risk for asthma, vision, hearing, and other health problems are identified and treated (S. 1012), S6057 [11JN]

———expand Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families (S. 1244), S8224 [25JY]

———expand State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families, S3668 [6AP]

———expand State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families (S. 574), S2588 [20MR]

———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. 623), S2983 [27MR]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, S1241 [13FE], S3804 [24AP], S4135 [2MY]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (S. 24), S269-S275 [22JA]

———permit health plans to offer participants coverage which ties premium costs to a specified level of benefits, S7164-S7167, S7172, S7173 [29JN]

———prohibit Federal health insurance programs from reimbursing health care providers who charge membership or extraneous fees as a prerequisite to service to a patient (S. 1592), S11213 [30OC]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, S5999 [8JN], S8061 [23JY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (H.R. 2563), S9127 [5SE], S9129 [6SE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 6), S425-S427 [22JA]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 283), S1136, S1156 [7FE], S1241 [13FE], S1368 [14FE]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 872), S4896 [14MY], S4967 [15MY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 889), S4951-S4953 [15MY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), S6357 [14JN], S6369-S6372, S6379-S6381, S6384-S6386 [18JN], S6535-S6594 [21JN], S6627-S6657 [22JN], S6835-S6860 [25JN], S6870-S6885, S6887-S6913 [26JN], S6937-S6983 [27JN], S7011-S7076 [28JN], S7127-S7185, S7287, S7288 [29JN], S7293 [9JY], S8196-S8198 [25JY]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), motion to commit, S6849-S6854 [25JN], S6870-S6884 [26JN], S7136-S7138 [29JN]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), motion to proceed, S6398-S6440 [19JN], S6463-S6506, S6508-S6510 [20JN], S6533, S6534 [21JN]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), unanimous-consent agreement, S6644 [22JN], S6887, S6901 [26JN], S6954 [27JN], S7074 [28JN]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (S. 1052), unanimous-consent request, S6378, S6379 [18JN], S6403 [19JN], S6538, S6580 [21JN], S7170 [29JN]

———sustain access to vital emergency medical services in rural areas (S. 587), S2668, S2669 [21MR]

Health care professionals: alleviate nursing profession shortage by inproving educational programs and partnerships and supporting additional training (S. 706), S3534 [5AP]

———expand medical residency training programs in geriatrics (S. 1362), S8931 [3AU]

Income: repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (S. 1523), S10459 [10OC]

Information services: provide for coordination of implementation of administrative simplification standard for health care information (S. 836), S4417 [7MY]

INS: extend Basic Pilot employment verification system (H.R. 3030), S14050 [20DE]

———extend Basic Pilot employment verification system (S. 1891), S13980 [20DE]

Insurance: establish hospital lengths of stay based on a determination by an appropriate physician in consultation with the patient (S. 575), S2589 [20MR]

———guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children (S. 827), S4257 [3MY]

———provide coverage for individuals participating in approved clinical trials, S6465, S6469, S6470, S6473, S6501 [20JN], S6583-S6594 [21JN], S6627-S6634 [22JN], S7129, S7130, S7169 [29JN]

———require comprehensive coverage for childhood immunizations (S. 1297), S8593 [1AU]

Investments: establish and maintain individual investment accounts, S1365 [14FE]

Medicaid: allow States to expand family planning coverage to certain women (S. 1343), S8764-S8766 [2AU]

———allow States to use their allotment under the State Children's Health Insurance Program to increase the enrollment of children eligible for medical assistance (S. 1625), S11378 [1NO]

———clarify Dept. of HHS authority to treat certain State prescription drug discount demonstration projects as medical assistance for purposes of rebate agreements (S. 1177), S7594, S7595 [12JY]

———clarify that Native American women eligible for coverage under Indian health plans are eligible for optional breast and cervical cancer coverage (S. 1741), S12109, S12111 [28NO], S12153 [29NO]

———clarify that Native American women eligible for coverage under Indian health plans are eligible for optional breast and cervical cancer coverage (S. 535), S2318 [14MR]

———coverage of certain dependent care employees, S3804 [24AP]

———coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (S. 53), S321 [22JA]

———eliminate the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program, S5229 [21MY], S5406 [22MY]

———extend the higher Federal medical assistance payment percentage for Indian Health Service facilities to urban Indian health programs (S. 1753), S12261 [30NO]

———increase Federal medical assistance percentage to help States finance increases in enrollment (H.R. 3414), S12438 [5DE]

———permit children covered under the State Children's Health Insurance Program to be eligible for the Federal Vaccines for Children Program (S. 573), S2588 [20MR]

———provide families of disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage, S3650 [6AP]

———provide families of disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage (S. 321), S1346 [13FE]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (S. 1298), S8594-S8596 [1AU]

———reimbursement rates relative to long-term care staffing shortages, S3671, S3672 [6AP]

———State funding for disproportionate share hospitals (S. 776), S3926 [25AP]

Medical Education Trust Fund: establish (S. 743), S3749-S3754 [6AP]

Medicare: accelerate reduction on the amount of beneficiary copayment liability for outpatient services (S. 1679), S11725 [13NO]

———adjust wages and wage-related costs for certain items and services furnished in geographically reclassified hospitals (S. 659), S3170 [29MR]

———anniversary, S8394 [30JY]

———contractor payment delay, S7058-S7062 [28JN], S7130 [29JN]

———coverage of adult day care services (S. 1619), S11374-S11376 [1NO]

———coverage of bone mass measurements for all individuals at clinical risk for osteoporosis (S. 264), S1085 [6FE]

———coverage of cholesterol and blood lipid screening (S. 1761), S12375 [4DE]

———coverage of marriage and family therapist services (S. 1760), S12370-S12374 [4DE], S12466 [6DE]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases (S. 960), S5636 [24MY]

———coverage of more frequent hemodialysis treatments (S. 1303), S8710 [2AU]

———coverage of oral anticancer drugs (S. 913), S5125, S5126 [17MY]

———coverage of oral drugs to reduce serum phosphate levels in patients with end stage renal disease (S. 1304), S8710 [2AU]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs, S1167 [8FE], S1669, S1671 [28FE], S2576 [20MR], S3298-S3326 [3AP], S3474 [5AP], S3666 [6AP], S4789 [10MY], S5083-S5086 [17MY], S5249 [21MY], S5505 [23MY]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (S. 10), S155 [22JA]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (S. 925), S5444-S5447 [22MY], S8153 [25JY]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (S. 1185), S7718 [16JY], S7809, S7818 [17JY]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (S. Res. 74), S3927 [25AP]

———coverage of pharmacist services (S. 974), S5706 [25MY]

———coverage of remote monitoring services (S. 1607), S11290 [31OC]

———coverage of screening pap smears and pelvic exams (S. 258), S1078 [6FE]

———determination of payment amounts for new clinical diagnostic laboratory tests (S. 1066), S6519 [20JN]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (S. 841), S4510 [8MY]

———eliminate reduction in payment rates to home health agencies for home health services, S3417-S3421 [4AP], S3462-S3464 [5AP]

———eliminate reduction in payment rates under the prospective payment system for home health services and increase payments for such services in rural areas (S. 326), S1396-S1399 [14FE], S1581 [26FE]

———ensure that eligible individuals have sufficient time to consider information and make informed choice on enrollment in Medicare+Choice plans (S. 1376), S8950 [3AU]

———ensure that participating hospitals can recognize and respond to epidemics resulting from natural causes and bioterrorism (S. 1574), S11110 [25OC]

———establish a floor on area wage adjustment factors used under the prospective payment system for hospital services, S11257-S11260 [31OC]

———establish a hospice demonstration and grant program for beneficiaries (S. 1425), S9397 [13SE]

———exclude clinical social worker services from coverage under the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (S. 1083), S6616 [21JN]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services (S. 690), S3438 [4AP]

———expand benefits, establish payment incentives for furnishing quality services, and develop an effective national policy to care for individuals with chronic conditions (S. 1589), S11206 [30OC]

———expand coverage of certain self-injected biologicals (S. 554), S2409 [15MR]

———expand medical residency training programs in geriatric medicine and provide for reimbursement of care coordination and assessment services (S. 775), S3925 [25AP]

———extend availability of cost contracts (S. 1224), S8124 [24JY]

———funding, S3294, S3297, S3300 [3AP], S3462-S3464, S3473, S3474 [5AP], S4159 [2MY]

———improve direct graduate medical education payments (S. 135), S409 [22JA]

———improve fee-for-services reimbursement rates in rural States (S. 1020), S6138 [12JN], S11259 [31OC]

———improve reimbursement for clinical social worker services (S. 52), S321 [22JA]

———increase payments for ambulance services in rural areas (S. 1367), S8939 [3AU]

———increase reimbursement for screening mammography services and funding for additional radiology residents and radiologic technologists (S. 548), S2398-S2402 [15MR]

———increase the payment amount for inpatient hospital services and freeze the reduction in payments to hospitals for indirect costs of medical education (S. 839), S4425 [7MY], S4503 [8MY]

———limit reductions in Federal payments under the prospective payment system for rural or sole community hospital outpatient department services (S. 270), S1125 [7FE]

———make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit (S. 357), S1500 [15FE]

———make more competitive and efficient and provide for a prescription drug benefit (S. 358), S1500 [15FE]

———pay ambulance suppliers the full costs of providing such services (S. 1350), S8914 [3AU]

———payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs, S3670, S3671 [6AP]

———promote research for health promotion and disease prevention and add preventive benefits (S. 982), S5833-S5836 [5JN]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (S. 1686), S11794 [14NO]

———provide adequate coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for certain kidney transplant patients (S. 880), S4942 [15MY]

———provide for continuous open enrollment and disenrollment in Medicare+Choice plans (S. 1851), S13707 [19DE]

———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. 452), S1818 [5MR]

———provide regulatory relief, appeals process reforms, contracting flexibility, and education improvements (S. 1738), S12106, S12107 [28NO]

———provide regulatory relief and contracting flexibility (S. 1545), S10694 [15OC]

———reclassify certain Pennsylvania metropolitan statistical areas for purposes of reimbursement, S11890, S11932 [15NO]

———reductions in prescription drug prices (S. 125), S401 [22JA]

———reductions in prescription drug prices (S. 699), S3451 [4AP], S8394 [30JY]

———reform, S70 [22JA]

———reform (S. 1135), S7107 [28JN]

———remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (S. 51), S320 [22JA]

———require providers to disclose staffing and performance data (S. 863), S4835 [10MY]

———standardize payment amounts for inpatient hospital services (S. 885), S4946, S4947 [15MY]

———State accreditation of diabetes self-management training programs (S. 153), S481 [23JA]

Medicare/Medicaid: establish a national abusive and criminal background check system for patient care workers (S. 1054), S6333 [14JN]

———streamline regulatory processes for home health agencies (S. 1169), S7591 [12JY]

———waive certain nurse aide training requirements (S. 728), S3714 [6AP], S3782 [23AP]

Mental health: expand and improve counseling and mental health services for posttraumatic stress syndrome relative to hijacking and crashing of commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Somerset County, PA, S9955 [1OC]

Missouri: dispute over use of provider taxes to increase Federal contributions to State Medicaid programs, S11181, S11182 [30OC]

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.: tribute to CardCare discount drug program for senior citizens, S11784 [14NO]

Older Americans Month: observance, S5685 [25MY]

Pensions: computation system for benefits relative to spouses' and surviving spouses' Government pensions (S. 611), S2897 [26MR]

Personal investment plans: diversion of percentage of payroll tax payments, S8152 [25JY], S8391-S8393 [30JY]

Pharmaceuticals: provide access and choice for use of generic drugs under Federal health care programs (S. 186), S572 [25JA], S8394 [30JY]

Privacy: enhance privacy protections for individuals and prevent fraudulent misuse of account numbers (S. 1014), S6129 [12JN]

———limit the misuse of Social Security numbers and establish criminal penalties for such misuse (S. 848), S4591-S4597 [9MY]

———prohibit the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers by financial institutions and define such numbers as nonpublic personal information (S. 324), S1395 [14FE]

———prohibit the sale or purchase of Social Security numbers (S. 451), S1788 [1MR]

———require consent of an individual prior to the sale and marketing of personally identifiable information (S. 1055), S6337-S6339 [14JN]

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. 501), S2082 [8MR]

———Social Services Block Grant funding, S3669 [6AP]

———strengthen working families by improving responsible fatherhood and child support programs and expanding certain tax credits, block grants, and child care programs (S. 685), S3351-S3353 [3AP]

Republican Party: national agenda, S5845 [6JN], S9012 [4SE], S9207 [10SE], S10922-S10924 [24OC]

Rural areas: promote and improve access to health care services, S11162 [30OC]

———promote and improve access to health care services (S. 1030), S6221-S6226 [13JN]

Senate: legislative priorities, S10546 [11OC]

Solvency: ensure, S8391-S8393 [30JY]

States: permit the option of coverage of legal immigrants under the Medicaid Program and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 582), S2663 [21MR], S6514 [20JN]

Taxation: allow Medicare beneficiaries a refundable credit for purchase of outpatient prescription drugs (S. 1600), S11288 [31OC]

———condition tax cuts on solvency of Medicare trust funds, S5492 [23MY]

———phase out taxation of benefits (S. 181), S570 [25JA]

———reduce certain individual income tax rates and allow a payroll tax credit for those taxpayers who have no income tax liability (S. 566), S2477 [19MR]

———reduce tax cuts and use savings to strengthen Social Security, S5415, S5416 [22MY]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (S. 237), S1215 [8FE]

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program: increase limit on vocational education training to be counted as work activity (S. 770), S3863 [24AP]

Tobacco cessation: promote under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Maternal and Child Health Program (S. 622), S2981 [27MR]

Trust funds: budget treatment, S3286, S3287 [2AP], S3290-S3302 [3AP], S3473 [5AP], S4159 [2MY], S4574, S4575 [9MY], S5199-S5202, S5253, S5254 [21MY], S5408 [22MY], S5505-S5509 [23MY], S7313-S7318 [9JY], S7364-S7373, S7375, S7376 [10JY], S7999-S8001 [20JY], S8152 [25JY], S8499, S8502, S8628 [1AU], S12240 [30NO]

———protect Social Security and Medicare surpluses through strengthened budgetary enforcement mechanisms, S2047, S2049, S2056 [8MR], S2106-S2112 [9MR], S2153, S2156 [12MR], S2169-S2173, S2184-S2188 [13MR], S7319 [9JY], S7364-S7373, S7375 [10JY], S8448-S8451 [31JY]

———protect Social Security and Medicare surpluses through strengthened budgetary enforcement mechanisms (H.R. 2), S1542 [15FE]

———protect Social Security and Medicare surpluses through strengthened budgetary enforcement mechanisms (S. 21), S559 [25JA], S833 [30JA], S1205 [8FE], S1734 [1MR]

———redesignate certain as accounting funds (S. 547), S2397 [15MR]

Women: allow coverage of pregnancy-related assistance for targeted low-income pregnant women under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (S. 724), S3711 [6AP]

———promote economic security and safety of domestic and sexual violence victims (S. 1249), S8154, S8235, S8236 [25JY]

Reports filed

Basic Pilot Extension Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 3030) (H. Rept. 107-310), H8745 [30NO]

Medicare Regulatory, Appeals, Contracting, and Education Reform Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 3046) (H. Rept. 107-313), H8841 [4DE]

Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H.R. 2768) (H. Rept. 107-288), H8132 [13NO]

Safe and Stable Families and Foster Care Independent Living Programs, Mentoring Programs for Children of Incarcerated Parents, and Youths Aging Out of Foster Care: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 2873) (H. Rept. 107-281), H8132 [13NO]

Statements

Bipartisan Patient Protection Act: Executive Office of the President, S6552, S6555 [21JN], S7059 [28JN]

Investment of Social Security Trust Funds in Private Financial Markets: William D. Novelli, American Association of Retired Persons, E1390 [20JY]

Priorities of Budget Surpluses: Concord Coalition, S2173 [13MR]

Studies

Administration's Budget Reserve—Do the Numbers Add Up? Robert Greenstein, Richard Kogan, and Joel Friedman, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, H776 [8MR]

Administration's Budget—Gaps Between Rhetoric and Reality: Robert Greenstein, Richard Kogan, and Joel Friedman, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, H777 [8MR]

In Bush Budget, Tax Cuts for Top One Percent Are Larger Than Health, Education, and All Other Initiatives Combined: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, H778 [8MR]

In Many States, One-Third To One-Half of Families Would Not Benefit From Bush Tax Plan: Nick Johnson, Allen Dupree, and Isaac Shapiro, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, H779-H781 [8MR]

Is a Large Tax Cut Needed To Forestall an Explosion in Spending? Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, H776 [8MR]

Is the House Tax Bill Needed To Avert a Recession? Peter R. Orszag, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, H778 [8MR]

New Joint Tax Committee Estimates Raise Cost of Bush Tax Plan: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, H775 [8MR]

Summaries

Act To Leave No Child Behind (S. 940), S5549-S5552 [23MY]

Advancement of Geriatric Education Act (S. 1362), S8932 [3AU]

Bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights Act (S. 889), S4952 [15MY]

Health Care Assurance Act (S. 24), S293 [22JA]

Medicare Chronic Care Improvement Act (H.R. 3188), E1944 [30OC]

Medicare Chronic Care Improvement Act (S. 1589), S11213 [30OC]

Medicare Early Access and Tax Credit Act (H.R. 1255), E453 [27MR]

Medicare Reclassification of Certain Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Areas for Purposes of Reimbursement, S11891 [15NO]

MediKids Health Insurance Act (H.R. 1733), E722 [3MY]

MediKids Health Insurance Act (S. 827), S4261 [3MY]

Tables

Budget conference agreement on Medicare and Social Security, H1955 [8MY]

Federal trust funds used to balance the budget, S21 [4JA]

Means of financing the deficit or disposition of surplus by the U.S. Government, S2174 [13MR]

Public debt to the penny, S446 [23JA]

Trust funds used to balance the budget, S2173 [13MR]

Who holds the public debt?, S448 [23JA]

Texts of

H. Con. Res. 282, Keeping the Social Security Promise Initiative, H9173 [11DE]

H. Res. 219, consideration of H.R. 2563, Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, H5185 [2AU]

H.R. 2, Social Security and Medicare Lock-Box Act, H268 [13FE]

H.R. 2563, Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, H5222-H5247 [2AU]

H.R. 2873, extend Promoting Safe and Stable Families and Foster Care Independent Living programs, support mentoring programs for children of incarcerated parents, and assist youths aging out of foster care, H8088-H8091 [13NO]

H.R. 3030, Basic Pilot Extension Act, H9187 [11DE]

H.R. 3323, Administrative Simplification Compliance Act, H8772-H8774 [4DE]

H.R. 3391, Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act, H8778-H8793 [4DE]

H.R. 3504, revise performance standards and certification process for organ procurement organizations, H10485 [19DE]

S. 6, Patients' Bill of Rights Act, S101-S113 [22JA]

S. 10, Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Act, S155-S163 [22JA]

S. 24, Health Care Assurance Act, S275-S293 [22JA]

S. 51, remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in Medicare outpatient rehabilitation facilities, S321 [22JA]

S. 52, improve Medicare reimbursement for clinical social worker services, S321 [22JA]

S. 53, Medicaid coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics, S321 [22JA]

S. 135, Direct Graduate Medical Education Improvement Act, S410 [22JA]

S. 153, State accreditation of diabetes self-management training programs under Medicare, S481 [23JA]

S. 186, Generic Pharmaceutical Access and Choice for Consumers Act, S573 [25JA]

S. 270, Rural Hospital and Health Network Preservation Act, S1126 [7FE]

S. 283, Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, S1136-S1154 [7FE]

S. 354, Straight Talk on Social Security Act, S1496 [15FE]

S. 451, Social Security Number Protection Act, S1789 [1MR]

S. 452, Medicare Education and Regulatory Fairness Act, S1819-S1823 [5MR]

S. 535, Native American Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Technical Amendment Act, S2319 [14MR]

S. 547, Straighter Talk on Social Security Act, S2397 [15MR]

S. 548, Assure Access to Mammography Act, S2399 [15MR]

S. 564, provide continuing Medicare eligibility for medical care for individuals who become eligible for certain hospital insurance benefits, S2475 [19MR]

S. 622, Medicare, Medicaid, and MCH Tobacco Cessation Promotion Act, S2982 [27MR]

S. 623, Medicare Early Access and Tax Credit Act, S2983-S2989 [27MR]

S. 682, Blind Persons Earnings Equity Act, S3346 [3AP]

S. 690, Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act, S3439-S3442 [4AP]

S. 699, Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act, S3451 [4AP]

S. 728, Medicare and Medicaid Nursing Services Quality Improvement Act, S3715-S3717 [6AP]

S. 743, Medical Education Trust Fund Act, S3750-S3754 [6AP]

S. 776, Medicaid Safety Net Improvement Act, S3927 [25AP]

S. 806, Full Social Security Benefits Guarantee Act, S4116 [1MY]

S. 827, MediKids Health Insurance Act, S4258-S4261 [3MY]

S. 836, provide for coordination of implementation of a Social Security administrative simplification standard for health care information, S4418 [7MY]

S. 848, Social Security Number Misuse Prevention Act, S4592-S4595 [9MY]

S. 880, Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Act, S4943 [15MY]

S. 885, Area Wage and Base Payment Improvement Act, S4947 [15MY]

S. 925, Medicare Extension of Drugs to Seniors (MEDS) Act, S5447-S5455 [22MY]

S. 960, Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases, S5758 [25MY]

S. 1016, Start Healthy, Stay Healthy Act, S6132-S6134 [12JN]

S. 1030, Rural Health Care Improvement Act, S6222-S6225 [13JN]

S. 1052, Bipartisan Patient Protection Act, S7338-S7361 [9JY]

S. 1054, Patient Abuse Prevention Act, S6334-S6337 [14JN]

S. 1055, Privacy Act, S6339-S6347 [14JN]

S. 1066, Medicare Patient Access to Preventive and Diagnostic Tests Act, S6519-S6521 [20JN]

S. 1185, Seniors Prescription Insurance Coverage Equity (SPICE) Act, S7809-S7818 [17JY]

S. 1239, Medicare Rx Drug Discount and Security Act, S8216-S8222 [25JY]

S. 1244, FamilyCare Act, S8224-S8230 [25JY]

S. 1343, Family Planning State Empowerment Act, S8765 [2AU]

S. 1362, Advancement of Geriatric Education Act, S8932 [3AU]

S. 1390, Children's Health Coverage Improvement Act, S8967 [3AU]

S. 1471, Children's Lead Screening Accountability for Early-Intervention (SAFE) Act, S9879-S9881 [26SE]

S. 1503, extend Promoting Safe and Stable Families and Foster Care Independent Living programs, support mentoring programs for children of incarcerated parents, and assist youths aging out of foster care, S10297-S10301 [4OC]

S. 1545, Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act, S10695-S10701 [15OC]

S. 1558, Social Security Benefits Guarantee Act, S10774 [16OC]

S. 1589, Medicare Chronic Care Improvement Act, S11207-S11213 [30OC]

S. 1592, Equal Access to Care Act, S11214 [30OC]

S. 1619, Medicare Adult Day Services Alternative Act, S11375 [1NO]

S. 1625, Children's Health Equity Act, S11379 [1NO]

S. 1679, Medicare Beneficiary Liability Reduction Act, S11725 [13NO]

S. 1684, compliance date extension by entitled entities with certain Social Security regulations providing for the electronic exchange of health information, S12059 [27NO]

S. 1741, Native American Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Technical Amendment Act, S12109 [28NO], H10904 [19DE]

S. 1753, extend the higher Federal medical assistance payment percentage for Indian Health Service facilities to urban Indian health programs under Medicaid, S12261 [30NO]

S. 1760, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act, S12370 [4DE]

S. 1761, Medicare Cholesterol Screening Coverage Act, S12375 [4DE]

S. 1840, Rural Communities Hospice Care Access Improvement Act, S13467 [18DE]

S. 1851, Medicare+Choice Consumer Protection Act, S13708 [19DE]

S. Res. 74, Medicare coverage of outpatient prescription drugs, S3927 [25AP]

S. Res. 152, seek SSA assistance by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs in providing outreach to veterans, their dependants, and their survivors, S8973 [3AU]