SOCIAL SECURITY

Amendments

Benefits: provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (H.R. 743), S16142, S16159 [9DE], H2652 [2AP]

———provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (H.R. 743), consideration (H. Res. 168), H2594 [2AP]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: congressional disapproval of rule revising payment policies under the Medicare physician fee schedule (H.J. Res. 3), S1162 [17JA]

Health: extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 312), S8633, S8775 [26JN]

Immigration: extend basic pilot employment verification system (S. 1685), S14505, S14843 [12NO]

Medicare: reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), S8898 [7JY], H5912, H5929, H5930, H5939 [25JN], H6121 [26JN]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), consideration (H. Res. 299), H5963 [26JN]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), consideration of conference report (H. Res. 463), H12245 [21NO]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (S. 1), S7932 [16JN], S8020, S8089, S8105, S8111, S8161, S8162 [18JN], S8173, S8174, S8182, S8184, S8203, S8246, S8247, S8248, S8249, S8252, S8253, S8255 [19JN], S8273, S8278, S8283, S8284, S8285, S8286, S8288, S8290, S8291, S8308, S8309, S8310, S8311, S8312, S8313, S8314 [20JN], S8325, S8330, S8331, S8335, S8336, S8337, S8340, S8341, S8345, S8348, S8350, S8351, S8353, S8367, S8368, S8369, S8370, S8371, S8372, S8374, S8375, S8376 [23JN], S8387, S8390, S8396, S8400, S8404, S8405, S8410, S8415, S8416, S8418, S8421, S8422, S8423, S8424, S8446, S8447, S8448, S8449, S8450, S8451, S8457, S8459, S8460, S8461, S8463, S8464, S8470, S8472, S8473, S8474, S8475, S8476 [24JN], S8480, S8483, S8487, S8489, S8495, S8496, S8500, S8502, S8512, S8515, S8516, S8521, S8522, S8536, S8538, S8539, S8578, S8579, S8580, S8581, S8582, S8583, S8584, S8585, S8586, S8587, S8588, S8589, S8590, S8592, S8593, S8594 [25JN], S8608, S8610, S8612, S8617, S8621, S8624, S8625, S8630, S8632, S8633, S8636, S8639, S8644, S8654, S8655, S8666, S8675, S8679, S8680, S8681, S8682, S8683, S8684, S8685, S8766, S8767, S8768, S8769, S8773, S8775, S8776, S8777, S8778, S8779, S8780, S8781, S8782, S8795, S8796 [26JN], S8898 [7JY]

Appointments

Conferees: H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act, H6681 [14JY]

———H.R. 1, Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act, S8898 [7JY]

Social Security Advisory Board, S12418 [2OC]

Articles and editorials

AARP Accused of Conflict of Interest, H12254 [21NO]

AARP Calls on Vermont Congressional Delegation To Vote for Medicare Rx Bill, S15694 [24NO]

Advocates Don't Feel Labor Department Is Ally, S11857 [23SE]

Another Greenspan Social Security Reform?, S3402 [10MR]

Bush Pushes Plan To Curb Appeals in Medicare Cases, S7017 [22MY]

Cutbacks to Our Children, S4344 [25MR], S5275 [11AP]

Digging the Deficit Hole, S3376 [10MR]

Drug Plan a Placebo, H7234 [22JY]

Drugmakers Protect Their Turf—Medicare Bill Represents Success for Pharmaceutical Lobby, H12110 [21NO]

Face of Florida's Farmworkers—Driven by Harsh Conditions in Their Homelands, Laborers Travel Far, Only To See New Hardships Here, S11857 [23SE]

Farm Camp ``Unsafe for Human Occupancy'', S11857 [23SE]

Fields of Despair—Florida Farmhands Reap a Harvest of Poverty, Pain and Exploitation, S11855-S11857 [23SE]

Health on the Border—Elderly Americans Head North and South To Find Drugs They Can Afford, H5347 [12JN]

Heavy Lifting, S4345 [25MR]

Hobson's Medicare, S15536 [22NO], S15897 [25NO]

Imprisoned by Medicare, S3548 [11MR]

Medco Accused of Favoring Merck Drugs, S8615 [26JN]

Medicare Appeal Process Should Not Be Weakened, S7018 [22MY]

Medicare Bill Would Enrich Companies, S15724 [24NO]

Medicare Debate Turns to Pricing of Drug Benefits, S15735 [24NO]

Medicare Drug Folly, S7971 [17JN]

Medicare Reform—Try Again, S15909 [25NO]

Patients in Florida Lining Up for All That Medicare Covers, H9178 [2OC]

Some Successful Models Ignored as Congress Works on Drug Bill, S11074 [4SE]

Struggling Seniors, Medicare Drug Plan's Proof Is in the Purse, S8658 [26JN]

3 to 6 Gap, S4345 [25MR]

Tilt! Medicare Looks To Rig Appeals System in Its Favor, S7018 [22MY]

U.S. Is Joining Lawsuit That Says Medco Put Profits Before Patients, S8614 [26JN]

U.S. Joining Suit Against Medco, S8614 [26JN]

Washington Talks a Blue Streak as Social Security's Red Ink Runs, S4783 [3AP]

Washington's Biggest Deficit Is the Shortfall of Courage, E1682 [4SE]

When Half a Loaf Isn't Nearly Enough, S15606 [23NO]

Wrong Prescription—Congress Considers Inadequate Bills, S8659 [26JN]

Bills and resolutions

AARP: decision to support Medicare reform legislation (see H. Res. 461), H11702 [20NO]

Account statements: include additional information (see S. 368), S2340 [12FE] (see H.R. 722), H460 [12FE]

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: collect and assess scientific evidence regarding prescription drugs frequently used by Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries (see H.R. 2161), H4367 [20MY]

American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today (ADAPT) (organization): tribute to Free Our People March and Rally (see H. Con. Res. 283), H8283 [16SE]

Armed Forces: prescription drug benefits for Medicare-eligible enrollees under defense health care plans (see H.R. 3390), H10129 [29OC]

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. 2583), H5814 [24JN]

———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. 2598), H5928 [25JN]

———choice of benefit payment method relative to computation rule application to workers attaining age 65 in or after 1982 (see S. 1418), S9496 [16JY] (see H.R. 97), H55 [7JA]

———continuation of benefit payment through the month of the beneficiary's death (see H.R. 2995), H7838 [3SE] (see H.R. 3001), H7948 [4SE] (see H.R. 3502), H11359 [17NO]

———earnings test for blind individuals (see S. 750), S4629 [1AP] (see H.R. 173), H57 [7JA]

———eliminate earnings test for retirement age individuals (see H.R. 2311), H4876 [3JN]

———eliminate reconsideration as an intervening step between initial benefit entitlement decisions and subsequent hearings on the record on such decisions (see H.R. 3169), H8905 [24SE]

———eliminate waiting period for divorced spouse's benefits following the divorce (see H.R. 471), H243 [29JA]

———exempt from windfall elimination provisions individuals who are entitled to retired pay based on at least 20 years of service as a member of a uniformed service (see H.R. 2611), H6261 [26JN]

———guarantee the right of individuals to receive certain benefits in full with an accurate annual cost-of-living adjustment (see H.R. 812), H701 [13FE]

———honor commitments (see H. Con. Res. 258), H7617 [24JY]

———increase in widow's and widower's insurance benefits relative to delayed retirement (see H.R. 474), H243 [29JA]

———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. 2013), H3761 [7MY]

———level of payment in the month of the beneficiary's death (see S. 362), S2187 [11FE] (see H.R. 206), H59 [7JA]

———oppose reduction of annual cost-of-living adjustments (see S. Res. 155), S7135 [23MY]

———protect beneficiaries against any reduction in benefits (see H.R. 862), H704 [13FE]

———provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (see S. 439), S2701 [25FE] (see H.R. 743), H461 [12FE]

———provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (H.R. 743), consideration (see H. Res. 168), H2585 [1AP]

———provide full benefits for disabled widows and widowers regardless of age (see H.R. 472), H243 [29JA]

———provide lump-sum death payments to surviving spouses (see H.R. 264), H135 [8JA]

———reduce the age at which an eligible individual may be paid widow's or widower's insurance benefits (see H.R. 1923), H3635 [1MY]

———repeal eligibility restrictions on widow's and widower's insurance benefits based on disability (see H.R. 470), H243 [29JA]

———restrict application of windfall elimination provisions to individuals whose benefits exceed certain levels (see S. 1011), S5859 [7MY] (see H.R. 2011), H3761 [7MY]

Budget: constitutional amendment to require balanced and protect Social Security surpluses (see S.J. Res. 2), S37 [7JA]

———public disclosure on treatment of Social Security trust funds (see H.R. 855), H704 [13FE]

———require balanced and protect Social Security surpluses (see S. 689), S4275 [21MR]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: congressional disapproval of rule revising payment policies under the Medicare physician fee schedule (see H.J. Res. 3), H60 [7JA]

Children and youth: access of disadvantaged children to dental services (see S. 1142), S7134 [23MY]

———provide benefits to certain uninsured children living without parents (see H.R. 2290), H4786 [2JN]

———provide grants to State child welfare systems, increase Social Security match for private agencies receiving child welfare training funds, and authorize loan forgiveness to child welfare workers (see H.R. 2437), H5266 [11JN]

———reauthorize adoption incentives payments (see S. 1686), S12192 [30SE] (see H.R. 3182), H8949 [25SE]

———reauthorize adoption incentives payments and provide incentives for the adoption of older children (see S. 1439), S9708 [22JY]

———restore children's insurance benefits for children of a certain age who attend postsecondary schools (see H.R. 3091), H8283 [16SE]

Computers: encourage use of web-based enrollment systems in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see H.R. 1633), H2821 [3AP]

Courts: overrule U.S. v. Fior D'Italia, Inc. (see H.R. 118), H56 [7JA]

Crime: establish methods for preventing identity theft and protect consumers' sensitive, private health-related information (see H.R. 2633), H6262 [26JN]

———prevent identity fraud (see S. 223), S1668 [28JA] (see H.R. 2035), H3856 [8MY]

———prevent identity theft and other forms of fraud (see H.R. 2617), H6261 [26JN]

Dept. of HHS: ensure independence and preserve role of administrative law judges involved in Medicare appeals processes (see S. 1127), S6978 [22MY]

———modify treatment categories for qualification as a rehabilitation hospital for purposes of reimbursement under the Medicare prospective payment system (see H.R. 2246), H4736 [22MY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: dispense medications to veterans for prescriptions written by private practitioners and provide Medicare coverage to eligible veterans (see H.R. 1309), H1952 [18MR]

———extend health care coverage to qualified World War II Filipino veterans (see H.R. 2352), H5043 [5JN]

———permit Medicare-eligible veterans to receive an outpatient medication benefit (see S. 1153), S7135 [23MY]

Disability insurance program: eliminate the waiting period (see S. 1762), S12888 [20OC] (see H.R. 2401), H5173 [10JN]

———eliminate the waiting period for disabled individuals suffering from a terminal illness (see H.R. 976), H1461 [27FE]

Disabled: waive certain waiting periods for disability and Medicare benefits in the case of a terminally ill, disabled individual (see H.R. 3382), H9981 [28OC]

Diseases: establish a comprehensive Federal effort relating to early detection of, treatments for, and prevention of cancer (see S. 1101), S6853 [21MY] (see H.R. 2741), H6868 [15JY]

———improve data collection and dissemination between Federal and State registries to enhance the treatment and research of cancer (see S. 1899), S15287 [20NO]

Domestic violence: research health impact and prevention and provide training and Federal coverage for health care professionals to identify and treat families experiencing family violence (see H.R. 1267), H1900 [13MR]

Drugs: collect and assess scientific evidence regarding prescription drugs frequently used in federally funded health programs (see H.R. 2356), H5043 [5JN]

Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act: freeze and repeal portions of the tax reduction and apply savings to a comprehensive Medicare outpatient prescription drug benefit (see H.R. 2514), H5551 [18JN]

Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor (EMTALA) Act: improve regulatory operation (see H.R. 1382), H2268 [20MR]

Employment: clarify rules for determining whether certain agent-drivers and commission-drivers are employees (see H.R. 1649), H2863 [7AP]

———improve benefit computation formula for certain workers affected by changes in benefit computation rules (see H.R. 63), H54 [7JA]

ERISA: provide emergency protection for retiree health benefits (see H.R. 1322), H1953 [18MR]

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. 614), S3730 [13MR]

———exception to marriage requirements for spousal benefits for divorced spouses in which the divorce is a result of severe spousal or child abuse (see H.R. 1065), H1515 [4MR]

———exception to marriage requirements for widows and widowers relative to State restrictions on divorce from a prior spouse institutionalized due to mental incompetence (see H.R. 249), H135 [8JA]

———improve collection of child support arrears in interstate cases (see H.R. 2300), H4787 [2JN]

———provide grants to promote responsible fatherhood and encourage teen pregnancy prevention strategies (see S. 657), S3993 [19MR]

———provide grants to States to encourage media campaigns to promote responsible fatherhood skills (see S. 604), S3620 [12MR]

Federal aid programs: extend eligibility for certain Federal benefits to citizens of the Freely Associated States (see S. 1632), S11648 [17SE]

Federal employees: authorize payments under Federal retirement systems to trusts set up for disabled dependents (see S. 776), S4823 [3AP]

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: ensure prescription drug coverage for Medicare-eligible enrollees is actuarially equal to benefit offered to general enrollees (see S. 1369), S8862 [27JN] (see H.R. 2631), H6262 [26JN]

Government: adopt fiscal and economic policies to finance and manage Federal liabilities, commitments, and critical governmental responsibilities (see S. 1915), S15406 [21NO]

Health: ensure that children at highest risk for asthma, vision, hearing, and other health problems are identified and treated (see S. 1004), S5771 [6MY]

———establish demonstration projects for States to provide universal, comprehensive, and cost-effective health care coverage with simplified administration (see H.R. 2979), H7784 [25JY]

———expand Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families (see S. 1843), S14335 [10NO]

———extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see S. 312), S1977 [5FE] (see H.R. 531), H317 [5FE] (see H.R. 2854), H7615 [24JY]

———extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2854), technical corrections (see S. 1502, 1503), S10265 [30JY] (see S. 1547), S10618 [31JY] (see H.R. 3288), H9384 [14OC]

———improve access to health insurance and Medicare benefits for certain individuals and provide Medicaid financial assistance to individuals who are too poor to afford premiums (see H.R. 3189), H8949 [25SE]

———improve access to prescription drugs, prohibit tax deductions for direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertisements, and ban campaign contributions from pharmaceutical company chief executive officers (see H.R. 1733), H3301 [10AP]

———improve patient safety (see H.R. 877), H1331 [25FE]

———increase supply of pancreatic islet cells for research, coordinate efforts on transplantation, make transplantation a standard therapy, and provide Medicare coverage of certain transplantations (see S. 518), S3162 [5MR] (see H.R. 1068), H1515 [4MR]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (see S. 1030), S5950 [8MY] (see S. Con. Res. 41), S5541 [30AP] (see H.R. 15), H52 [7JA] (see H.R. 676), H390 [11FE] (see H.R. 1200), H1744 [11MR] (see H.R. 2196), H4528 [21MY] (see H.R. 2402), H5173 [10JN] (see H.R. 2544), H5662 [19JN] (see H. Con. Res. 99), H1954 [18MR]

———permit qualifying States to use unspent State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments for Medicaid expenditures (see S. 621), S3730 [13MR] (see S. 1976), S15975 [25NO]

———permit qualifying States to use unspent State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments to expand health coverage under that program or for Medicaid expenditures (see S. 264), S1813 [30JA] (see H.R. 449), H242 [29JA] (see H.R. 515), H268 [31JA]

———permit States the option of covering certain legal aliens under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see S. 845), S5059 [9AP] (see H.R. 1689), H3051 [9AP]

———promote and facilitate expansion of group health insurance coverage (see H.R. 2321), H4976 [4JN]

———protect consumers in managed care and other health coverage plans, provide parity for mental health coverage, reduce medical errors, and increase access to quality health care (see S. 10), S35 [7JA]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's (see S. 1945), S15812 [24NO] (see H.R. 597), H320 [5FE]

———support Federal and State funded in-home care for the elderly (see H. Res. 54), H323 [5FE]

———tax treatment of certain medical savings accounts and provide for medical freedom accounts under the Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (see H.R. 2114), H4203 [15MY]

Immigration: adjust status of certain foreign agricultural workers, reform H-2A worker program, provide a stable, legal agricultural workforce, and extend basic legal protections and better working conditions to more workers (see S. 1645), S11832 [23SE] (see H.R. 3142), H8490 [23SE]

———exclude from creditable wages income earned by aliens for services illegally performed in the U.S. or derived from an illegal trade or business (see H.R. 1631), H2821 [3AP]

———extend basic pilot employment verification system (see S. 1685), S12192 [30SE] (see H.R. 2359), H5043 [5JN]

Income: allow waiver of old-age insurance benefits, provide tax deductions based on the value of such benefits, and ensure that certain Trust Fund investments bear interest at the prevailing private sector rate (see H.R. 3279), H9376 [8OC]

———credit prospectively individuals serving as caregivers of dependent relatives with deemed wages for up to five years of such service (see H.R. 473), H243 [29JA]

———remove limitations on the amount of outside income which an individual may earn while receiving certain benefits (see H.R. 3098), H8283 [16SE]

———repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (see S. 349), S2187 [11FE] (see H.R. 594), H320 [5FE]

Insurance: coverage of prescription drugs (see H.R. 1243), H1811 [12MR]

———coverage of screening mammography (see H.R. 736), H461 [12FE] (see H.R. 1314), H1953 [18MR] (see H.R. 1851), H3451 [29AP]

———guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children (see S. 588), S3504 [11MR] (see H.R. 1205), H1745 [11MR]

———prohibit a health plan from contracting with a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) unless certain requirements are satisfied (see S. 1300), S8232 [19JN]

———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. 256), H135 [8JA]

———require comprehensive coverage for childhood immunizations (see H.R. 2095), H4130 [14MY]

———require employers to offer health care coverage for all employees and guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children of a certain age (see S. 1935), S15647 [23NO]

Kentucky: permit the operation of a separate retirement system for certain public employees under Social Security (see S. 37), S35 [7JA] (see H.R. 134), H56 [7JA]

Mammography Quality Standards Act: reauthorize (see S. 1879), S15061 [18NO]

Medicaid: allow States to enter into drug rebate agreements to make prescription drugs available to individuals who are not otherwise eligible for medical assistance (see S. 542), S3163 [5MR]

———allow States to expand coverage to uninsured, poor adults (see H.R. 1143), H1680 [6MR]

———allow States to expand family planning coverage to certain women (see S. 1429), S9592 [17JY]

———clarify that inpatient drug prices charged to certain public hospitals are included in best price exemptions under the drug rebate program (see S. 1195), S7476 [5JN] (see H.R. 2409), H5173 [10JN]

———coverage of disabled children and individuals who became disabled as children without regard to income or assets (see H.R. 2320), H4976 [4JN]

———coverage of organ transplant procedures as an emergency medical procedure for certain alien children (see H.R. 690), H390 [11FE]

———coverage of primary and secondary preventative medical strategies for children and adults with sickle cell disease (see S. 874), S5173 [10AP] (see H.R. 1736), H3302 [10AP]

———coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (see S. 63), S36 [7JA]

———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. 2947), H7783 [25JY]

———establish a demonstration project to encourage the provision of community-based services to disabled individuals (see S. 1394), S9303 [11JY]

———extend certain modifications to disproportionate share hospital allotments (see S. 652), S3881 [18MR] (see H.R. 328), H138 [8JA]

———extend Federal-State cost-sharing program to assist low-income Medicare beneficiaries with health care costs (see S. 1519), S10617 [31JY]

———extend Medicare cost-sharing for certain qualifying individuals (QI-1s) (see S. 1641), S11832 [23SE]

———extend the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage adjustment for Alaska (see S. 294), S1871 [4FE]

———extend the transitional medical assistance program (see S. 883), S5174 [10AP]

———improve access to advanced practice nurses (see H.R. 2295), H4787 [2JN]

———include podiatrists as physicians for purposes of covering physicians services (see H.R. 2959), H7784 [25JY]

———increase Federal Medical Assistance Percentage to help States finance increases in enrollment (see H.R. 816), H701 [13FE]

———increase Federal Medical Assistance Percentage to States (see S. 138), S133 [9JA]

———increase floor for treatment as an extremely low disproportionate share hospital State (see H.R. 1342), H1954 [18MR]

———increase the personal needs allowance for institutionalized individuals (see H.R. 1757), H3303 [10AP]

———permit additional States to enter into long-term care partnerships in order to promote the use of long-term care insurance (see H.R. 1406), H2269 [20MR]

———permit States the option to provide coverage for low-income individuals infected with HIV (see S. 847), S5059 [9AP]

———permit States to obtain reimbursement for care or services provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act in a private mental health facility (see S. 1771), S12969 [21OC] (see H.R. 3363), H9811 [21OC]

———provide American Samoa with treatment similar to that provided to States (see H.R. 1188), H1744 [11MR]

———provide complete reimbursement for medical assistance provided to Native Hawaiians by federally qualified health centers or Native Hawaiian health care systems (see S. 1312), S8357 [23JN]

———provide families of disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage (see S. 622), S3730 [13MR] (see H.R. 1811), H3353 [11AP]

———provide fiscal relief and program simplification to States and improve coverage and services to beneficiaries (see S. 1012), S5859 [7MY] (see H.R. 2000), H3760 [7MY]

———provide public access to quality medical imaging procedures and radiation therapy procedures (see H.R. 1214), H1745 [11MR]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (see S. 971), S5650 [1MY] (see H.R. 2032), H3856 [8MY]

———remove cap on payments and adjust statutory matching rate for certain territories (see H.R. 675), H390 [11FE]

———require criminal background checks on drivers providing medical assistance transportation services (see H.R. 364), H170 [27JA]

———require prorating of beneficiary contributions relative to partial coverage for nursing facility services during a month (see H.R. 2288), H4786 [2JN]

———require States that provide prescription drug coverage to cover drugs that treat obesity (see H.R. 2024), H3761 [7MY]

———revise and simplify the transitional medical assistance program (see H.R. 1744), H3302 [10AP]

———State funding for disproportionate share hospitals (see S. 204), S1368 [22JA]

Medicare: accelerate reduction on the amount of beneficiary copayment liability for outpatient services (see S. 1017), S5859 [7MY] (see H.R. 1635), H2821 [3AP]

———allow applications for the preferred provider organization (PPO) demonstration project under the Medicare+Choice program (see H.R. 1743), H3302 [10AP]

———allow beneficiaries direct access to physical therapists without a physician referral (see S. 493), S2920 [27FE] (see H.R. 792), H700 [13FE]

———assure that enrollment in any prescription drug program is voluntary (see H.R. 635), H322 [5FE]

———clarify congressional intent regarding counting of residents in a nonprovider setting for purposes of making payments for medical education (see S. 1897), S15286 [20NO]

———clarify definition of homebound relative to home health services (see S. 598), S3505 [11MR] (see H.R. 1874), H3569 [30AP]

———clarify scope of chiropractic services that may be furnished and that chiropractors are the only health care professionals qualified to furnish those services (see H.R. 2560), H5713 [23JN]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse (see H.R. 18), H52 [7JA]

———conduct demonstration program to examine the clinical and cost effectiveness of providing medical adult day care center services (see H.R. 1195), H1744 [11MR]

———conduct demonstration projects to improve health care and reduce costs and conduct a study on payment incentives and performance under the Medicare+Choice program (see S. 1257), S7831 [12JN]

———consolidate and restate Federal laws relative to social health maintenance organization projects, make such projects permanent, and require a study on ways to expand such projects (see S. 306), S1976 [5FE] (see H.R. 960), H1460 (see H.R. 983), H1462 [27FE]

———coverage for surgical first assisting services of certified registered nurse first assistants (see H.R. 1388), H2269 [20MR]

———coverage of acupuncturist services (see H.R. 1477), H2471 [27MR]

———coverage of adult day care services (see S. 1227), S7619 [10JN] (see H.R. 2453), H5365 [12JN]

———coverage of audiologic rehabilitation services (see H.R. 3464), H10977 [6NO]

———coverage of bone mass measurements for all individuals at clinical risk for osteoporosis (see S. 419), S2522 [14FE] (see H.R. 2151), H4254 [19MY]

———coverage of certain drugs and biologicals under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient services (see S. 1206), S7540 [9JN]

———coverage of certain self-administered intramuscular and subcutaneous drugs (see H.R. 1956), H3681 [6MY]

———coverage of cholesterol and blood lipid screening (see S. 382), S2341 [12FE] (see H.R. 721), H460 [12FE]

———coverage of diabetes laboratory diagnostic tests and other diabetes screening services (see S. 599), S3505 [11MR] (see H.R. 2236), H4735 [22MY]

———coverage of diabetic foot sore apparatus as items of durable medical equipment (see H.R. 1295), H1902 [13MR]

———coverage of drugs and biologicals (see H.R. 194), H58 [7JA] (see H.R. 1032), H1464 [27FE]

———coverage of home infusion drug therapies (see H.R. 2476), H5407 [16JN]

———coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for beneficiaries who receive an organ transplant (see S. 178), S1068 [16JA] (see H.R. 2223), H4734 [22MY]

———coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for beneficiaries who receive an organ transplant without regard to when the transplant was received (see H.R. 588), H320 [5FE]

———coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients (see S. 191), S1069 [16JA]

———coverage of infertility treatment services for certain disabled individuals (see H.R. 969), H1461 [27FE]

———coverage of kidney disease education services (see S. 1114), S6978 [22MY]

———coverage of marriage and family therapist services (see H.R. 1655), H2863 [7AP]

———coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services (see S. 310), S1977 [5FE]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases (see S. 632), S3803 [17MR] (see H.R. 1225), H1810 [12MR]

———coverage of medically necessary dental procedures (see H.R. 2182), H4527 [21MY]

———coverage of medication therapy management services (see S. 1270), S7926 [16JN]

———coverage of more frequent hemodialysis treatments (see H.R. 1004), H1463 [27FE]

———coverage of nursing facilities and in-home services (see H.R. 796), H701 [13FE]

———coverage of oral anticancer drugs (see S. 1037), S5995 [9MY] (see H.R. 1288), H1901 [13MR]

———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. 128), H56 [7JA]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (see S. 7), S34 [7JA] (see H.R. 38), H53 [7JA] (see H.R. 1045), H1470 [3MR] (see H.R. 1568), H2702 [2AP] (see H.R. 2461), H5365 [12JN] (see H.R. 2498), H5467 [17JN] (see H.R. 3299), H9477 [15OC]

———coverage of respiratory therapists under home health service plans (see H.R. 2905), H7781 [25JY]

———coverage of screening and diagnostic mammography services (see S. 869), S5173 [10AP] (see H.R. 817), H702 [13FE]

———coverage of screening pap smears and pelvic exams (see S. 416), S2522 [14FE]

———deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices (see S. 1950), S15812 [24NO]

———determination of payment amounts for new clinical diagnostic laboratory tests (see H.R. 569), H319 [5FE] (see H.R. 883), H1332 [25FE]

———eliminate cost-sharing for bone mass measurements (see S. 1113), S6978 [22MY] (see H.R. 3481), H11133 [7NO]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (see S. 853), S5173 [10AP] (see H.R. 2787), H7085 [17JY]

———eliminate geographic physician work adjustment factor, provide incentives to attract educators and clinical practitioners to underserved areas, and revise certain wage adjustments for skilled nursing facilities (see S. 36), S35 [7JA]

———eliminate privatization, improve prescription drug benefit, and repeal health savings accounts (see S. 1992), S16120 [9DE]

———eliminate reduction in payment rates under the prospective payment system for home health services and increase payments for such services in rural areas (see H.R. 319), H137 [8JA]

———enhance access of beneficiaries who live in medically underserved areas to critical primary and preventive health care benefits and improve the Medicare+Choice program (see S. 654), S3881 [18MR] (see H.R. 1377), H2268 [20MR]

———establish a prescription drug discount card endorsement program (see H.R. 513), H268 [31JA]

———establish a safety net outpatient prescription drug program for certain indigent beneficiaries (see H.R. 3332), H9687 [17OC]

———establish a voluntary program to limit maximum out-of-pocket expenditures for beneficiaries (see H.R. 2199), H4528 [21MY]

———establish demonstration programs to improve health care quality (see S. 1148), S7134 [23MY]

———establish incentives to health care providers for delivering high-quality, cost-effective health care to beneficiaries (see H.R. 2588), H5814 [24JN]

———establish minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services (see S. 375), S2340 [12FE] (see S. 881), S5174 [10AP] (see H.R. 33), H52 [7JA] (see H.R. 755), H462 [12FE]

———establish process for providers of services to petition for adjustments of the rate of payment based on inequities with providers in adjoining areas (see H.R. 3396), H10129 [29OC]

———establish uniform physician fee schedule payments (see S. 1135), S6978 [22MY]

———establish voluntary outpatient prescription drug coverage program and modernize and reform payments and the regulatory structure (see H.R. 1199), H1744 [11MR]

———establish voluntary outpatient prescription drug discount and security program (see S. 778), S4823 [3AP] (see H.R. 2578), H5813 [24JN]

———evaluate leading health care performance measures and options to implement policies that align performance with payment (see S. 1328), S8559 [25JN]

———exclude brachytherapy devices from the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient services (see S. 1288), S8125 [18JN] (see H.R. 1182), H1744 [11MR]

———exclude clinical social worker services from coverage under the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (see S. 343), S2187 [11FE]

———exclude services of certain providers from coverage under the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (see H.R. 2343), H4977 [4JN]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services (see S. 646), S3881 [18MR] (see H.R. 1340), H1954 [18MR]

———expand benefits, establish payment incentives for furnishing quality services, and develop an effective national policy to care for individuals with chronic conditions (see S. 1179), S7381 [4JN] (see H.R. 2342), H4977 [4JN]

———expand coverage of certain self-injected biologicals (see S. 465), S2919 [27FE] (see H.R. 980), H1461 [27FE]

———expand coverage of paramedic intercept services (see H.R. 2008), H3761 [7MY]

———expand medical residency training programs in geriatric medicine and provide for reimbursement of care coordination and assessment services (see H.R. 102), H55 [7JA]

———extend a temporary increase in payment for skilled nursing facility services (see H.R. 967), H1460 [27FE]

———extend eligibility periods for geriatric graduate medical education, expand medical residency training programs in geriatric medicine, and provide reimbursement of care coordination and assessment services (see S. 387), S2456 [13FE]

———extend minimum deadlines for filing claims relative to adjustments from secondary payor status to primary payor status (see S. 1259), S7876 [13JN] (see H.R. 1788), H3351 [11AP]

———extend reasonable cost contracts to expand the area in which plans offered under such contracts may operate and to apply certain provisions of Medicare+Choice program to such plans (see S. 1220), S7618 [10JN]

———facilitate use of private contracts (see H.R. 3535), H11650 [19NO]

———impose minimum nurse staffing in participating hospitals (see H.R. 3656), H12918 [8DE]

———improve access to diabetes self-management training by designated certified diabetes educators (see H.R. 3194), H8950 [25SE]

———improve access to Medicare+Choice plans for special needs beneficiaries by targeting enrollment (see S. 526), S3162 [5MR] (see H.R. 841), H703 [13FE]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals (see S. 172), S848 [15JA] (see S. 942), S5483 [29AP] (see H.R. 937), H1395 [26FE]

———improve geographic equity in the provision of items and services (see H.R. 2451), H5365 [12JN]

———improve Medicare Incentive Payment Program (see S. 379), S2341 [12FE]

———improve outpatient health care for beneficiaries in rural areas (see S. 1185), S7381 [4JN] (see H.R. 2333), H4977 [4JN]

———improve outpatient vision services (see S. 1095), S6853 [21MY] (see H.R. 1902), H3634 [1MY]

———improve patient access to, and utilization of, the colorectal cancer screening benefit (see S. 740), S4512 [27MR] (see H.R. 1422), H2310 [25MR]

———improve reimbursement for clinical social worker services (see S. 64), S36 [7JA]

———improve the provision of items and services to beneficiaries in rural areas (see H.R. 2624), H6262 [26JN] (see H.R. 2904), H7781 [25JY]

———improve the telemedicine program and provide grants for the development of telehealth networks (see H.R. 1940), H3636 [1MY]

———increase amount of payment for physicians' services and provide regulatory relief and contracting flexibility (see H.R. 3584), H12307 [21NO]

———increase minimum percentage increase under the Medicare+Choice program (see H.R. 2033), H3856 [8MY]

———increase payments to hospitals in Puerto Rico (see S. 653), S3881 [18MR] (see H.R. 1351), H2131 [19MR] (see H.R. 1739), H3302 [10AP]

———limit hospital ownership exception to physician self-referral restrictions to interests purchased on terms generally available to the public (see H.R. 1539), H2585 [1AP]

———limit penalty for late enrollment (see H.R. 1321), H1953 [18MR]

———limit the deduction of premiums from Social Security benefits payments only for months in which coverage is provided (see H.R. 3434), H10339 [4NO]

———make a technical correction in the definition of outpatient speech-language pathology services (see S. 568), S3253 [6MR] (see H.R. 1995), H3683 [6MY]

———make permanent the health coverage for certain disabled individuals that go back to work (see H.R. 2840), H7454 [23JY]

———modify definition of rehabilitation hospital and rehabilitation unit for reimbursement under prospective payment system (see S. 1222), S7619 [10JN]

———pay ambulance suppliers the full costs of providing such services (see S. 171), S848 [15JA] (see H.R. 1301), H1908 [17MR]

———permanently increase payment rates for home health services in rural areas (see S. 636), S3804 [17MR] (see H.R. 500), H244 [29JA]

———permit direct payment for clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities (see H.R. 707), H391 [11FE]

———permit reasonable cost reimbursement for emergency room services provided by federally qualified health centers (see H.R. 2226), H4735 [22MY]

———permit the Dept. of HHS to enter into direct negotiations to promote the best prices for beneficiaries (see H.R. 3671), H12918 [8DE]

———permit the disabled surviving spouse of an individual to elect to retain private health insurance as the primary payor of benefits (see H.R. 2167), H4367 [20MY]

———prepare audit reports based upon financial auditing of Medicare+Choice organizations and make such reports available to the public (see H.R. 1853), H3451 [29AP]

———prohibit health care providers from charging membership or extraneous fees as a prerequisite to service to a patient (see S. 345), S2187 [11FE] (see H.R. 2423), H5265 [11JN]

———promote access to health care services in rural areas (see H.R. 830), H702 [13FE] (see H.R. 2175), H4367 [20MY]

———promote research for health promotion and disease prevention and add preventive benefits (see H.R. 1860), H3451 [29AP]

———protect and preserve access of beneficiaries to health care provided by hospitals in rural areas (see S. 816), S4957 [8AP] (see H.R. 1675), H2938 [8AP]

———protect and strengthen beneficiaries' access to quality health care in rural areas (see H. Res. 267), H5174 [10JN]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (see S. 373), S2340 [12FE] (see S. 991), S5725 [5MY] (see H.R. 745), H461 [12FE]

———provide access to audiologists (see S. 1647), S11912 [24SE] (see H.R. 2821), H7329 [22JY]

———provide access to kidney disease health care, management, and end stage renal disease prevention services (see H.R. 3635), H12309 [21NO]

———provide additional reimbursements for providers in low-reimbursement States and provide financial incentives for high quality, low-cost health care (see H.R. 3081), H8216 [11SE]

———provide beneficiaries with access to prescription drugs at Federal Supply Schedule prices (see H.R. 634), H322 [5FE]

———provide eligibility for coverage of home health services on the basis of a need for occupational therapy (see H.R. 3090), H8283 [16SE]

———provide fairness in the provision of services to Native Americans (see S. 1779), S13134 [23OC]

———provide for equitable reimbursement rates to Medicare+Choice organizations (see S. 590), S3504 [11MR] (see H.R. 368), H170 [27JA]

———provide for expeditious coverage of new medical technology (see S. 823), S4957 [8AP] (see H.R. 941), H1395 [26FE]

———provide for negotiation of fair prices for prescription drugs (see S. 1994, 1999), S16120 [9DE] (see H.R. 3672), H12918 [8DE]

———provide prescription drug coverage and make improvements in payment for rural providers (see H.R. 2606), H5928 [25JN]

———provide regulatory relief, appeals process reforms, contracting flexibility, and education improvements (see S. 1332), S8559 [25JN]

———provide regulatory relief and contracting flexibility (see H.R. 810), H701 [13FE]

———reclassify certain counties for purposes of equitable hospital payment rates (see H.R. 2486), H5408 [16JN]

———reduce work hours and increase supervision of resident-physicians to ensure the safety of both patients and resident-physicians (see S. 952), S5541 [30AP] (see H.R. 1228), H1810 [12MR]

———reductions in prescription drug prices (see S. 891, 892), S5342 [11AP] (see H.R. 1400), H2269 [20MR]

———reductions in prescription drug prices for beneficiaries and women with breast cancer (see H.R. 896), H1332 [25FE]

———reform (see H.R. 26), H52 [7JA] (see H.R. 2469), H5365 [12JN]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (see S. 1), S7718 [11JN] (see H.R. 1), H5928 [25JN] (see H.R. 2473), H5407 [16JN]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), consideration (see H. Res. 299), H5928 [25JN]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), consideration of conference report (see H. Res. 463), H12306 [21NO]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), consideration of conference report (H. Res. 463)—same-day consideration (see H. Res. 459), H11700 [20NO]

———reform payment method for covered drugs, drug administration services, and chemotherapy support services (see H.R. 1622), H2820 [3AP]

———reform reimbursement rates for chemotherapy drugs and administration (see S. 1303), S8300 [20JN]

———reimburse Medicare+Choice plans located in the same metropolitan statistical area the same payment rate (see H.R. 1854), H3451 [29AP]

———reimbursement for certain midwife services (see H.R. 2980), H7784 [25JY]

———reimbursement for services provided to eligible veterans by certain Dept. of Veterans Affairs facilities (see S. 176), S1068 [16JA] (see H.R. 2664), H6347 [8JY]

———remove inpatient limitation on the proportion of hospice care that certain rural hospice programs may provide (see S. 114), S132 [9JA] (see H.R. 754), H462 [12FE]

———remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (see S. 62), S36 [7JA]

———remove the sunset and numerical limitation on participation in Medicare+Choice medical savings account plans (see H.R. 617), H321 [5FE]

———repeal Medicare Advantage Regional Plan Stabilization Fund (see S. 1995), S16120 [9DE]

———repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps (see S. 569), S3253 [6MR] (see H.R. 1125), H1679 [6MR]

———require home health agencies to conduct criminal background checks for all applicants for employment as patient care providers (see H.R. 208), H59 [7JA] (see H.R. 1855), H3451 [29AP]

———require hospitals to establish and implement security procedures to reduce the likelihood of infant patient abduction and baby switching (see H.R. 78), H54 [7JA]

———restore (see S. 1926), S15407 [21NO]

———restore the full market basket percentage increase applied to payments to hospitals for inpatient hospital services furnished to beneficiaries (see S. 899), S5342 [11AP] (see H.R. 1710), H3300 [10AP]

———revise methodology by which payment for orphan drugs and biologicals is made under program prospective payment system for hospital outpatient department services (see H.R. 2700), H6602 [10JY]

———revise payment methodology for extra-depth shoes with inserts or custom molded shoes with inserts for individuals with diabetes (see H.R. 359), H170 [27JA]

———revitalize and improve the Medicare+Choice Program (see H.R. 2070), H4010 [13MY]

———specify the update for physician fee schedule payments (see H.R. 41), H53 [7JA]

———standardize payment amounts for inpatient hospital services (see H.R. 1580), H2819 [3AP]

———standardize payment amounts for inpatient hospital services and make other rural health care improvements (see S. 987), S5725 [5MY]

———treatment of certain physician pathology services (see H.R. 1963), H3682 [6MY]

———update renal dialysis composite rate (see S. 1098), S6853 [21MY] (see H.R. 1784), H3351 [11AP]

———waive late enrollment penalty and provide a special Part B enrollment period for certain military retirees (see S. 1249), S7831 [12JN] (see H.R. 2361), H5043 [5JN]

———waive late enrollment penalty for certain beneficiaries living abroad and provide a special Medigap open enrollment period which prohibits underwriting (see H.R. 1880), H3569 [30AP]

———waive waiting period for coverage of certain disabled individuals (see H.R. 104), H55 [7JA] (see H.R. 2322), H4976 [4JN]

Medicare Eligible Military Retiree Health Care Consensus Task Force: establish (see H.R. 62), H54 [7JA]

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act: improve (see S. 1974), S15975 [25NO]

Medicare/Medicaid: coverage of certain screening procedures for diabetic retinopathy and establish pilot programs to foster such screening (see H.R. 3458), H10977 [6NO]

———establish a national abusive and criminal background check system for patient care workers (see S. 958), S5541 [30AP]

———improve payments to certain health care service providers (see H.R. 3549), H11700 [20NO]

———reform Federal survey and certification process for nursing facilities (see H.R. 787), H700 [13FE]

———require certain staffing in nursing facilities (see S. 1988), S16119 [9DE] (see H.R. 3355), H9811 [21OC]

Members of Congress: deny eligibility for coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and make eligible for coverage under Medicare (see H.R. 3680), H12919 [8DE]

———provide that adjustments in rates of pay may not exceed cost-of-living increases in certain Social Security benefits (see H.R. 3114), H8380 [17SE]

———provide that prescription drug coverage under a Federal health benefits plan not exceed the level of coverage under Medicare (see H.R. 2817), H7329 [22JY]

Native Americans: Federal funding for certain adoption and foster care programs (see S. 331), S2051 [6FE] (see H.R. 443), H242 [29JA]

Pensions: computation system for benefits relative to spouses' and surviving spouses' Government pensions (see S. 363), S2187 [11FE] (see H.R. 887), H1332 [25FE]

———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. 3177), H8949 [25SE]

———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. 75), H54 [7JA]

———provide for personal retirement savings accounts, increase individual control over retirement income, protect surpluses, and reform certain benefits (see H.R. 3055), H8174 [10SE]

———reform relative to State and local government employees (see H. Con. Res. 25), H244 [29JA]

Personal investment plans: diversion of percentage of payroll tax payments and extend the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program (see S. 1878), S15061 [18NO]

Pharmaceuticals: provide access and choice for use of generic drugs under Federal health care programs (see S. 51), S36 [7JA]

Privacy: enhance privacy protections for individuals and prevent fraudulent misuse of account numbers (see H.R. 2971), H7784 [25JY]

———limit the misuse of Social Security numbers and establish criminal penalties for such misuse (see S. 228), S1668 [28JA] (see H.R. 637), H322 [5FE]

———prohibit the establishment of any uniform national health care identifying number or health information database (see H.R. 1699), H3052 [9AP]

———protect the integrity and confidentiality of Social Security numbers and prohibit the establishment of any uniform national identifying number (see H.R. 220), H59 [7JA]

———protection of Social Security numbers and other personal information (see H.R. 70), H54 [7JA] (see H.R. 1931), H3635 [1MY]

———require consent of an individual prior to the sale and marketing of personally identifiable information (see S. 745), S4557 [31MR]

Program Reform Commission: establish (see H.R. 2903), H7781 [25JY]

Public welfare programs: address barriers to employment as a work activity under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 316), S1977 [5FE] (see H.R. 624), H321 [5FE]

———allow States to treat certain disabled and individuals caring for disabled persons as participating in work activities under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 1523), S10617 [31JY]

———ensure fair treatment and due process protections for enhanced data collection and reporting requirements under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 770), S4702 [2AP]

———ignore certain time limits for assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program for recipients in States experiencing significant increases in unemployment (see S. 574), S3369 [7MR]

———improve provision of education and job training under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 262), S1813 [30JA]

———increase payments to States for expenditures for short term training of certain child welfare agencies staff (see H.R. 1378), H2268 [20MR]

———permit States to create a program that allows individuals to obtain post-secondary or vocational education under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 603), S3620 [12MR]

———promote secure and healthy families under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see H.R. 706), H391 [11FE]

———provide access to tools to stimulate employment (see H.R. 535), H318 [5FE]

———provide grants for transitional jobs programs under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 786), S4824 [3AP] (see H.R. 3560), H11701 [20NO]

———require States to develop a strategic plan for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program and give them the flexibility to implement alternative welfare programs (see S. 263), S1813 [30JA]

Puerto Rico: eligibility of residents for the earned income tax credit, the refundable portion of the child tax credit, and SSI benefits (see S. 1658), S11988 [25SE]

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. 2262), H4736 [22MY]

———provide greater health care freedom (see H.R. 2781), H7085 [17JY]

Social Services Block Grant: provide permanent funding level and permit States to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program funds to carry out programs (see H.R. 1858), H3451 [29AP]

SSI: authorize extension to American Samoa (see H.R. 3065), H8174 [10SE]

———clarify that the value of certain funeral and burial arrangements are not to be considered available resources (see S. 166), S848 [15JA] (see H.R. 803), H701 [13FE]

———disregard State annuities paid to blind veterans in the determination of benefits (see H.R. 172), H57 [7JA]

———eliminate the unfair and disadvantageous treatment of cash military compensation other than basic pay (see H.R. 2791), H7169 [18JY]

———increase incentives for working, saving, and pursuing an education (see H.R. 2187), H4527 [21MY]

State Children's Health Insurance Program: allocate allotments to territories in the same manner as for States (see H.R. 3291), H9477 [15OC]

States: assure coverage of legal immigrant children and pregnant women under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (see H.R. 322), H137 [8JA]

———expand or add coverage of pregnant women under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (see S. 1033), S5950 [8MY] (see S. 1734), S12607 [15OC] (see H.R. 2268), H4737 [22MY] (see H.R. 3293), H9477 [15OC]

———permit coverage of certain low-income youth with an enhanced matching rate under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (see S. 1889), S15187 [19NO] (see H.R. 3192), H8949 [25SE]

———provide homeland security and budget crisis relief grants and temporary fiscal relief through increased Medicaid payments (see S. 565), S3253 [6MR]

———streamline enrollment processes for Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program through better linkages with programs providing nutrition and related assistance to low-income families (see S. 1083), S6707 [20MY]

Strengthen and protect (see H.R. 177), H58 [7JA]

Taxation: allow a refundable credit for certain Medicare premiums (see H.R. 66), H54 [7JA]

———allow a refundable credit to military retirees for Medicare coverage (see H.R. 65), H54 [7JA]

———allow Medicare beneficiaries a refundable credit for purchase of outpatient prescription drugs (see S. 142), S230 [13JA] (see S. 951), S5541 [30AP]

———change certain threshold and other tests to decrease the amount of farm labor wages subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes (see H.R. 2097), H4130 [14MY]

———disclose to State and local law enforcement agencies individuals using Social Security numbers of others to claim tax benefits (see H.R. 2774), H7085 [17JY]

———eliminate marriage penalty in the computation of the income tax on Social Security benefits (see H.R. 2072), H4010 [13MY]

———impose a tax on certain unearned income and provide tax relief by reducing the rate of the Social Security payroll tax (see H.R. 607), H321 [5FE]

———phase out taxation of benefits (see S. 1026), S5950 [8MY]

———provide a rebate to individuals for payroll taxes and provide employers with an income tax credit for payroll taxes paid during the payroll tax holiday period (see S. 911), S5343 [11AP]

———provide for employer liability for Social Security taxes on unreported tips paid to an employee after the IRS establishes the amount of tips received (see H.R. 2034), H3856 [8MY]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (see S. 514), S3162 [5MR] (see S. 767), S4702 [2AP] (see H.R. 133), H56 [7JA] (see H.R. 378), H171 [27JA] (see H.R. 423), H218 [28JA] (see H.R. 860), H704 [13FE]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits and increase the distribution age for certain retirement plans (see H.R. 2439), H5266 [11JN]

———restore applicability of estate tax to estates over a certain amount and a maximum rate, and deposit revenues from estate tax into Social Security trust funds (see H.R. 2532), H5662 [19JN]

———simplify Internal Revenue Code through revenue neutral proposals (see H.R. 1939), H3636 [1MY]

———suspend future reductions of income tax rates if Social Security surpluses are used to fund such cuts (see S. 88), S37 [7JA]

———treatment of capital gains, interest and dividends, and repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (see H.R. 1780), H3351 [11AP]

———treatment of income earned by individuals who are not citizens or U.S. nationals relative to coverage under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program (see H.R. 489), H243 [29JA]

———treatment of old-age, survivors, and disability insurance taxes paid by employees and self-employed individuals (see S. 397), S2457 [13FE]

———treatment of Social Security and certain railroad retirement benefits (see H.R. 2346), H5043 [5JN]

———treatment of Social Security benefits (see H.R. 424), H218 [28JA] (see H.R. 1897), H3570 [30AP]

———treatment of tax-exempt interest relative to Social Security benefits and income determination (see H.R. 202), H59 [7JA]

Trust funds: invest in marketable interest-bearing securities and insured certificates of deposit, and protect from public debt limit (see H.R. 96), H55 (see H.R. 219), H59 [7JA]

———preserve all budget surpluses until legislation is enacted to strengthen and protect Social Security and Medicare (see H.R. 127), H56 [7JA]

Unemployment: improve the administration of unemployment taxes and benefits (see H.R. 3463), H10977 [6NO]

———modernize benefit system (see H.R. 1802), H3352 [11AP]

Veterans: repeal computation system that reduces annuity for surviving spouses at age 62 relative to Social Security offset (see H.R. 1592), H2819 [3AP]

Women: effects of reform proposals (see H. Res. 174), H2821 [3AP]

———improve health care through expanded Medicaid, Medicare, and State Children's Health Insurance Program benefits (see S. 1238), S7718 [11JN]

———promote economic security and safety of domestic and sexual violence victims (see S. 1801), S13660 [30OC] (see H.R. 3420), H10236 [30OC]

Cloture motions

Medicare: reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), conference report, S15561 [22NO], S15698 [24NO]

Conference reports

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (H.R. 1), H11877-H12103 [20NO]

Descriptions

Early Treatment for HIV Act (S. 847), S5087 [9AP]

Excerpts

Budget Enforcement Act: off-budget status of old-age, survivors, and disability insurance trust funds, S3006 [3MR]

Explanations

Changes in Conference Report on H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, Relative to Payment System for Cancer Drugs, S15887 [25NO]

Social Security Protection Act (H.R. 743): Managers Amendment, S16180-S16182 [9DE]

Letters

Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act: Clayton Yeutter, S11845 [23SE]

Allow Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in fallback plans to remain in such plans for two years by regulating contracting cycles: James Firman, National Council on the Aging, S8394 [24JN]

Clarify status of Medicare as a secondary payor: William E. Moschella, Dept. of Justice, S8276 [20JN]

Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act: Elizabeth J. Clark, National Association of Social Workers, S2201 [11FE]

Collect and assess scientific evidence regarding prescription drugs frequently used by Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries: Gail E. Shearer, Consumers Union (organization), S8420 [24JN]

———Ronald F. Pollack, Families USA (organization), S8421 [24JN]

———RxHealthValue (organization), S8420 [24JN]

Dept. of HHS certification of safety and cost savings relative to commercial importation of prescription drugs from Canada: Asa Hutchinson, DEA, S8206 [19JN]

———Donna E. Shalala, S8204 [19JN]

———Mark B. McClellan, FDA, S8203, S8205 [19JN]

———Tommy G. Thompson, Sec. of HHS, S8204 [19JN]

Early Treatment for HIV Act: A. Cornelius Baker and Eugenia Handler, National Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health, S5088 [9AP]

———David Adkins, Beaver County AIDS Service Organization, S5089 [9AP]

———David R. Beckley, Metropolitan Community Church of Portland, S5089 [9AP]

———David Tseng, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (organization), S5089 [9AP]

———Deborah Dietrich, Association of Maternal Child Health Programs, S5090 [9AP]

———Ernest Hopkins, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, S5086, S5091 [9AP]

———Jerome J. Radwin, American Foundation for AIDS Research, S5086 [9AP]

———Julie M. Harris, AIDS Council of Northeastern New York, S5089 [9AP]

———Julie M. Scofield, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, S5090 [9AP]

———Kathy Kilcourse, Vermont People With AIDS Coalition, S5088 [9AP]

———Kenneth Haller, Jr., Gay & Lesbian Medical Association, S5088 [9AP]

———Mark Isaac, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, S5090 [9AP]

———Mark M. Levin and A. Cornelius Baker, Whitman-Walker Clinic, S5088 [9AP]

———Rebecca Isaacs, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, S5086 [9AP]

———Robert Greenwald, Treatment Access Expansion Project (organization), S5087 [9AP]

———Ruth Taylor, Parents Anonymous of Oregon (organization), S5089 [9AP]

———Thomas Gegeny, Center for AIDS—Hope and Remembrance Project, S5090 [9AP]

———Tom Peterson, Southern California HIV Advocacy Coalition, S5090 [9AP]

———William E. Arnold, AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) Working Group, S5087 [9AP]

———Winnie Stachelberg, Human Rights Campaign (organization), S5086 [9AP]

Employer-sponsored retiree prescription drug coverage plans: several labor unions, S8411 [24JN]

Enhance Medicare beneficiary access to quality health care services in rural areas: President Bush, S7956 [17JN]

Ensure Federal Employees Health Benefits Program prescription drug coverage for Medicare-eligible enrollees is actuarially equal to general enrollees: Charles L. Fallis, National Association of Retired Federal Employees, S8331 [23JN]

———Colleen M. Kelley, National Treasury Employees Union, S8331 [23JN]

Ensure that dual-eligible beneficiaries are eligible for Medicare prescription drug coverage: Paul Baldwin, Long Term Care Pharmacy Alliance, S8640 [26JN]

Equal access to community-based attendant services under Medicaid for the disabled and elderly: Lynne Cleveland and Leon Triest, The Arc and United Cerebal Palsy Public Policy Coalition, S8607 [26JN]

———Sam Leam and Patrick E. Rogers, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Oregon chapter, S8607 [26JN]

———William E. Moschella, Dept. of Justice, S8535 [25JN]

Greater access to affordable pharmaceuticals: Business for Affordable Medicine (organization), H6121 [26JN]

Guarantee option of Medicare provided prescription drug coverage for all beneficiaries: Barbara B. Kennelly, National Committee To Preserve Social Security and Medicare, S8091 [18JN]

Head Start Program and afterschool programs funding: Judy Samelson, Afterschool Alliance (organization), S4346 [25MR]

———Sanford A. Newman and Miriam A. Rollin, Fight Crime—Invest in Kids (organization), S4346 [25MR]

Health Coverage, Affordability, Responsibility, and Equity (HealthCARE) Act: E. Stephen Edwards, American Academy of Pediatrics, S5955 [8MY]

———Jerry Johnson, American Geriatrics Society, S5955 [8MY]

———Munsey S. Wheby, American College of Physicians, S5955 [8MY]

———Ronald F. Pollack, Families USA (organization), S5955 [8MY]

———Warren A. Jones, American Academy of Family Physicians, S5955 [8MY]

Include educational information about prescription drugs in direct-to-consumer advertising: several health organizations, S8609 [26JN]

Mammography Quality Standards Act reauthorization: Amy S. Langer, National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations, S15064 [18NO]

———Daniel E. Smith and Wendy K.D. Selig, American Cancer Society, S15063 [18NO]

———E. Stephen Amis, American College of Radiology Association, S15064 [18NO]

———Susan Braun, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, S15063 [18NO]

Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage to States: Val J. Halamandaris, National Association for Home Care & Hospice, S3982 [19MR]

Medicaid Psychiatric Hospital Fairness Act: Carol Carothers, NAMI Maine (nonprofit organization), S12982 [21OC]

———Dennis P. King, Spring Harbor Hospital, S12983 [21OC]

———Marcia Goin, American Psychiatric Association, S12981 [21OC]

———Mark Covall, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, S12982 [21OC]

———Richard C. Birkel, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, S12981 [21OC]

———Rick Pollack, American Hospital Association, S12981 [21OC]

———Sabra C. Burdick, Maine Dept. of Behavioral and Developmental Services, S12982 [21OC]

———Steven Michaud, Maine Hospital Association, S12982 [21OC]

———Thomas E. Bryant, National Association of County Behavioral Health Directors, S12981 [21OC]

Medicaid reform: Ronald Hollander, Massachusetts Hospital Association, Abraham Morse, Massachusetts Extended Care Federation, and Patricia Kelleher, Home & Health Care Association of Massachusetts, Inc., E356 [4MR]

Medicare alternative payment system for preferred provider organizations in highly competitive regions: Robert A. Sunshine, CBO, S8612 [26JN]

Medicare beneficiaries exemption from paying monthly premiums during any gap in coverage of their prescription drug benefit: Barbara B. Kennelly, National Committee To Preserve Social Security and Medicare, S8276 [20JN]

Medicare beneficiary access to quality health care services in rural areas: President Bush, S6959 [22MY]

Medicare coverage of drug treatment therapy for HIV/AIDS patients: Tommy G. Thompson, Sec. of HHS, S15888 [25NO]

Medicare disease prevention services improvement: several former Secs. of HHS, E1424 [8JY]

Medicare drug plans and organizations transfer of savings from drug manufacturers' rebate, discount, and incentive programs to local pharmacies and consumers: Barry F. Scher and John J. Fegan, Ahold USA, Inc., S8183 [19JN]

———John J. Motley III, Food Marketing Institute, S8183 [19JN]

———Joseph A. Piohler, Kroger Co., S8184 [19JN]

———Randy Hutton, Winn Dixie Stores, Inc., S8184 [19JN]

Medicare inpatient rehabilitation facility prospective payment system: Glenn M. Hackbarth, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, E1517 [18JY]

Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act: Daniel M. Pierce, Maine Osteopathic Association, S5179 [10AP]

———Edward Pontius, Maine Psychiatric Association, S5180 [10AP]

———Joel E. Streim, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, S5179, S5180 [10AP]

———Krishna Bhatta, Maine Medical Association, S5180 [10AP]

———Paul S. Appelbaum, American Psychiatric Association, S5179, S5180 [10AP]

———Richard C. Birkel, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, S5180 [10AP]

Medicare payments to rural health care providers and facilities: Kimberly A. Russel and Kirk Norris, Iowa Hospital Association, S15580 [22NO]

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act: Edward G. Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania, H12252 [21NO]

———Gary Locke, Tom Vilsack and Bill Richardson, Democratic Governors' Association, S15636 [23NO]

———Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida, H12243 [21NO]

———John Yoo, S15752-S15755 [24NO]

———Republican Governors Association, H12243 [21NO]

———several Members of Congress, S15536 [22NO]

———several Representatives, H12109, H12184 [21NO]

———several Senators, S15536 [22NO], S15897 [25NO]

Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act: Representative Thomas, Committee on Ways and Means (House), H6086 [26JN]

———Representative Tom Davis, Committee on Government Reform (House), H6086 [26JN]

———Richard McGraw, H6088 [26JN]

Medicare prescription drug benefit coverage gap: William D. Novelli, AARP, S8387 [24JN]

Medicare reimbursement payments to physicians: Amy M. Lang and Daryl L. Figa, H9466 [15OC]

Medicare+Choice program: several Senators, S8526 [25JN]

Pathways to Independence Act: Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities, S10646 [31JY]

———Lorey H. Freeman, Oregon Law Center, S10647 [31JY]

Permanently increase Medicare payment rates for home health services in rural areas: several Senators, S8703 [26JN]

Permit Medicare+Choice plans that disproportionately serve special needs or frail, elderly beneficiaries to offer specialized Medicare Advantage plans: Eugene Scanzera, Kaiser Permanente (health maintenance organization), S8522 [25JN]

———Karen A. Bullock, Community Health Partnership, Inc., S8689 [26JN]

———Karen Musser, Elder Care of Dane County, WI, S8689 [26JN]

———Richard J. Bringewatt, Medicare Payment Coalition for Frail Beneficiaries, S8523 [25JN]

Permit the operation of a separate retirement system for certain Kentucky public employees under Social Security: Chuck Canterbury, Fraternal Order of Police, H1543 [5MR]

———David James, Louisville, KY, Fraternal Order of Police, H1543 [5MR]

Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act: Gail E. Shearer, Consumers Union, S8615 [26JN]

———George E. Pataki, Governor of New York, S8271 [20JN], S8856 [27JN]

Prohibit a health plan from contracting with a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) unless certain requirements are satisfied: Charles Bofferding, Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, S8616 [26JN]

———Charles M. Loveless, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, S8616 [26JN]

———Rod Shafer, Washington State Pharmacy Association, S8616 [26JN]

———Ronald F. Pollack, Families USA (organization), S8616 [26JN]

Provide payment for community health center services relative to coverage of individuals under Medicare managed care plans: Craig Hostetler, Oregon Primary Care Association, S8397 [24JN]

Repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits: Al Cors, Jr., National Taxpayers Union, S4705 [2AP]

———Charles W. Jarvis, United Seniors Association, S4705 [2AP]

———Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform (organization), S4706 [2AP]

———James L. Martin, 60 Plus Association, S4706 [2AP]

———Mary M. Martin, Seniors Coalition, S4706 [2AP]

Rural Equity Payment Index Reform Act: G. David Mason, American Physical Therapy Association, S5210 [10AP]

Senior Citizen's Freedom of Choice Act, E1515 [18JY]

Social Security Protection Act: Anthony Pezza, National Council of Social Security Management Associations, Inc., H2650 [2AP]

———Anthony W. Batts, Long Beach, CA, Police Dept., H1543 [5MR]

———Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities, H1542 [5MR], H2651 [2AP]

———David Certner, AARP, H1541 [5MR], H2650 [2AP]

———James M. Horvath, Chartiers Township, PA, Police Dept., H1543 [5MR]

———John V. Mintz, Brecknock Township, PA, Police Dept., H1543 [5MR]

———Nancy G. Shor, National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, H1542 [5MR], H2651 [2AP]

———Paul Yost, Milton, PA, Police Dept., H1544 [5MR]

———Richard C. Birkel, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, H1542 [5MR]

———Richard H. James, Borough of Churchill, PA, Police Dept., H1543 [5MR]

———Ronald G. Bernoski, Association of Administrative Law Judges, H1543 [5MR], H2651 [2AP]

———Thomas A. Schatz, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, H2650 [2AP]

———Warren C. Evans, Wayne County, MI, Office of the Sheriff, H1543 [5MR]

Social Security system: Stephen C. Goss, SSA, S3937-S3939 [19MR]

Start Healthy, Stay Healthy Act: several Senators, S5969, S5970 [8MY]

———Tommy G. Thompson, Sec. of HHS, S5969, S5970 [8MY]

Technical corrections to H.R. 2854, extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program: Representatives Tauzin and Dingell, Committee on Energy and Commerce (House), S10680 [31JY]

Veterans Prescription Drug Benefits Act: Delatorro L. McNeal, Paralyzed Veterans of America (organization), E497 [18MR]

———Richard A. Jones, AMVETS (organization), E497 [18MR]

———Richard F. Weidman, Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., E498 [18MR]

———Steve A. Robertson, American Legion, E497 [18MR]

———Thomas H. Miller, Blinded Veterans Association, E497 [18MR]

———William A. Wroolie, Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A., Inc., E497 [18MR]

Lists

Organizations opposed to H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act, S15038 [18NO]

Organizations supporting H.R. 743, Social Security Protection Act, H1541 [5MR]

Organizations supporting S. 387, Geriatric Care Act, S2464 [13FE]

Pharmaceutical industry contributions to political parties, H6455 [9JY]

Senate and House staff members who contributed to H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, S15914 [25NO]

Supporters of S. 847, Early Treatment for HIV Act, S5087 [9AP]

Supporters of S. 1645, Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act, S11835 [23SE]

Votes on point of order against Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act (2002), S15702 [24NO]

Messages

Social Security Agreement Between the U.S. and Norway: President Bush, S1969 [5FE], H308 [5FE]

Motions

Benefits: provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (H.R. 743), H2667 [2AP]

Medicare: reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), H6181 [26JN], H6658 [14JY], H8063 [9SE], H8182 [10SE], H8257 [16SE], H8361 [17SE], H8467 [23SE], H8879, H8880 [24SE], H8925 [25SE], H8996 [30SE], H9062 [1OC], H9171, H9180 [2OC], H9252 [7OC], H9349 [8OC], H9708 [20OC], H9780 [21OC], H9967 [28OC], H10083 [29OC], H10314 [4NO], H10428, H10438 [5NO], H10528 [6NO], H11186 [17NO], H11395, H11493 [18NO], H11598 [19NO], H11845 [20NO]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), conference report, S15698 [24NO], H12294 [21NO]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), motion to instruct conferees, H10106 [29OC]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (S. 1), S8343 [23JN], S8402, S8403, S8404, S8409 [24JN], S8609, S8622, S8636 [26JN]

Press releases

AARP Endorses Medicare Prescription Drug Bill: AARP, H11498 [18NO]

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (H.R. 1): Iowa Hospital Association, S15580 [22NO]

NRHA Supports ``Equal Pay for Equal Work'': National Rural Health Association, S5210 [10AP]

VA Announces Record Budget, Health Care Changes: Dept. of Veterans Affairs, S4748 [3AP]

Vermont Physicians and Hospitals Strongly Support Passage of Medicare Reform Legislation: Vermont Medical Society, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, and Fletcher Allen Health Care, Inc., S15694 [24NO]

Questions and answers

Access to HIV/AIDS drugs under H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act: Senator Feinstein and Tommy G. Thompson, Sec. of HHS, S15597 [23NO]

Remarks in House

AARP: alleged conflict of interest relative to endorsement of Medicare reform and prescription drug coverage, H11494-H11496, H11498 [18NO], H11520 [19NO], H12253 [21NO]

———decision to support Medicare reform legislation, H11635, H11638 [19NO]

Benefits: provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (H.R. 743), H1493 [4MR], H1519, H1521, H1524-H1550 [5MR], H2625 [2AP], E229, E230 [13FE], E390 [7MR]

———provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (H.R. 743), consideration (H. Res. 168), H2591-H2603 [2AP]

———provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (H.R. 743), motion to recommit, H2667 [2AP]

———reduce the age at which an eligible individual may be paid widow's or widower's insurance benefits (H.R. 1923), H5033 [5JN], E895 [9MY]

Budget: allocation of funds, H1370-H1377 [26FE], H6515 [10JY]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse, H8194 [10SE], H8893 [24SE], H9077 [1OC], H9254-H9256 [7OC]

———deficit, H1733-H1735 [11MR], H3026-H3031 [9AP], H8270-H8276 [16SE], E1682 [4SE]

———impact of Bush administration proposals on Hispanic Americans, H1476 [4MR]

———impact on health care, H2943 [9AP]

Bush, President: evaluation of administration, H6873 [16JY]

Children and youth: provide grants to State child welfare systems, increase Social Security match for private agencies receiving child welfare training funds, and authorize loan forgiveness to child welfare workers (H.R. 2437), E1219 [11JN]

———reauthorize adoption incentives payments (H.R. 3182), H9302-H9305 [8OC], E2042 [15OC], E2064 [16OC]

Computers: encourage use of web-based enrollment systems in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 1633), E666 [3AP]

Congress: accomplishments, H9690 [20OC]

———accomplishments of the 108th Congress, H6873 [16JY], H7229 [22JY], H12880 [8DE]

Crime: establish methods for preventing identity theft and protect consumers' sensitive, private health-related information (H.R. 2633), H7025 [17JY], E1381 [27JN]

———prevent identity fraud (H.R. 2035), E1389 [27JN]

Dept. of HHS: community health centers funding, H6535, H6536 [10JY]

———Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program funding, H6533 [10JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: dispense medications to veterans for prescriptions written by private practitioners and provide Medicare coverage to eligible veterans (H.R. 1309), E496 [18MR]

———extend health care coverage to qualified World War II Filipino veterans, H7187-H7189 [21JY], E1565 [23JY]

———extend health care coverage to qualified World War II Filipino veterans (H.R. 2352), E1165 [5JN], E2193 [31OC]

———negotiated prices for prescription drugs, H11499 [18NO]

District of Columbia: reductions in Social Security annuities for certain public safety officers, H7989, H7990 [5SE]

Drugs: collect and assess scientific evidence regarding prescription drugs frequently used in federally funded health programs, H6560, H6561 [10JY]

Economy: national objectives priority assignments, H1370-H1377 [26FE], H2563-H2567 [1AP]

Employment: improve benefit computation formula for certain workers affected by changes in benefit computation rules (H.R. 63), E2 [8JA]

ERISA: provide emergency protection for retiree health benefits (H.R. 1322), H2104 [19MR]

Families and domestic relations: provide coverage of domestic violence screening and treatment under Maternal and Child Health Program, Medicaid, and Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, H1478 [4MR]

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: ensure prescription drug coverage for Medicare-eligible enrollees is actuarially equal to benefit offered to general enrollees (H.R. 2631), H6273, H6303-H6309 [8JY], E1411 [8JY], E1428, E1436 [9JY], E1446 [11JY]

Health: extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2854), H7715 [25JY], E1648 [25JY], E1702 [5SE]

———extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2854), technical corrections (H.R. 3288), H9703 [20OC], E2110, E2111 [21OC]

———extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 531), H6006, H6007 [26JN]

———increase supply of pancreatic islet cells for research, coordinate efforts on transplantation, make transplantation a standard therapy, and provide Medicare coverage of certain transplantations (H.R. 1068), E352 [4MR]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, H162 [27JA], H1798 [12MR], H1853 [13MR], H2207, H2208, H2210 [20MR], H3410 [29AP], H7952 [5SE], H8961, H8999, H9001, H9025 [30SE], H9798 [21OC], H10331 [4NO]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 1200), H1727 [11MR]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 2544), H5808-H5811 [24JN]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 676), H1520 [5MR], H4974 [4JN], E1163 [5JN]

———permit qualifying States to use unspent State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments to expand health coverage under that program or for Medicaid expenditures (H.R. 515), E120 [31JA]

———State Children's Health Insurance Program funding, H8999 [30SE]

———support Federal and State funded in-home care for the elderly (H. Res. 54), E129 [5FE]

———tax treatment of certain medical savings accounts and provide for medical freedom accounts under the Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2114), H5554, H5649 [19JN], H5692 [23JN]

Hispanic Americans: expand coverage for uninsured under the State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid, H1754 [12MR]

———health care issues, E1444, E1449 [11JY]

House of Representatives: bribery allegations relative to Representative Nick Smith's vote on Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, H12750, H12905 [8DE]

Immigration: adjust status of certain foreign agricultural workers, reform H-2A worker program, provide a stable, legal agricultural workforce, and extend basic legal protections and better working conditions to more workers, H9205-H9208 [2OC]

———extend basic pilot employment verification system (H.R. 2359), H9893-H9898 [28OC]

———extend basic pilot employment verification system (S. 1685), H11582-H11586 [19NO], E2367, E2372 [21NO], E2389 [22NO]

———impact of costs of illegal and legal immigration on U.S. health and social services systems, H2463-H2467 [27MR], H4870 [3JN], H9204 [2OC]

Income: remove limitations on the amount of outside income which an individual may earn while receiving certain benefits (H.R. 3098), E1810 [16SE]

———repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions, H1519, H1544-H1549 [5MR], H2592-H2603, H2642-H2652, H2661-H2668 [2AP], H6370 [9JY]

Insurance: guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children (H.R. 1205), E425 [11MR]

———require comprehensive coverage for childhood immunizations (H.R. 2095), E948 [14MY]

Medicaid: allow States to expand coverage to uninsured, poor adults (H.R. 1143), E551 [21MR]

———coverage of primary and secondary preventative medical strategies for children and adults with sickle cell disease (H.R. 1736), H9003 [30SE]

———expand coverage for uninsured children, H2462 [27MR]

———increase Federal Medical Assistance Percentage to States, H6576 [10JY]

———increase floor for treatment as an extremely low disproportionate share hospital State, H6119 [26JN]

———increase floor for treatment as an extremely low disproportionate share hospital State (H.R. 1342), E503 [18MR]

———permit States to obtain reimbursement for care or services provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act in a private mental health facility (H.R. 3363), E2190 [31OC]

———reform, H1313-H1318 [25FE], H1476 [4MR], E356 [4MR]

———remove cap on payments and adjust statutory matching rate for certain territories (H.R. 675), E199 [12FE]

———require States that provide prescription drug coverage to cover drugs that treat obesity, E755 [11AP]

———require States that provide prescription drug coverage to cover drugs that treat obesity (H.R. 2024), E887 [7MY]

———tribute to Cash and Counseling Program, H398 [12FE], H4261 [20MY]

———tribute to Consumer Directed Care, H4261 [20MY]

Medicare: accelerate reduction on the amount of beneficiary copayment liability for outpatient services (H.R. 1635), E670 [3AP]

———allow beneficiaries direct access to physical therapists without a physician referral (H.R. 792), E255 [13FE]

———allow negotiated pricing for prescription drugs, H5912 [25JN]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse (H.R. 18), H25 [7JA]

———coverage of adult day care services (H.R. 2453), E1239 [13JN]

———coverage of cancer drugs and treatments, E1800 [16SE]

———coverage of diabetes laboratory diagnostic tests and other diabetes screening services (H.R. 2236), E1056 [22MY], E2382 [21NO]

———coverage of drugs and biologicals (H.R. 194), E11 [8JA]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases (H.R. 1225), E443 [12MR]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs, H1477, H1501-H1507 [4MR], H1802 [12MR], H2694 [2AP], H3688 [7MY], H4790 [3JN], H5091, H5157 [10JN], H5246 [11JN]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (H.R. 1568), E1416 [8JY]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (H.R. 3299), E2041 [15OC]

———earnings test for beneficiaries relative to prescription drug coverage, H9181-H9187 [2OC], H9219 [7OC]

———electronic submission of claims, H6560 [10JY]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (H.R. 2787), E1519 [18JY]

———eliminate gap in coverage of prescription drug benefit relative to cancer drugs, H5959 [26JN]

———eliminate reduction in payment rates under the prospective payment system for home health services and increase payments for such services in rural areas, H232 [29JA], H309-H311 [5FE]

———enhance beneficiary access to quality health care services in rural areas, H5807 [24JN], H9062-H9067 [1OC]

———ensure Medicare+Choice and Medicare Advantage payments attributable to disproportionate share hospitals are paid directly to such hospitals, H8880-H8886 [24SE], H8925-H8930 [25SE], H10528-H10534 [6NO], E1907 [25SE], E1968 [2OC]

———establish a voluntary program to limit maximum out-of-pocket expenditures for beneficiaries (H.R. 2199), E1030 [21MY]

———establish minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services (H.R. 33), E1309 [20JN]

———establish voluntary outpatient prescription drug coverage program and modernize and reform payments and the regulatory structure (H.R. 1199), H5542 [18JN], E431, E433, E444 [12MR]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services (H.R. 1340), E506 [18MR]

———expand benefits, establish payment incentives for furnishing quality services, and develop an effective national policy to care for individuals with chronic conditions (H.R. 2342), E1122 [4JN]

———expand medical residency training programs in geriatric medicine and provide for reimbursement of care coordination and assessment services (H.R. 102), E11 [8JA]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals, H12106 [21NO]

———improve disease prevention services, E1424 [8JY]

———improve patient access to, and utilization of, the colorectal cancer screening benefit (H.R. 1422), E574 [25MR]

———improve reimbursement payments to physicians, H9258 [7OC], H9466 [15OC], H11198 [17NO], H11493-H11500 [18NO], H11598-H11605, H11637, H11639 [19NO], H11845-H11853 [20NO]

———improve the telemedicine program and provide grants for the development of telehealth networks (H.R. 1940), E853 [1MY]

———increase payments to hospitals in Puerto Rico, H5039 [5JN]

———increase payments to rural health care providers and facilities, H11870-H11872 [20NO], H12241 [21NO], E1956 [2OC]

———inpatient rehabilitation facility prospective payment system, E1517 [18JY]

———limit hospital ownership exception to physician self-referral restrictions to interests purchased on terms generally available to the public (H.R. 1539), E634, E635 [1AP]

———make equitable standardize payment amounts for urban and rural inpatient hospital services, H9011 [30SE]

———make permanent the health coverage for certain disabled individuals that go back to work, E1571 [23JY]

———permit direct payment for clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities (H.R. 707), E182 [11FE]

———permit reasonable cost reimbursement for emergency room services provided by federally qualified health centers (H.R. 2226), E1081 [23MY]

———privatization, H160 [27JA], H239 [29JA], H4759 [2JN], H5915-H5921 [25JN], H8182-H8189 [10SE], H9780-H9784 [21OC], H10439-H10443 [5NO], H11600, H11603, H11643 [19NO], H12903, H12905 [8DE], E2250 [6NO]

———prohibit implementation of premium support system which would require competition with private insurance carriers in delivering basic services, H10106-H10112 [29OC], H10528-H10534 [6NO]

———promote access to health care services in rural areas (H.R. 2175), E1011 [21MY]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (H.R. 745), E207 [13FE]

———provide access to kidney disease health care, management, and end stage renal disease prevention services (H.R. 3635), E2430 [23NO]

———provide for equitable reimbursement rates to Medicare+Choice organizations (H.R. 368), E92 [29JA]

———provide for expeditious coverage of new medical technology, H12294 [21NO]

———reductions in prescription drug prices, H5916-H5921 [25JN], H11857 [20NO]

———reductions in prescription drug prices (H.R. 1400), H5698, H5700 [23JN]

———reform, H160 [27JA], H187, H197 [28JA], H232, H239 [29JA], H1313-H1318 [25FE], H1893 [13MR], H1939 [18MR], H2151 [20MR], H3288 [10AP], H5039 [5JN], H5157 [10JN], H5179, H5246 [11JN]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage, H10347 [5NO]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), H5820, H5821, H5822, H5903-H5922 [25JN], H5942, H5943, H6007-H6104, H6107-H6256 [26JN], H6273, H6304-H6309 [8JY], H6438, H6448-H6455 [9JY], H6585 [10JY], H6658, H6685, H6700 [14JY], H7200 [21JY], H7234 [22JY], H7335 [23JY], H7792, H7812, H7813 [3SE], H8021 [9SE], H8262 [16SE], H9001 [30SE], H9219 [7OC], H9354 [8OC], H9488 [16OC], H9972 [28OC], H10159, H10160 [30OC], H10316, H10318 [4NO], H10347 [5NO], H11122 [7NO], H11191-H11199 [17NO], H11365, H11367, H11368, H11504, H11509-H11512 [18NO], H11518-H11520, H11629, H11634-H11647 [19NO], H11658, H11659, H11660, H11661, H11856-H11858, H11860, H11862, H11868-H11874 [20NO], E1411, E1415, E1416, E1419, E1422 [8JY], E1489, E1490 [15JY], E1642 [25JY], E1800 [16SE], E1956 [2OC]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), conference report, H11362 [18NO], H12106, H12107, H12108-H12113, H12184, H12185, H12247-H12297 [21NO], H12750, H12752, H12761, H12846-H12854, H12879, H12883, H12901-H12908 [8DE], E2455 [25NO], E2474 [8DE]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), conference report—unanimous-consent agreement, H12239 [21NO]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), consideration (H. Res. 299), H5948, H5949, H5952-H5973 [26JN]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), consideration of conference report (H. Res. 463), H12230-H12246 [21NO]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), consideration of conference report (H. Res. 463)—same-day consideration (H. Res. 459), H12174-H12181 [21NO]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), motion to instruct conferees, H6658-H6666 [14JY], H8182-H8189 [10SE], H8361-H8365 [17SE], H8879, H8880-H8887 [24SE], H8925-H8930 [25SE], H9062-H9067 [1OC], H9171-H9187 [2OC], H9349-H9354 [8OC], H9780-H9784 [21OC], H10106-H10112 [29OC], H10438-H10443 [5NO], H10528-H10534 [6NO], H11493-H11500 [18NO], H11598-H11605 [19NO], H11845-H11853 [20NO], E1907 [25SE], E1968 [2OC], E2013 [8OC], E2250 [6NO]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), motion to recommit, H6254, H6255 [26JN]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 2473), H5386-H5388, H5392-H5405 [16JN], H5415, H5417, H5446, H5449-H5451, H5453 [17JN], H5473, H5474, H5542-H5549 [18JN], H5553, H5555, H5639-H5642 [19JN], H5688, H5690-H5701 [23JN], H5717, H5718, H5719, H5720, H5796, H5799-H5808 [24JN], E1671 [3SE]

———reform (H.R. 2469), E1250 [13JN]

———reform payment method for covered drugs, drug administration services, and chemotherapy support services (H.R. 1622), H5802 [24JN]

———reimbursement for certain midwife services (H.R. 2980), E1634 [25JY]

———remove the sunset and numerical limitation on participation in Medicare+Choice medical savings account plans (H.R. 617), E153 [6FE]

———restore the full market basket percentage increase applied to payments to hospitals for inpatient hospital services furnished to beneficiaries, H11519 [19NO]

———treatment of women, H5904, H5909, H5911 [25JN], H5954-H5956, H5959, H5961, H5962, H6109 [26JN]

———update renal dialysis composite rate (H.R. 1784), E779 [12AP]

———waive waiting period for coverage of certain disabled individuals (H.R. 104), E10 [8JA]

Medicare Eligible Military Retiree Health Care Consensus Task Force: establish (H.R. 62), E3 [8JA]

Medicare/Medicaid: funding, H2842, H2843 [7AP], H2868 [8AP]

Members of Congress: provide that prescription drug coverage under a Federal health benefits plan not exceed the level of coverage under Medicare, E1490 [15JY]

Middlesboro, KY: tribute to SSA field office, E495 [18MR]

New Jersey: impact of Medicare legislation on Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged & Disabled (PAAD) program, H12262 [21NO]

Older Americans Act: funding, H6521 [10JY]

PacifiCare Health Systems: anniversary, E1212 [11JN]

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. 75), H2593 [2AP], E16 [8JA]

———provide for personal retirement savings accounts, increase individual control over retirement income, protect surpluses, and reform certain benefits, H6323 [8JY]

———provide for personal retirement savings accounts, increase individual control over retirement income, protect surpluses, and reform certain benefits (H.R. 3055), H7822-H7826 [3SE], H7940-H7944 [4SE], H8064 [9SE], H8193 [10SE], H8223 [16SE], H8959 [30SE], H9037 [1OC]

Pharmaceuticals: reductions in prescription drug prices, H2915 [8AP], H2942 [9AP], H3661 [6MY], H3834 [8MY], H3998 [13MY], H4095 [14MY], H4175 [15MY], H4763-H4770 [2JN], H4789 [3JN], H5039 [5JN], H5056-H5058 [9JN], H5155-H5159 [10JN], H5346, H5360-H5362 [12JN], H5446, H5447, H5453-H5459 [17JN], H5796, H5801 [24JN], H9253, H9254, H9257 [7OC], H9800 [21OC], H11196-H11198 [17NO], H12901-H12903, H12907 [8DE]

———require manufacturers to sell FDA-approved prescription drugs to U.S. wholesalers and retailers on the same terms as Canadian purchasers, H12752 [8DE]

Privacy: enhance privacy protections for individuals and prevent fraudulent misuse of account numbers (H.R. 2971), E1637 [25JY], E1710 [5SE]

———prohibit the establishment of any uniform national health care identifying number or health information database, E712 [9AP]

———protect the integrity and confidentiality of Social Security numbers and prohibit the establishment of any uniform national identifying number (H.R. 220), E5 [8JA]

———protection of Social Security numbers and other personal information (H.R. 1931), E844 [1MY]

Public welfare programs: extend waivers for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program and give States the flexibility to implement alternative welfare programs, H9009, H9010 [30SE]

———Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program funding, H2580 [1AP]

———promote secure and healthy families under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (H.R. 706), E180 [11FE]

———provide grants for transitional jobs programs under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (H.R. 3560), E2384 [21NO]

———reform, H395 [12FE]

Reform, H7213-H7216 [21JY]

Republican Party: impact of privatization of certain Government functions, H10321 [4NO]

———national agenda, H395 [12FE], H5412 [17JN], H10321 [4NO]

Retired Enlisted Association: tribute to Senior Citizens League, E1377 [27JN]

Senior citizens: provide greater health care freedom (H.R. 2781), E1515 [18JY]

Solvency, H4259 [20MY], H9265-H9267 [7OC]

Somerset, KY: tribute to SSA field office, E494 [18MR]

SSA: dedication of office in Hallandale, FL, E1051 [22MY]

SSI: eliminate the unfair and disadvantageous treatment of cash military compensation other than basic pay (H.R. 2791), E1537 [18JY]

States: provide budget crisis relief and temporary fiscal relief through increased Medicaid payments, H4534-H4542 [22MY]

Taxation: allow a refundable credit for certain Medicare premiums (H.R. 66), E1 [8JA]

———disclose to State and local law enforcement agencies individuals using Social Security numbers of others to claim tax benefits (H.R. 2774), E1506 [18JY]

———provide for employer liability for Social Security taxes on unreported tips paid to an employee after the IRS establishes the amount of tips received (H.R. 2034), E905 [9MY]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (H.R. 423), E77 [28JA]

———restore applicability of estate tax to estates over a certain amount and a maximum rate, and deposit revenues from estate tax into Social Security trust funds (H.R. 2532), E1347 [25JN]

———simplify Internal Revenue Code through revenue neutral proposals (H.R. 1939), E851 [1MY]

———treatment of income earned by individuals who are not citizens or U.S. nationals relative to coverage under the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program (H.R. 489), E97 [29JA]

Trust funds: budget treatment, H1361 [26FE], H1804, H1805 [12MR], H1885-H1888, H1892 [13MR], H2113, H2114, H2116 [19MR], H3294, H3295 [10AP], H4335 [20MY], H5073, H5075 [9JN], H7213-H7216 [21JY], H8272, H8275, H8276 [16SE], H9475 [15OC]

———invest in marketable interest-bearing securities and insured certificates of deposit, and protect from public debt limit (H.R. 219), H2652 [2AP], E1 [8JA]

Veterans: repeal computation system that reduces annuity for surviving spouses at age 62 relative to Social Security offset (H.R. 1592), H5256 [11JN], E685 [3AP]

Women: promote economic security and safety of domestic and sexual violence victims (H.R. 3420), E2194 [31OC]

Remarks in Senate

AARP: alleged conflict of interest relative to endorsement of Medicare reform and prescription drug coverage, S15585 [22NO], S15729 [24NO]

Account statements: include additional information (S. 368), S2355 [12FE]

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: collect and assess scientific evidence regarding prescription drugs frequently used by Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, S8419-S8421, S8422 [24JN], S8529, S8530 [25JN]

Benefits: choice of benefit payment method relative to computation rule application to workers attaining age 65 in or after 1982 (S. 1418), S9497 [16JY]

———earnings test for blind individuals (S. 750), S4631-S4633 [1AP]

———level of payment in the month of the beneficiary's death (S. 362), S2219 [11FE]

———oppose reduction of annual cost-of-living adjustments, S7096, S7097 [23MY]

———oppose reduction of annual cost-of-living adjustments (S. Res. 155), S7115 [23MY]

———provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (H.R. 743), S16159-S16196 [9DE]

———provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (S. 439), S2707 [25FE]

Budget: constitutional amendment to require balanced and protect Social Security surpluses (S.J. Res. 2), S85 [7JA]

———deficit, S3376-S3379 [10MR]

———extend discretionary spending caps and the pay-as-you-go requirement, S5280-S5282 [11AP]

———treatment of public debt, S1697-S1703 [29JA]

Bush, President: State of the Union Message, S1500-S1509 [28JA], S1689-S1692, S1694-S1696 [29JA], S1765-S1770 [30JA]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: congressional disapproval of rule revising criteria used to determine eligibility of hospitals for designation as an inpatient rehabilitation facility, S11902 [24SE]

Children and youth: access of disadvantaged children to dental services (S. 1142), S7137-S7139 [23MY]

———reauthorize adoption incentives payments and provide incentives for the adoption of older children (S. 1439), S9712 [22JY]

———reauthorize adoption incentives payments (H.R. 3182), S14859, S14860 [12NO]

———reauthorize adoption incentives payments (S. 1686), S12195-S12197 [30SE]

Committee on Finance (Senate): tribute to staff for efforts relative to S. 1, Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act, S8700 [26JN]

Committee on the Budget (Senate): budget authority allocation revisions to H. Con Res. 95, setting forth the Federal budget for 2003-2013, relative to Medicare reserve fund, S8118 [18JN]

Congress: accomplishments of the 108th Congress, S16077 [25NO]

———encourage debate on issues of national concern, S11735 [22SE]

Crime: prevent identity fraud (S. 223), S1675 [28JA]

Democratic Party: national agenda, S90 [9JA], S14638 [12NO]

Dept. of HHS: certify safety and cost savings relative to commercial importation of prescription drugs from Canada, S8203-S8215 [19JN], S8266-S8268 [20JN]

———develop literacy standards for informational materials to assist in the safe and appropriate use of prescription drugs, S8422 [24JN]

———ensure independence and preserve role of administrative law judges involved in Medicare appeals processes (S. 1127), S7016 [22MY]

———include educational information about prescription drugs in direct-to-consumer advertising, S8609 [26JN]

———require drug companies to test drugs against their competitors, disclose results of such tests in advertising, and include educational information about the drug in direct-to-consumer advertising, S8484, S8485 [25JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: permit Medicare-eligible veterans to receive an outpatient medication benefit (S. 1153), S7147-S7149 [23MY]

Disabled: promote community integration, S8430 [24JN]

Diseases: establish a comprehensive Federal effort relating to early detection of, treatments for, and prevention of cancer (S. 1101), S6864-S6867 [21MY]

———improve data collection and dissemination between Federal and State registries to enhance the treatment and research of cancer (S. 1899), S15289 [20NO]

Economy: national objectives priority assignments, S2760-S2765 [26FE]

Education: afterschool programs funding, S4408 [26MR]

———Head Start Program and afterschool programs funding, S4344-S4347 [25MR]

Federal aid programs: extend eligibility for certain Federal benefits to citizens of the Freely Associated States (S. 1632), S11723 [18SE]

Federal employees: authorize payments under Federal retirement systems to trusts set up for disabled dependents (S. 776), S4827 [3AP]

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: ensure prescription drug coverage for Medicare-eligible enrollees is actuarially equal to benefit offered to general enrollees, S8330 [23JN]

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: provide greater access to affordable pharmaceuticals, S8187-S8198, S8200 [19JN]

Health: ensure that children at highest risk for asthma, vision, hearing, and other health problems are identified and treated (S. 1004), S5786 [6MY]

———expand Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families (S. 1843), S14335, S14336 [10NO]

———extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2854), S10847 [31JY]

———extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2854), technical corrections (H.R. 3288), S13742 [31OC]

———extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2854), technical corrections (S. 1502), S10285 [30JY]

———extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2854), technical corrections (S. 1503), S10285 [30JY]

———extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 2854), technical corrections (S. 1547), S10679, S10847 [31JY]

———extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 312), S1989-S1993 [5FE], S8633 [26JN]

———increase supply of pancreatic islet cells for research, coordinate efforts on transplantation, make transplantation a standard therapy, and provide Medicare coverage of certain transplantations (S. 518), S3166 [5MR]

———modify the rules for redistribution and extended availability of funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program, S1384-S1386 [23JA], S1510-S1512 [28JA]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, S214 [13JA], S1651 [28JA], S2450 [13FE], S3115, S3116 [5MR], S4145 [20MR], S5754, S5755 [6MY], S6049 [13MY], S11613 [17SE], S12488, S12490 [14OC], S14715 [12NO]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (S. 1030), S5954 [8MY]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (S. Con. Res. 41), S5614 [30AP]

———permit qualifying States to use unspent State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments for Medicaid expenditures (S. 1976), S16024 [25NO]

———permit qualifying States to use unspent State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments for Medicaid expenditures (S. 621), S3738 [13MR]

———permit qualifying States to use unspent State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments to expand health coverage under that program or for Medicaid expenditures (S. 264), S1827, S1828 [30JA]

———permit States the option of covering certain legal aliens under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, S8424-S8428 [24JN], S8642-S8644 [26JN]

———permit States the option of covering certain legal aliens under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 845), S5083, S5084 [9AP], S5643 [1MY]

———protect consumers in managed care and other health coverage plans, provide parity for mental health coverage, reduce medical errors, and increase access to quality health care (S. 10), S38 [7JA], S134-S136 [9JA]

———protect retiree health benefits, S13068 [23OC]

———protection of enrollees in managed care plans and HMO's, S1505, S1506 [28JA]

———recognize recent breakthroughs in medical research and support continued efforts in disease prevention and cures, S8839-S8842 [27JN]

———restore Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program coverage to legal residents who are citizens of the Freely Associated States, S8330 [23JN]

———State Children's Health Insurance Program funding, S6444 [15MY]

———suspend the Outcome and Assessment Information Set requirement for non-Medicare and non-Medicaid patients to reduce paperwork, S8608 [26JN]

———tribute to home hospice and home health care programs, S9400 [15JY]

Health care facilities: teaching hospitals funding, S8686 [26JN]

Immigration: adjust status of certain foreign agricultural workers, reform H-2A worker program, provide a stable, legal agricultural workforce, and extend basic legal protections and better working conditions to more workers (S. 1645), S11834-S11858 [23SE]

———extend basic pilot employment verification system (S. 1685), S14504, S14505 [12NO]

Income: repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (S. 349), S2209 [11FE]

Institute of Medicine: findings of report entitled ``Hidden Costs, Value Lost—Uninsurance in America'', S8277 [20JN]

Insurance: economic impact of undiagnosed and untreated illnesses, S8277 [20JN]

———guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children (S. 588), S3508 [11MR]

———prohibit a health plan from contracting with a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) unless certain requirements are satisfied, S8613-S8617 [26JN]

———prohibit a health plan from contracting with a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) unless certain requirements are satisfied (S. 1300), S8244 [19JN]

———require employers to offer health care coverage for all employees and guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children of a certain age (S. 1935), S15652 [23NO]

Kentucky: permit the operation of a separate retirement system for certain public employees under Social Security (S. 37), S43 [7JA]

Mammography Quality Standards Act: reauthorize (S. 1879), S15062-S15065 [18NO]

Medicaid: allow States to enter into drug rebate agreements to make prescription drugs available to individuals who are not otherwise eligible for medical assistance (S. 542), S3112 [5MR]

———allow States to expand family planning coverage to certain women (S. 1429), S9596-S9598 [17JY]

———clarify that inpatient drug prices charged to certain public hospitals are included in best price exemptions under the drug rebate program (S. 1195), S7488 [5JN]

———coverage of primary and secondary preventative medical strategies for children and adults with sickle cell disease (S. 874), S5199 [10AP]

———coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (S. 63), S61 [7JA]

———establish a demonstration project to encourage the provision of community-based services to disabled individuals (S. 1394), S9236 [10JY], S9304 [11JY]

———establish alternatives to Federal Medical Assistance Percentage to States, S11106 [4SE]

———extend certain modifications to disproportionate share hospital allotments (S. 652), S3900 [18MR]

———extend Federal-State cost-sharing program to assist low-income Medicare beneficiaries with health care costs (S. 1519), S10643 [31JY]

———extend Medicare cost-sharing for certain qualifying individuals (QI-1s) (S. 1641), S11833 [23SE]

———extend the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage adjustment for Alaska (S. 294), S1900 [4FE]

———extend the transitional medical assistance program (S. 883), S5232 [10AP]

———increase Federal Medical Assistance Percentage to States, S1505 [28JA], S3980-S3984 [19MR], S4112 [20MR]

———increase Federal Medical Assistance Percentage to States (S. 138), S164, S165 [9JA]

———permit States the option to provide coverage for low-income individuals infected with HIV (S. 847), S5085 [9AP]

———permit States to obtain reimbursement for care or services provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act in a private mental health facility (S. 1771), S12980 [21OC]

———provide complete reimbursement for medical assistance provided to Native Hawaiians by federally qualified health centers or Native Hawaiian health care systems (S. 1312), S8359 [23JN]

———provide families of disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage (S. 622), S3740-S3742 [13MR]

———provide fiscal relief and program simplification to States and improve coverage and services to beneficiaries (S. 1012), S5862-S5871 [7MY]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services, S8347 [23JN], S8534-S8537 [25JN], S8606-S8608 [26JN]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (S. 971), S5660-S5664 [1MY]

———reform, S1958-S1960 [5FE], S2654-S2657 [25FE], S2883 [27FE]

———restore disproportionate share hospital allotment for Hawaii, S8495 [25JN]

———State funding for disproportionate share hospitals, S6462, S6470 [15MY]

———State funding for disproportionate share hospitals (S. 204), S1370 [22JA]

Medicare: allow beneficiaries direct access to physical therapists without a physician referral (S. 493), S2977 [27FE]

———allow beneficiaries enrolled in fallback plans to remain in such plans for two years by regulating contracting cycles, S8285 [20JN], S8390-S8394, S8408 [24JN]

———allow certain beneficiaries to purchase supplemental Medigap prescription drug plans, S8641, S8648 [26JN]

———allow certain States to opt out of prescription drug coverage program, S8687 [26JN]

———allow eligible beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans to elect zero premium, stop-loss drug coverage protection, S8679 [26JN]

———allow personal contributions to participate private fee-for-service plans, S8687 [26JN]

———anniversary, S10172, S10173 [30JY]

———clarification of a hospital ``under development'' relative to exemption from the self-referral limitation, S15743 [24NO]

———clarify definition of homebound relative to home health services (S. 598), S3547 [11MR]

———consolidate and restate Federal laws relative to social health maintenance organization projects, make such projects permanent, and require a study on ways to expand such projects (S. 306), S1981 [5FE]

———contractor funding, S11338 [10SE]

———coordination of benefits for prescription drug plans and State pharmaceutical assistance programs, S8653 [26JN]

———coverage of adult day care services, S8687 [26JN]

———coverage of adult day care services (S. 1227), S7633 [10JN]

———coverage of cancer drugs and treatments, S11305 [10SE], S15739, S15740 [24NO]

———coverage of certain drugs and biologicals under the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient services (S. 1206), S7543 [9JN]

———coverage of cholesterol and blood lipid screening, S8187 [19JN]

———coverage of cholesterol and blood lipid screening (S. 382), S2334, S2366 [12FE]

———coverage of diabetes laboratory diagnostic tests and other diabetes screening services (S. 599), S3548, S3549 [11MR]

———coverage of drug treatment therapy for HIV/AIDS patients, S15596 [23NO], S15887, S15888 [25NO]

———coverage of FDA-approved prescription drug therapies for beneficiaries with multiple sclerosis, S8546 [25JN]

———coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for beneficiaries who receive an organ transplant (S. 178), S1071 [16JA]

———coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients (S. 191), S1082 [16JA]

———coverage of marriage and family therapist services, S8481 [25JN]

———coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services (S. 310), S1987-S1989 [5FE]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases (S. 632), S3806 [17MR]

———coverage of medication therapy management services (S. 1270), S7931 [16JN]

———coverage of oral anticancer drugs (S. 1037), S6000, S6001 [9MY]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs, S1505, S1506 [28JA], S2047 [6FE], S2652 [25FE], S3050, S3052 [4MR], S3111 [5MR], S3974-S3979 [19MR], S4109, S4110 [20MR], S4265 [21MR], S4336 [25MR], S6214 [14MY], S6421, S6459, S6460 [15MY], S6641, S6642 [20MY], S7182-S7186 [2JN], S7270, S7272-S7274 [4JN]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs (S. 7), S134-S136 [9JA]

———coverage of pancreatic islet cell transplantations for individuals with diabetes and end stage renal disease, S8701 [26JN]

———coverage of screening and diagnostic mammography services, S8186 [19JN], S8856 [27JN]

———coverage of screening and diagnostic mammography services (S. 869), S5194 [10AP]

———coverage of syringes and medical supplies necessary for the administration of insulin, S8283 [20JN]

———definition of negotiated price for drug coverage relative to inclusion of dispensing fees, S15742, S15743 [24NO]

———develop and standardize quality indicators in health care data collection priority areas and develop programs to assist beneficiaries in making informed health plan decisions, S8421 [24JN]

———eliminate asset test to determine eligibility for premium and cost-sharing subsidies for low-income beneficiaries, S8111, S8115 [18JN], S8169-S8172 [19JN], S8338-S8340, S8343-S8345 [23JN]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (S. 853), S5178, S5179 [10AP]

———eliminate gap in coverage of prescription drug benefit, S8387-S8389, S8392, S8393, S8403, S8404 [24JN]

———eliminate gap in coverage of prescription drug benefit relative to Alzheimer's disease drugs, S8624 [26JN]

———eliminate gap in coverage of prescription drug benefit relative to cancer drugs, S8481 [25JN], S8621, S8622 [26JN]

———eliminate geographic physician work adjustment factor, provide incentives to attract educators and clinical practitioners to underserved areas, and revise certain wage adjustments for skilled nursing facilities (S. 36), S43 [7JA]

———eliminate privatization, improve prescription drug benefit, and repeal health savings accounts (S. 1992), S16127 [9DE]

———eliminate reduction in payment rates under the prospective payment system for home health services and increase payments for such services in rural areas, S1662 [28JA], S3766 [17MR]

———encourage availability of Medicare Advantage benefits in medically underserved areas, S8489-S8495 [25JN]

———enhance access of beneficiaries who live in medically underserved areas to critical primary and preventive health care benefits and improve the Medicare+Choice program (S. 654), S3901 [18MR]

———enhance beneficiary access to quality health care services in rural areas, S6200 [14MY], S6413, S6461, S6462, S6474 [15MY], S6959 [22MY], S7954-S7957 [17JN], S8018, S8109, S8112 [18JN]

———ensure beneficiaries have convenient access to retail pharmacies for prescription drug coverage and prohibit the tying of contracts by health plans, S8487, S8488, S8489 [25JN], S15743 [24NO]

———ensure contributions for prescription drug coverage made by beneficiaries' former employers be treated as incurred costs, S8326, S8329 [23JN], S8394, S8410 [24JN]

———ensure Medicare+Choice and Medicare Advantage payments attributable to disproportionate share hospitals are paid directly to such hospitals, S8335 [23JN]

———ensure that current retirees who are subject to lose prescription drug coverage will have the option of drug coverage under the Medicare fallback, S8660-S8662, S8701 [26JN]

———ensure that dual-eligible beneficiaries are eligible for prescription drug coverage, S8324-S8329 [23JN], S8393 [24JN], S8640, S8641, S8644, S8647 [26JN]

———establish a demonstration project for direct access to physical therapy services, S8284 [20JN]

———establish minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services (S. 375), S2360, S2361 [12FE]

———establish minimum geographic cost-of-practice index value for physicians' services (S. 881), S5209 [10AP]

———establish permanent lifestyle modification program for beneficiaries, S8653 [26JN]

———establish uniform physician fee schedule payments (S. 1135), S7040, S7041 [22MY]

———establish voluntary outpatient prescription drug discount and security program, S8493 [25JN], S8663-S8675 [26JN]

———establish voluntary outpatient prescription drug discount and security program (S. 778), S4828 [3AP]

———evaluate alternative payment and delivery systems, S8539-S8545 [25JN], S8618-S8620, S8637, S8638 [26JN]

———evaluate leading health care performance measures and options to implement policies that align performance with payment (S. 1328), S8565 [25JN]

———exclude brachytherapy devices from the prospective payment system for hospital outpatient services (S. 1288), S8160 [18JN]

———exclude clinical social worker services from coverage under the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (S. 343), S2200 [11FE]

———exempt beneficiaries from paying monthly premiums during any gap in coverage of their prescription drug benefit, S8274-S8277 [20JN], S8486 [25JN]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services (S. 646), S3894 [18MR]

———expand benefits, establish payment incentives for furnishing quality services, and develop an effective national policy to care for individuals with chronic conditions (S. 1179), S7383 [4JN]

———expand coverage of certain self-injected biologicals, S8346 [23JN], S8416-S8418 [24JN]

———expedite implementation of prescription drug coverage following enactment of reform legislation, S8349 [23JN], S8405-S8409 [24JN]

———extend eligibility periods for geriatric graduate medical education, S8283 [20JN]

———extend eligibility periods for geriatric graduate medical education, expand medical residency training programs in geriatric medicine, and provide reimbursement of care coordination and assessment services (S. 387), S2464 [13FE]

———extend low-income beneficiary access to quality health care services, S1374 [23JA]

———extend reasonable cost contracts to expand the area in which plans offered under such contracts may operate and to apply certain provisions of Medicare+Choice program to such plans (S. 1220), S7626 [10JN]

———funding, S1133 [17JA]

———geographically reclassify certain hospitals for purposes of equitable hospital payment rates, S8417 [24JN]

———guarantee option of Medicare provided prescription drug coverage for all beneficiaries, S8089-S8104, S8108 [18JN], S8657 [26JN]

———hospital ownership exceptions to physician self-referral restrictions, S9581, S9582 [17JY]

———improve access to Medicare+Choice plans for special needs beneficiaries by targeting enrollment (S. 526), S3181 [5MR]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals, S10962 [2SE]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals (S. 942), S5490 [29AP]

———improve Medicare Incentive Payment Program (S. 379), S2363 [12FE], S2448 [13FE]

———improve outpatient health care for beneficiaries in rural areas (S. 1185), S7397 [4JN]

———improve outpatient vision services, S8407 [24JN]

———improve outpatient vision services (S. 1095), S7115 [23MY]

———improve patient access to, and utilization of, the colorectal cancer screening benefit (S. 740), S4529 [27MR]

———improve reimbursement for clinical social worker services (S. 64), S62 [7JA]

———improve reimbursement payments to physicians, S15399 [21NO]

———improve reimbursement to rural health care providers and facilities by reducing tax cut on dividends, S6202-S6204 [14MY], S6413 [15MY]

———inclusion of disease management as a permanent part of the fee-for-service program, S8545 [25JN]

———income related increase in Medicare premium, S8680 [26JN]

———increase and freeze indirect medical education adjustment percentage, S8400 [24JN]

———increase direct subsidy to employers retaining retiree prescription drug coverage plans, S8410-S8412 [24JN]

———increase payments to rural health care providers and facilities, S4350, S4351, S4371 [25MR], S15579 [22NO]

———increase the availability of discounted prescription drugs through grants to health centers, hospitals, and other qualifying institutions, to create in-house pharmacies, S8280 [20JN]

———limit premium increases, S8172-S8174, S8184-S8186, S8198-S8200 [19JN]

———limit the extent to which premiums and benefits of prescription drug coverage plans may vary, S8498-S8500 [25JN]

———lower premiums and improve coverage in prescription drug plans, S8625-S8632, S8637 [26JN]

———permanently increase payment rates for home health services in rural areas, S8703 [26JN]

———permanently increase payment rates for home health services in rural areas (S. 636), S3808 [17MR]

———permit continuous open enrollment and disenrollment in prescription drug plans, S8401-S8403 [24JN]

———permit Medicare+Choice plans that disproportionately serve special needs or frail, elderly beneficiaries to offer specialized Medicare Advantage plans, S8522, S8523 [25JN], S8688 [26JN]

———permit offering of consumer-driven health care plans under Medicare Advantage, S8651 [26JN]

———prohibit health care providers from charging membership or extraneous fees as a prerequisite to service to a patient (S. 345), S2205 [11FE]

———protect and preserve access of beneficiaries to health care provided by hospitals in rural areas (S. 816), S4962, S4963 [8AP]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (S. 373), S2358 [12FE]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (S. 991), S5734 [5MY]

———provide access to audiologists (S. 1647), S11914 [24SE]

———provide additional assistance to beneficiaries with certain serious medical conditions during any gap in coverage of their prescription drug benefit, S8630-S8632, S8636 [26JN]

———provide beneficiaries with information on advance directives, S8652 [26JN]

———provide cost-sharing prescription drug coverage for certain beneficiaries in certain income categories, S8412-S8414 [24JN]

———provide fairness in the provision of services to Native Americans (S. 1779), S13138 [23OC]

———provide for equitable reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans, S8346 [23JN]

———provide for equitable reimbursement rates to Medicare+Choice organizations, S8500-S8502, S8506 [25JN], S8692, S8693 [26JN]

———provide for expeditious coverage of new medical technology (S. 823), S4972 [8AP]

———provide for income-related increase in part B premium for individuals and married couples with incomes exceeding a certain level, S8677, S8678 [26JN]

———provide for negotiation of fair prices for prescription drugs (S. 1994), S16133 [9DE]

———provide for negotiation of fair prices for prescription drugs (S. 1999), S16138 [9DE]

———provide payment for community health center services relative to coverage of individuals under managed care plans, S8336 [23JN], S8397, S8398 [24JN], S8482 [25JN]

———provide regulatory relief, appeals process reforms, contracting flexibility, and education improvements (S. 1332), S8568 [25JN]

———provide regulatory relief, appeals process reforms, contracting flexibility, and election improvements, S8282 [20JN]

———provide that beneficiaries who remain in the fee-for-service program receive the same drug benefit as those enrolled in a private plan, S4120 [20MR]

———Qualifying Individual Program funding, S1408 [23JA]

———reduce work hours and increase supervision of resident-physicians to ensure the safety of both patients and resident-physicians (S. 952), S5598 [30AP]

———reductions in prescription drug prices, S8490-S8493 [25JN]

———reform, S2654-S2657 [25FE], S2774 [26FE], S3111 [5MR], S5829 [7MY], S7182-S7186 [2JN], S7269, S7270, S7272-S7274, S7276, S7277-S7279 [4JN]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage, S12436-S12438 [3OC]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R.. 1), S9581, S9582 [17JY]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), S8898 [7JY], S9295-S9298 [11JY], S10960, S10962 [2SE], S11073 [4SE], S11146, S11155 [5SE], S11305 [10SE], S12151 [30SE], S14925-S14927 [17NO], S15036-S15038, S15047-S15051 [18NO], S15110, S15147-S15149, S15167-S15170, S15172-S15175 [19NO]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), conference report, S15362-S15368, S15373-S15376, S15379-S15385, S15399 [21NO], S15514, S15519, S15521-S15569, S15574-S15588 [22NO], S15592-S15644, S15663-S15667 [23NO], S15670-S15771 [24NO], S15882-S15902, S15904-S15915, S15918, S15919, S15927-S15932, S15950 [25NO], S16104-S16107 [9DE]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), conference report—unanimous-consent agreement, S15510 [21NO], S15528 [22NO]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (H.R. 1), insert S. 1 language in lieu, S8898 [7JY]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (S. 1), S7563, S7564, S7572 [10JN], S7665-S7668 [11JN], S7905-S7922 [16JN], S7943-S7974 [17JN], S8012, S8013-S8116 [18JN], S8167, S8202-S8216 [19JN], S8265-S8295 [20JN], S8323-S8354 [23JN], S8386-S8398, S8400-S8431 [24JN], S8479-S8546 [25JN], S8605-S8633, S8635-S8645, S8647-S8709 [26JN], S8832, S8850-S8856 [27JN], S8870, S8871 [7JY], S12910 [21OC], S12992 [22OC], S13068 [23OC], S14084 [6NO], S14960 [17NO]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (S. 1), unanimous-consent agreement, S7868 [13JN], S8706 [26JN]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage (S. 1), unanimous-consent request, S8411 [24JN], S8686 [26JN]

———reform reimbursement rates for chemotherapy drugs and administration, S15887 [25NO]

———reform reimbursement rates for chemotherapy drugs and administration (S. 1303), S8302 [20JN]

———reimburse Indian hospitals and clinics for all Part B services, S8337 [23JN]

———remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (S. 62), S61 [7JA]

———repeal Medicare Advantage Regional Plan Stabilization Fund (S. 1995), S16133 [9DE]

———repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps, S8521 [25JN], S8687, S8688 [26JN]

———require drug plans and organizations to transfer savings from drug manufacturers' rebate, discount, and incentive programs to local pharmacies and consumers, S8105-S8108 [18JN], S8183, S8184 [19JN]

———require GAO study on concierge care, S8288 [20JN], S11052, S11053 [4SE]

———require Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to study disproportionate share hospital payments, S8336 [23JN], S8396 [24JN]

———restore (S. 1926), S15420 [21NO]

———restore (S. 1926), unanimous-consent request, S15548 [22NO]

———restore the full market basket percentage increase applied to payments to hospitals for inpatient hospital services furnished to beneficiaries (S. 899), S5354 [11AP]

———stabilize physician fee schedule payments and reform the sustainable growth rate payment update system, S8546 [25JN], S8652 [26JN]

———standardize payment amounts for inpatient hospital services, S8417 [24JN]

———standardize payment amounts for inpatient hospital services and make other rural health care improvements (S. 987), S5731-S5733 [5MY]

———streamline regulations, S8350 [23JN]

———update asset test to determine eligibility for premium and cost-sharing subsidies for low-income beneficiaries, S8623 [26JN]

———update physician reimbursement rates, S8688 [26JN]

———use of corrected rate calculation payments for hands-on direct care to nursing home residents, S13234 [27OC]

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act: improve (S. 1974), S16022 [25NO]

———tribute to efforts of staff involved in passage, S15913, S15930-S15932, S15950 [25NO]

Medicare/Medicaid: establish a national abusive and criminal background check system for patient care workers (S. 958), S5602 [30AP]

———improve services, S1389-S1392, S1402, S1403 [23JA]

Members of Congress: provide that prescription drug coverage under a Federal health benefits plan not exceed the level of coverage under Medicare, S8350 [23JN], S8408 [24JN]

National Bipartisan Commission on Medicare Reform: establish, S8514 [25JN]

Native Americans: Federal funding for certain adoption and foster care programs (S. 331), S2056 [6FE]

Nurse Reinvestment Act: funding, S1450 [23JA]

Pensions: computation system for benefits relative to spouses' and surviving spouses' Government pensions (S. 363), S2220 [11FE]

———provide for personal retirement savings accounts, increase individual control over retirement income, protect surpluses, and reform certain benefits (H.R. 3055), S11746 [22SE]

Pharmaceuticals: permit commercial importation of prescription drugs from Canada, S8186, S8203-S8215 [19JN], S8265, S8269 [20JN]

———require manufacturers to sell FDA-approved prescription drugs to U.S. wholesalers and retailers on the same terms as Canadian purchasers, S8332-S8335, S8341-S8343 [23JN], S8403 [24JN]

Privacy: limit the misuse of Social Security numbers and establish criminal penalties for such misuse (S. 228), S1680, S1686 [28JA], S1689 [29JA]

———require consent of an individual prior to the sale and marketing of personally identifiable information (S. 745), S4559-S4561 [31MR]

Public welfare programs: address barriers to employment as a work activity under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (S. 316), S1996-S1999 [5FE]

———allow States to treat certain disabled and individuals caring for disabled persons as participating in work activities under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (S. 1523), S10645-S10648 [31JY]

———ensure fair treatment and due process protections for enhanced data collection and reporting requirements under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (S. 770), S4708-S4712 [2AP]

———ignore certain time limits for assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program for recipients in States experiencing significant increases in unemployment (S. 574), S3370 [7MR]

———improve provision of education and job training under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (S. 262), S1822 [30JA]

———permit States to create a program that allows individuals to obtain post-secondary or vocational education under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (S. 603), S3622 [12MR]

———provide grants for transitional jobs programs under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (S. 786), S4837 [3AP]

———reform, S9671 [22JY]

———require States to develop a strategic plan for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program and give them the flexibility to implement alternative welfare programs (S. 263), S1822 [30JA]

Puerto Rico: eligibility of residents for the earned income tax credit, the refundable portion of the child tax credit, and SSI benefits (S. 1658), S11999 [25SE]

Reform, S3402 [10MR], S3935-S3948 [19MR], S11739-S11746 [22SE]

Senate: accomplishments, S8837-S8839 [27JN]

SSI: clarify that the value of certain funeral and burial arrangements are not to be considered available resources (S. 166), S851 [15JA]

States: expand or add coverage of pregnant women under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (S. 1033), S5966-S5971 [8MY]

———expand or add coverage of pregnant women under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (S. 1734), S12612-S12616 [15OC]

———provide budget crisis relief and temporary fiscal relief through increased Medicaid payments, S6204-S6214 [14MY], S6414, S6462, S6463 [15MY], S7123 [23MY]

———provide homeland security and budget crisis relief grants and temporary fiscal relief through increased Medicaid payments (S. 565), S3323 [6MR]

———streamline enrollment processes for Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program through better linkages with programs providing nutrition and related assistance to low-income families (S. 1083), S6708 [20MY]

Taxation: allow Medicare beneficiaries a refundable credit for purchase of outpatient prescription drugs (S. 951), S5597, S5598 [30AP]

———ensure that trust fund surpluses are not reduced to fund tax cuts on corporate dividends, S6164-S6166, S6171-S6174 [14MY]

———phase out taxation of benefits (S. 1026), S5952 [8MY]

———provide a rebate to individuals for payroll taxes and provide employers with an income tax credit for payroll taxes paid during the payroll tax holiday period (S. 911), S5374 [11AP]

———rates, S3005-S3007 [3MR]

———repeal dividend and top rate tax cuts and use savings for Medicare prescription drug program, S6437 [15MY]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits, S4356, S4368 [25MR], S6155-S6157, S6159-S6164, S6197, S6198, S6242 [14MY], S6408, S6464 [15MY]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (S. 514), S3165 [5MR]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (S. 767), S4705 [2AP]

———suspend future reductions of income tax rates if Social Security surpluses are used to fund such cuts (S. 88), S74 [7JA]

———treatment of old-age, survivors, and disability insurance taxes paid by employees and self-employed individuals (S. 397), S2471 [13FE]

Trust funds: budget treatment, S3005-S3007 [3MR], S3376 [10MR], S3946 [19MR], S5269, S5270 [11AP], S5829 [7MY], S6039-S6041 [13MY], S7106-S7110 [23MY], S9578-S9580 [17JY]

———investment of trust funds in private financial markets, S11739-S11746 [22SE]

———redirect proposed tax cut revenues into reserve fund to strengthen trust funds, S3845-S3855 [18MR], S4356 [25MR]

Women: allow coverage of pregnancy-related assistance for targeted low-income pregnant women under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid, S3425-S3428, S3468-S3478 [11MR], S3613 [12MR]

———improve health care through expanded Medicaid, Medicare, and State Children's Health Insurance Program benefits (S. 1238), S7728 [11JN]

———promote economic security and safety of domestic and sexual violence victims (S. 1801), S13668 [30OC]

Reports

Impact of Republican Medicare Proposals on Insurance Industry Revenues and Profits: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) Minority Staff, S15769 [24NO]

Social Security and the Unified Budget: Alan Greenspan, National Commission on Social Security Reform (1983), S3005 [3MR]

Reports filed

Basic Pilot Extension Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 2359) (H. Rept. 108-304), H9281 [7OC], H9980 [28OC]

Basic Pilot Program Extension and Expansion Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 1685), S14176 [6NO]

Consideration of Conference Report on H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 463) (H. Rept. 108-394), H12306 [21NO]

Consideration of H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act and H.R. 2596, Health Savings and Affordability Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 299) (H. Rept. 108-181), H5928 [25JN]

Consideration of H.R. 743, Social Security Protection Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 168) (H. Rept. 108-54), H2585 [1AP]

Family Opportunity Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 622) (S. Rept. 108-157), S12192 [30SE]

Mammography Quality Standards Act Reauthorization: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 1879) (S. Rept. 108-220), S16119 [9DE]

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act: Committee of Conference (H.R. 1) (H. Rept. 108-391), H11700 [20NO]

Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 2473) (H. Rept. 108-178), H5927 [25JN]

———Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 2473) (H. Rept. 108-178), H6867 [15JY]

Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 810) (H. Rept. 108-74), H3450 [29AP]

———Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 810) (H. Rept. 108-74), H3350 [11AP]

Nomination of Bradley D. Belt to the Social Security Advisory Board: Committee on Finance (Senate), S14804 [12NO]

Patient Safety Improvement Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 877) (H. Rept. 108-31), H1743 [11MR]

Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 1), S7876 [13JN]

Same-Day Consideration of H. Res. 463, Consideration of Conference Report on H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 459) (H. Rept. 108-390), H11700 [20NO]

Social Security Protection Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (H.R. 743) (S. Rept. 108-176), S13515 [29OC]

———Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 743) (H. Rept. 108-46), H2277 [24MR]

State Children's Health Insurance Program Allotments Availability Extension: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 312) (S. Rept. 108-78), S8438 [24JN]

Rulings of the Chair

Benefits: provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (H.R. 743), H1550 [5MR]

Schedules

2001 debt timeline, S3379 [10MR]

Statements

Social Security Protection Act: National Conference of State Social Security Administrators, H2650 [2AP]

Studies

Coordination of Care for Those With Multiple Chronic Conditions, S8620 [26JN]

Summaries

Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act (S. 1645), S11835-S11844 [23SE]

Defense of Medicare and Real Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Act (S. 1992), S16128 [9DE]

Medicare Chronic Care Improvement Act (H.R. 2342), E1122 [4JN]

Medicare Out-of-Pocket Spending Limit Act (H.R. 2199), E1030 [21MY]

MediKids Health Insurance Act (H.R. 1205), E426 [11MR]

Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act (S. 1): Specter Amendment on Advance Directives, S8653 [26JN]

———Specter Amendment on Coordination of Benefits for Prescription Drug Plans and State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs, S8654 [26JN]

———Specter Amendment on Permanent Lifestyle Modification Program, S8653 [26JN]

———Specter Amendment on Physician Fee Schedule Payments, S8653 [26JN]

Social Security Protection Act (H.R. 743), H1534-H1541 [5MR]

Tables

Budget realities, S3377 [10MR], S4067 [20MR]

CBO baseline projections of Federal interest and debt, S11461 [15SE]

Committee on the Budget (Senate) budget authority allocation revisions to H. Con Res. 95, setting forth the Federal budget for 2003-2013, relative to Medicare reserve fund, S8118 [18JN]

Daily history of debt results, S7106 [23MY]

Federal Government financing and debt, S3377 [10MR], S4068 [20MR]

Pharmaceutical company contributions by party (2002), H5912 [25JN]

Social Security tax rates for 2002 and later, S3942 [19MR]

Social Security trust fund financial operations (2002), S3942 [19MR]

U.S., Canadian negotiated Dept. of Veterans Affairs and Dept. of Defense prescription drug prices, H5912 [25JN]

Testimonies

Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act: Committee on Finance (Senate), S8661 [26JN]

Texts of

H. Res. 168, consideration of H.R. 743, Social Security Protection Act, H2591 [2AP]

H. Res. 299, consideration of H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act and H.R. 2596, Health Savings and Affordability Act, H5952 [26JN]

H. Res. 459, same-day consideration of H. Res. 463, consideration of conference report on H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, H12174 [21NO]

H. Res. 463, consideration of conference report on H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, H12230 [21NO]

H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act, H6007-H6077 [26JN]

H.R. 1, Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act, S8898-S8997 [7JY]

H.R. 531, State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments availability extension, H6006 [26JN]

H.R. 743, Social Security Protection Act, S16183-S16196 [9DE], H1524-H1533 [5MR], H2625, H2634-H2642 [2AP]

H.R. 2359, Basic Pilot Extension Act, H9893 [28OC]

H.R. 2631, ensure prescription drug coverage for Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Medicare-eligible enrollees is actuarially equal to benefit offered to general enrollees, H6303 [8JY]

H.R. 2854, State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments availability extension, H7715 [25JY]

H.R. 3182, Adoption Promotion Act, H9302 [8OC]

H.R. 3288, technical corrections to H.R. 2854, extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program, H9703 [20OC]

S. 1, Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act, S7720 [11JN]

S. 37, permit the operation by Kentucky of a separate retirement system for certain public employees under Social Security, S44 [7JA]

S. 62, Autonomy for Psychologists and Social Workers Act, S61 [7JA]

S. 63, Nursing School Clinics Act, S61 [7JA]

S. 64, Equity for Clinical Social Workers Act, S62 [7JA]

S. 138, increase Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage to States, S164 [9JA]

S. 171, Medicare Ambulance Payment Reform Act, S856 [15JA]

S. 172, Rural Health Care Equity Act, S856-S859 [15JA]

S. 178, Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Transplant Patients Act, S1071 [16JA]

S. 204, Medicaid Safety Net Improvement Act, S1371 [22JA]

S. 223, Identity Theft Prevention Act, S1676 [28JA]

S. 228, Social Security Number Misuse Prevention Act, S1681-S1685 [28JA]

S. 262, Education Works Act, S1824 [30JA]

S. 263, Self Sufficiency and Accountability Act, S1824-S1827 [30JA]

S. 310, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act, S1988 [5FE]

S. 312, extend availability of allotments under the State Children's Health Insurance Program, S1990 [5FE]

S. 312, State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments availability extension, S8633-S8635 [26JN]

S. 316, Chance To Succeed Act, S1996-S1998 [5FE]

S. 345, Equal Access to Medicare Act, S2205 [11FE]

S. 362, Social Security Family Protection Act, S2220 [11FE]

S. 363, Government Pension Offset Reform Act, S2221 [11FE]

S. 368, Straight Talk on Social Security Act, S2355 [12FE]

S. 375, Medicare Access Equity Act, S2361 [12FE]

S. 379, Medicare Incentive Payment Program Improvement Act, S2363 [12FE]

S. 382, Medicare Cholesterol Screening Coverage Act, S2367 [12FE]

S. 397, Payroll Tax Deduction Act, S2472 [13FE]

S. 565, Homeland Protection and Tax Hike Prevention Act, S3323-S3325 [6MR]

S. 574, Unemployment Protection for Low-Income Families Through TANF (UPLIFT) Act, S3370 [7MR]

S. 588, MediKids Health Insurance Act, S3509-S3512 [11MR]

S. 621, Children's Health Equity Act, S3739 [13MR]

S. 622, Family Opportunity Act, S3740 [13MR]

S. 632, Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases, S3806 [17MR]

S. 652, Access to Hospitals Act, S3901 [18MR]

S. 689, Truth in Budgeting and Social Security Protection Act, S4288-S4295 [21MR]

S. 745, Privacy Act, S4561-S4570 [31MR]

S. 750, Blind Empowerment Act, S4632 [1AP]

S. 767, repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits, S4706 [2AP]

S. 770, Fair Treatment and Due Process Protection Act, S4709-S4712 [2AP]

S. 776, authorize payments under Federal retirement systems to Social Security trusts set up for disabled dependents of Federal employees, S4827 [3AP]

S. 778, Medicare Rx Drug Discount and Security Act, S4828-S4834 [3AP]

S. 786, Business Links Act, S4838 [3AP]

S. 847, Early Treatment for HIV Act, S5091 [9AP]

S. 874, Sickle Cell Treatment Act, S5200 [10AP]

S. 881, Rural Equity Payment Index Reform Act, S5209 [10AP]

S. 883, Transitional Medical Assistance Improvement Act, S5232 [10AP]

S. 899, American Hospital Preservation Act, S5354 [11AP]

S. 952, Patient and Physician Safety and Protection Act, S5599 [30AP]

S. 958, Patient Abuse Prevention Act, S5603-S5607 [30AP]

S. 971, Medicaid Community-Based Attendant Services and Supports Act, S5660-S5664 [1MY], S5727-S5730 [5MY]

S. 991, Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act, S5734 [5MY]

S. 1012, Strengthening Our States (SOS) Act, S5864-S5871 [7MY]

S. 1030, Health Coverage, Affordability, Responsibility, and Equity (HealthCARE) Act, S5956-S5964 [8MY]

S. 1033, Start Healthy, Stay Healthy Act, S5967 [8MY]

S. 1095, Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act, S6858 [21MY]

S. 1127, Fair and Impartial Rights (FAIR) for Medicare Act, S7017 [22MY]

S. 1142, Children's Dental Health Improvement Act, S7139-S7142 [23MY]

S. 1153, Veterans Prescription Drugs Assistance Act, S7148 [23MY]

S. 1179, Medicare Chronic Care Improvement Act, S7383-S7387 [4JN]

S. 1185, Rural Provider Equity Act, S7397-S7401 [4JN]

S. 1220, Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act, S7626 [10JN]

S. 1227, Medicare Adult Day Services Alternative Act, S7634 [10JN]

S. 1249, TRICARE Retirees Opportunity Act, S7837 [12JN]

S. 1257, Medicare Payment for Quality and Value Act, S7841 [12JN]

S. 1312, Native Hawaiian Medicaid Coverage Act, S8359 [23JN]

S. 1394, Money Follows the Person Act, S9304-S9306 [11JY]

S. 1418, Notch Fairness Act, S9498 [16JY]

S. 1429, Family Planning State Empowerment Act, S9597 [17JY]

S. 1502, technical corrections to H.R. 2854, State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments availability extension, S10285 [30JY]

S. 1503, technical corrections to H.R. 2854, State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments availability extension, S10286 [30JY]

S. 1519, Medicaid Federal-State cost-sharing program extension to assist low-income Medicare beneficiaries with health care costs, S10643 [31JY]

S. 1523, Pathways to Independence Act, S10646 [31JY]

S. 1547, technical corrections to H.R. 2854, State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments availability extension, S10847 [31JY]

S. 1641, QI-1s Medicare Cost-Sharing Extension Act, S11833 [23SE]

S. 1645, Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act, S11845-S11855 [23SE]

S. 1647, Hearing Health Accessibility Act, S11914 [24SE]

S. 1658, Puerto Rico Economic Stimulus Act, S12000 [25SE]

S. 1685, Basic Pilot Program Extension and Expansion Act, S14505 [12NO], H11582 [19NO]

S. 1686, Adoption Promotion Act, S12195 [30SE]

S. 1734, Prevent Prematurity and Improve Child Health Act, S12612-S12615 [15OC]

S. 1779, Medicare Indian Health Fairness Act, S13139 [23OC]

S. 1801, Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) Act, S13668-S13677 [30OC]

S. 1926, Support Our Health Care Providers Act, S15420-S15470 [21NO]

S. 1935, Universal Secure Access to Health Care Act, S15653-S15663 [23NO]

S. 1974, Medicare Preservation and Drug Price Fairness Act, S16022 [25NO]

S. 1976, permit qualifying States to use unspent State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments for Medicaid expenditures, S16025 [25NO]

S. 1994, Efficiency in Government Health Care Spending Act, S16133 [9DE]

S. 1995, repeal Medicare Advantage Regional Plan Stabilization Fund, S16133 [9DE]

S. Con. Res. 41, national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, S5613 [30AP]

S. Res. 155, oppose reduction of annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, S7115, S7160 [23MY]