SENIOR CITIZENS

Addresses

Simon Rainbow Room Dedication: Larry Simon, E1433 [9JY]

Amendments

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]

Social Security: 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]

Analyses

Increase Penalties Relating to Conspiracy, Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, and ERISA Violations, S5326-S5331 [11AP]

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]

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

Drug Plan a Placebo, H7234 [22JY]

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

Flu Shots Save Lives, S5531 [30AP]

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

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

Imprisoned by Medicare, S3548 [11MR]

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

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]

Prescription Drug Benefit Imminent, H6087 [26JN]

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]

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

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

What if a Pension Shift Hit Lawmakers, Too?, E447 [12MR]

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]

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]

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

Army: release to Clay County, GA, a reversionary interest of the U.S. requiring the non-profit operation of certain land as a retirement community (see H.R. 3141), H8490 [23SE]

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

Capital Construction Fund: provide for qualified withdrawals for fishermen leaving the industry and for the rollover to individual retirement plans (see S. 1193), S7476 [5JN] (see H.R. 2360), H5043 [5JN]

Commodity Supplemental Food Program: modify the eligibility criteria for supplemental foods (see S. 468), S2919 [27FE] (see H.R. 1021), H1463 [27FE]

Corp. for National and Community Service: reauthorize and reform national service laws (see S. 1274), S7980 [17JN]

Crime: prevent and increase penalties for crimes such as health care, pension, and telemarketing fraud, and nursing home abuse and fraud (see S. 1286), S8125 [18JN]

———promote elder justice (see S. 333), S2119 [10FE] (see H.R. 2490), H5467 [17JN]

Dept. of HHS: expand and intensify research programs concerning elder falls (see S. 1217), S7540 [9JN] (see H.R. 3513), H11391 (see H.R. 3513), H11514 [18NO]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: expand the assisted living pilot program to include additional health care regions (see S. 1572), S10970 [2SE]

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

———extend the period for provision of noninstitutional extended care services and required nursing home care (see S. 836), S5059 [9AP]

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]

———make pension and individual retirement arrangement provisions permanent (see S. 95), S37 [7JA]

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

Employment: 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]

FAA: relax maximum age requirements for certain pilots (see S. 959), S5541 [30AP] (see H.R. 1063), H1515 [4MR]

Family and Medical Leave Act: allow leave for parental involvement in educational and extracurricular activities, routine medical needs, and assistance to elderly relatives (see H.R. 956), H1460 [27FE]

Federal employees: clarify the computation of certain civil service retirement system annuities based on part-time service (see H.R. 2191), H4527 [21MY]

———eliminate inequities in retirement benefits for law enforcement officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers, Supreme Court members, and Capitol police (see H.R. 3267), H9375 [8OC]

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: coverage of bone mass measurements (see S. 417), S2522 [14FE]

———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]

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act: prohibit sale or trade of prescription drugs that were knowingly adulterated or misbranded (see H.R. 2936), H7783 [25JY]

Food: facilitate procurement of safe food by hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and child care facilities (see H.R. 3628), H12308 [21NO]

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

Health: expand access to affordable health care, strengthen health care safety net, and make services more available in rural and underserved areas (see S. 100), S37 [7JA]

———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 prescription drug benefits for veterans (see H.R. 2874), H7616 [24JY]

———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]

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

———reduce price of prescription drugs purchased by States for its employees, retirees, and pharmaceutical assistance beneficiaries (see H.R. 3662), H12918 [8DE]

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

Housing: establish demonstration program to modernize and increase access to health services in public housing for elderly and disabled persons (see S. 1697), S12277 [1OC]

Immigration: naturalization of individuals over 65 relative to English language requirements (see H.R. 3123), H8381 [17SE]

Insurance: make Federal Employees Health Benefits Program available to individuals age 55 to 65 who would not otherwise have health insurance (see H.R. 56), H53 [7JA]

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

LIHEAP: extend energy assistance to households headed by certain senior citizens (see H.R. 1898), H3570 [30AP]

Medicaid: 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]

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

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

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

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

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

———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 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 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]

———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 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 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 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 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 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]

———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 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]

———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]

———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]

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

———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 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]

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

———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]

———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 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]

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

———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]

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

———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]

———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]

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]

———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: 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]

Mental health: improve and enhance access to mental health services (see S. 1456), S9959 [25JY] (see H.R. 2241), H4735 [22MY]

Motor vehicles: require periodic testing of the competency of certain elderly drivers (see H.R. 2923), H7782 [25JY]

National Family Caregiver Support Program: funding (see H. Con. Res. 228), H5814 [24JN]

NIH: provide for Alzheimer's disease research and demonstration grants (see S. 566), S3253 [6MR] (see H.R. 1138), H1679 [6MR]

North Carolina: authorize use of unobligated housing demonstration program funds to make grants to senior citizens for recovery from flood and hurricane damage to their homes (see H.R. 406), H217 [28JA]

Pensions: establish grant program to provide financial and retirement education programs to reduce financial abuse and fraud among mid-life and older individuals (see S. 386), S2456 [13FE]

———exempt elementary and secondary school teachers from Federal age discrimination laws relative to voluntary early retirement incentive plans (see H.R. 1893), H3570 [30AP]

———protect employee benefits in defined benefit plans and enforce age discrimination requirements that apply to conversion of pension plans to cash balance plans (see S. 825), S4957 [8AP] (see H.R. 1677), H2938 [8AP]

———reform (see H.R. 1776), H3351 [11AP]

Pharmaceuticals: provide tax credit to retirement age individuals, remove barriers to importation, and prohibit certain regulation of Internet sites relative to prescription drugs (see H.R. 616), H321 [5FE]

Postal Service: require door delivery of mail sent to persons residing in senior communities (see H.R. 1810), H3353 [11AP] (see H.R. 2339), H4977 [4JN]

Railroad Retirement Act: eliminate a limitation on benefits (see H.R. 1384), H2269 [20MR]

Rehabilitation Act: provide for equitable allotment of funds to States for centers for independent living (see S. 1237), S7718 [11JN] (see H.R. 2385), H5045 [5JN]

Safety Net Organizations and Patient Advisory Commission: establish (see S. 732), S4512 [27MR]

Social Security: 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]

———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]

———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]

———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]

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

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

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

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

———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]

———exempt from windfall elimination provisions individuals who are entitled to retired pay based on a certain period 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]

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

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

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

———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]

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

———level of benefit 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]

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

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

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

———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]

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

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

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

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

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

SSI: 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]

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

———allow a refundable credit for the purchase of private health insurance and establish State health insurance safety-net programs (see S. 1570), S10906 [1AU] (see H.R. 583), H319 [5FE]

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

———allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums (see S. 623), S3730 [13MR] (see H.R. 1231), H1810 [12MR]

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

———allow penalty-free distributions from qualified retirement plans on account of the death or disability of the participant's spouse (see H.R. 64), H54 [7JA]

———enhance the portability of retirement benefits (see H.R. 518), H268 [31JA]

———extend and expand the enhanced deduction for charitable contributions of computers to provide public access to computers (see H.R. 1131), H1679 [6MR]

———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]

———improve portability of retirement savings and expand pension coverage and savings opportunities (see S. 1912), S15406 [21NO]

———increase limitation on contributions to simple retirement accounts (see H.R. 2375), H5044 [5JN]

———provide a one-time increase in the amount excludable from the sale of a principal residence by taxpayers of a certain age (see H.R. 1922), H3635 [1MY]

———provide a partially refundable tax credit to family caregivers (see S. 1214), S7540 [9JN]

———provide an additional personal exemption for certain dependents with long-term care needs (see H.R. 2697), H6602 [10JY]

———provide income tax credit to long-term caregivers (see S. 1031), S5950 [8MY]

———remove the requirement of a mandatory beginning date for distributions from individual retirement accounts (see H.R. 315), H137 [8JA]

———remove the requirement of a mandatory beginning date for distributions from individual retirement accounts and elective deferrals under qualified cash or deferred arrangements (see H.R. 2340), H4977 [4JN]

———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]

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

———treatment of amounts received as damages on account of age discrimination (see H.R. 2140), H4204 [15MY]

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

———treatment of certain stipends paid from a State program to volunteer workers who have attained age 60 (see H.R. 2104), H4130 [14MY]

———treatment of flexible spending arrangements relative to long-term care insurance (see S. 1335), S8559 [25JN] (see H.R. 2096), H4130 [14MY]

———treatment of gain from the sale of a business closely held by an individual who has attained age 62 (see H.R. 1419), H2310 [25MR]

———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 individual retirement accounts relative to charitable contributions (see S. 209), S1479 [23JA] (see S. 283), S1871 [4FE] (see H.R. 2230), H4735 [22MY]

———treatment of property tax reduction vouchers received by senior citizens in exchange for volunteer work (see H.R. 2103), H4130 [14MY]

———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]

Women: provide comprehensive pension protection (see S. 1617), S11479 [15SE]

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]

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

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]

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]

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

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]

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 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]

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]

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]

Use of statistical age-adjusted analysis to determine the benefits of pollution control: Michael W. Naylor, AARP, S14934 [17NO]

Lists

North Dakota organizations that have endorsed the charitable individual retirement account rollover, S4946 [8AP]

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 prohibiting use of statistical age-adjusted analysis to determine the benefits of pollution control, S14935 [17NO]

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 Mikulski amendment on providing tax credit for individuals serving as caregivers of dependent relatives to S. Con. Res. 23, setting forth the Federal budget for 2003-2013, S4066 [20MR]

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

Motions

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]

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

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]

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]

Alaskey, Joseph F., Jr.: Albany, NY, Capital District Senior Issues Forum Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, E1975 [3OC]

Albuquerque, NM: tribute to Mechanical Contractors Association Project Heat's On, E1768 [11SE]

Alcorn, Joe: Henderson, NV, Senior Center Volunteer of the Month award recipient, E1305 [19JN]

Amtrak: funding, H7885-H7887 [4SE]

Baker, Donald: Jefferson County, IL, Senior Saints Hall of Fame inductee, E1051 [22MY]

Baker, Dorothy: Jefferson County, IL, Senior Saints Hall of Fame inductee, E1050 [22MY], E1434, E1437 [9JY]

Bean, Alfred (Mugsy): Jefferson County, IL, Senior Saints Hall of Fame inductee, E1054 [22MY], E1435 [9JY]

Boulder City, NV: tribute to Lend a Hand Program, E2281 [7NO]

Brooklyn Chinese-American Association: anniversary of Eighth Avenue Senior Center, E2007 [8OC]

Budget: combat waste, fraud, and abuse, H10113 [29OC], H10317, H10318, H10320, H10321 [4NO]

Burch, Edith: Experience Works, Inc., California Outstanding Older Worker award recipient, E1851 [23SE]

Burne, James and Mary Lou: Little Flower Manor and St. Therese Residence of Wilkes-Barre, PA, honorees, E2318 [19NO]

California Grey Bears (organization): tribute, E1612 [25JY]

Connaway, Chester: Jefferson County, IL, Senior Saints Hall of Fame inductee, E1047 [22MY], E1435 [9JY]

Corp. for National and Community Service: funding, H5554 [19JN]

Cowen, John N.: Jefferson County, IL, Senior Saints Hall of Fame inductee, E1052 [22MY], E1434 [9JY]

Crime: promote elder justice, H3686 [7MY]

Cuyahoga County, OH: anniversary of the Babes of 1916 Senior Citizens Softball League, E205 [13FE]

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

Dept. of Homeland Security: address emergency preparedness relative to senior citizens, the disabled, and others with special needs, H5761 [24JN]

Dept. of Justice: conduct feasibility study on background checks for volunteers who work with children, the disabled, and the elderly, H2426, H2427 [27MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: 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]

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

———discrepancy in prescription drug prices between U.S. and foreign countries, H4095 [14MY], H4342-H4349 [20MY], H4845 [3JN], H4953 [4JN], H5056-H5058 [9JN], H5155-H5159 [10JN], H5346, H5360-H5362 [12JN], H5453-H5459 [17JN], H6434 [9JY], H6858-H6864 [15JY], H9257 [7OC]

Dude, Leroy: Jefferson County, IL, Senior Saints Hall of Fame inductee, E1038 [21MY]

EPA: prohibit use of statistical age-adjusted analysis to determine the benefits of pollution control, H7693 [25JY]

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

Everett, PA: anniversary of Pennknoll Village retirement community, E1598 [25JY]

FAA: relax maximum age requirements for certain pilots, H5192 [11JN]

Family and Medical Leave Act: allow leave for parental involvement in educational and extracurricular activities, routine medical needs, and assistance to elderly relatives (H.R. 956), E323 [27FE]

Federal aid programs: increase overall funding for education, public health, and services for low-income and elderly persons through reductions in tax cuts, H6397-H6405 [9JY]

Federal employees: eliminate inequities in retirement benefits for law enforcement officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers, Supreme Court members, and Capitol police (H.R. 3267), E2022 [8OC]

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]

Fields, Cliff: Jefferson County, IL, Senior Saints Hall of Fame inductee, E1050 [22MY], E1438 [9JY]

Food: facilitate procurement of safe food by hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and child care facilities (H.R. 3628), E2447 [23NO]

———nutrition programs funding, H6523 [10JY], H11500-H11503 [18NO]

Fort Worth, TX: anniversary of James L. West Alzheimer's Care Facility, E885 [7MY]

Garfield Heights, OH: anniversary of Sisters of the Holy Spirit, E146 [6FE]

Germann, Nancy: Jefferson County, IL, Senior Saints Hall of Fame inductee, E1054 [22MY], E1436 [9JY]

Goldman, Jack: Jefferson County, IL, Senior Saints Hall of Fame inductee, E1053 [22MY], E1437 [9JY]

Health: 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]

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

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

Hernando, FL: tribute to Woodland Terrace of Citrus County nursing home nurses, E893 [9MY]

House of Representatives: legislative priorities, H5536 [18JN]

Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly, Inc.: anniversary, E1897 [25SE]

Ironwood, MI: anniversary of AARP chapter #556, E1328 [23JN]

Kimmel, Ardell: Jefferson County, IL, Senior Saints Hall of Fame inductee, E1037 [21MY]

Kimmel, Wilma: Jefferson County, IL, Senior Saints Hall of Fame inductee, E1054 [22MY], E1436 [9JY]

Lakewood, OH: anniversary of George E. Fedor Manor, E1411 [8JY]

———anniversary of Westerly Apartments and Barton Senior Center, E1242 [13JN]

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

———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]

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

———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]

———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]

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

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

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]

Mental health: improve and enhance access to mental health services (H.R. 2241), E1059 [22MY]

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

Montrose, CO: anniversary of Montrose Senior Center, E705 [8AP]

National Association of Retired Federal Employees: anniversary of Chester County, PA, chapter, E2328 [19NO]

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: study on the sexual behavior of aging men, H4984 [5JN]

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

New York , NY: tribute to Village Reform Democratic Club honorees, E1001 [21MY]

North Carolina: authorize use of unobligated housing demonstration program funds to make grants to senior citizens for recovery from flood and hurricane damage to their homes (H.R. 406), E85 [28JA]

North Georgia College & State University: tribute to Graduate Program in Physical Therapy community outreach program for providing equipment and services to senior citizens in rural areas, E1089 [2JN]

NTSB: study impact of age on the competence and qualifications of pilots and the use of rail systems in high population density cities, H4166, H4167 [15MY]

Odland, Luna: Alzheimer's Association President's Award recipient, E776 [12AP]

Older Americans Act: funding, H6521 [10JY]

Pensions: conversion of defined benefit plans to cash balance plans, E446 [12MR]

———exempt elementary and secondary school teachers from Federal age discrimination laws relative to voluntary early retirement incentive plans (H.R. 1893), E828 [1MY]

———protect employee benefits in defined benefit plans and enforce age discrimination requirements that apply to conversion of pension plans to cash balance plans, H4038, H4085 [14MY], H12838 [8DE]

———protect employee benefits in defined benefit plans and enforce age discrimination requirements that apply to conversion of pension plans to cash balance plans (H.R. 1677), E699, E708 [8AP]

———protection of workers whose employers convert from defined benefits to cash balance pension plans, H4090 [14MY]

———reform (H.R. 1776), H9300 [8OC]

Peterslie, Oscar: Experience Works, Inc., Prime Time Awards Program Wisconsin Outstanding Older Worker award recipient, H8370 [17SE]

Pharmaceuticals: provide tax credit to retirement age individuals, remove barriers to importation, and prohibit certain regulation of Internet sites relative to prescription drugs (H.R. 616), E190 [12FE]

———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]

Postal Service: require door delivery of mail sent to persons residing in senior communities (H.R. 1810), E769 [12AP]

Prince William County, VA: anniversary of Westminister at Lake Ridge Retirement Community, E1956 [2OC]

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

Social Security: budget treatment of trust funds, 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]

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

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

———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]

———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]

———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]

———reform, H7213-H7216 [21JY]

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

———solvency, H4259 [20MY], H9265-H9267 [7OC]

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

Sonsini, Clara: Jefferson County, IL, Senior Saints Hall of Fame inductee, E1048 [22MY], E1438 [9JY]

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

St. Joseph, MO: anniversary of National Association of Retired Federal Employees Chapter 307, E276 [25FE]

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

———allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums, H6177 [26JN]

———enhance the portability of retirement benefits (H.R. 518), E118 [31JA]

———provide a one-time increase in the amount excludable from the sale of a principal residence by taxpayers of a certain age (H.R. 1922), H5033 [5JN], E895 [9MY]

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

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

———treatment of certain stipends paid from a State program to volunteer workers who have attained age 60 (H.R. 2104), E947 [14MY]

———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]

———treatment of property tax reduction vouchers received by senior citizens in exchange for volunteer work (H.R. 2103), E945 [14MY]

Timlin, James C.: Little Flower Manor and St. Therese Residence of Wilkes-Barre, PA, honoree, E2318 [19NO]

Toledo, OH: anniversary of Eleanor M. Kahle Senior Center, E1795 [16SE]

TREA Senior Citizens League: tribute, H9465 [15OC]

Union City, CA: tribute to Union City Police Dept., Citizens Aiding Residents and Elderly Program, E1890 [25SE]

Veterans: health care funding, H11201 [17NO], E2279 [7NO], E2289 [10NO]

Woodbridge, VA: anniversary of Lake Ridge Fellowship House, E1533 [18JY]

———anniversary of Prince William Senior Center, E1784 [15SE]

Wyeth (company): tribute to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals patient assistance program, E1350 [25JN]

Remarks in Senate

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

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]

Capital Construction Fund: provide for qualified withdrawals for fishermen leaving the industry and for the rollover to individual retirement plans (S. 1193), S7483 [5JN]

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

Congress: accomplishments of the 108th Congress, S16154-S16157 [9DE]

Corp. for National and Community Service: reauthorize and reform national service laws (S. 1274), S7983, S7999 [17JN]

Crime: increase penalties relating to conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and ERISA violations, S5325 [11AP]

———prevent and increase penalties for crimes such as health care, pension, and telemarketing fraud, and nursing home abuse and fraud (S. 1286), S8153 [18JN]

———promote elder justice (S. 333), S2120 [10FE]

Dept. of Agriculture: nutrition programs funding, S1436-S1438 [23JA], S4413 [26MR], S14013 [5NO]

Dept. of HHS: expand and intensify research programs concerning elder falls (S. 1217), S7554, S7555 [9JN]

———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]

———State Long-Term Care Ombudsmen Program funding, S11056, S11057 [4SE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: expand the assisted living pilot program to include additional health care regions (S. 1572), S10972 [2SE]

———extend the period for provision of noninstitutional extended care services and required nursing home care (S. 836), S5070 [9AP], S14394 [11NO]

Drugs: discrepancy in prescription drug prices between U.S. and foreign countries, S2793 [26FE]

EPA: prohibit use of statistical age-adjusted analysis to determine the benefits of pollution control, S14934-S14936 [17NO]

FAA: relax maximum age requirements for certain pilots, S7793-S7796 [12JN]

———relax maximum age requirements for certain pilots (S. 959), S5607 [30AP]

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

Health: efficacy of flu shots, S5531 [30AP]

———expand access to affordable health care, strengthen health care safety net, and make services more available in rural and underserved areas (S. 100), S78-S80 [7JA]

———home health care funding, S11155 [5SE]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, S214 [13JA], S1651 [28JA], S2450 [13FE], S3115, S3116 [5MR], S4145 [20MR], S4361 [25MR], 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]

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

———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]

Housing: establish demonstration program to modernize and increase access to health services in public housing for elderly and disabled persons (S. 1697), S12287 [1OC]

Insurance: 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]

———provide health care coverage for qualified caregivers, S6439 [15MY]

Medicaid: 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]

———extend Federal-State cost-sharing program to assist low-income Medicare beneficiaries with health care costs (S. 1519), S10643 [31JY]

———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, S2654-S2657 [25FE], S2883 [27FE]

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]

———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 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 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 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 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 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 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]

———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 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 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]

———protect and preserve access of beneficiaries to health care provided by hospitals in rural areas (S. 816), S4962, S4963 [8AP]

———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]

———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]

———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]

Mental health: improve and enhance access to mental health services (S. 1456), S9963 [25JY]

National Assisted Living Week: observance, S11114 [4SE]

National Association of Retired Federal Employees: anniversary, S11465 [15SE]

National Bipartisan Commission on Medicare Reform: establish, S8514 [25JN]

National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center: establish, S8421 [24JN]

National Retirement Planning Week: observance, S15401 [21NO]

National Senior Health and Fitness Day: observance, S7125 [23MY]

NIH: provide for Alzheimer's disease research and demonstration grants (S. 566), S3325 [6MR], S3403 [10MR]

Older Americans Month: observance, S7125, S7130 [23MY]

Pennsylvania: Agricultural Research Service Geisinger Rural Aging Study and Nutricore Northeast, Inc., research funding, S14014, S14015 [5NO]

Pensions: establish grant program to provide financial and retirement education programs to reduce financial abuse and fraud among mid-life and older individuals (S. 386), S2462 [13FE], S15401 [21NO]

———protect employee benefits in defined benefit plans and enforce age discrimination requirements that apply to conversion of pension plans to cash balance plans (S. 825), S4973 [8AP]

———protection of workers whose employers convert from defined benefits to cash balance pension plans, S1790-S1793 [30JA]

———reform, S2282-S2284 [12FE]

Rehabilitation Act: provide for equitable allotment of funds to States for centers for independent living (S. 1237), S7728 [11JN]

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: tribute to Faith in Action Program, S7827 [12JN]

Robinson, Lillian S.: Experience Works, Inc., Kentucky Outstanding Older Worker award recipient, S13658 [30OC]

Safety Net Organizations and Patient Advisory Commission: establish (S. 732), S4522 [27MR]

Social Security: budget treatment of trust funds, S3005-S3007 [3MR], S3376 [10MR], S3946 [19MR], S5269, S5270 [11AP], S5829 [7MY], S6039-S6041 [13MY], S7106-S7110 [23MY], S9578-S9580 [17JY]

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

———ensure that trust fund surpluses are not reduced to fund tax cuts on corporate dividends, S6164-S6166, S6171-S6174 [14MY]

———improve women's health care through expanded Medicaid, Medicare, and State Children's Health Insurance Program benefits (S. 1238), S7728 [11JN]

———include additional information in account statements (S. 368), S2355 [12FE]

———level of benefit 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]

———phase out taxation of benefits (S. 1026), S5952 [8MY]

———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]

———provide for personal retirement savings accounts, increase individual control over retirement income, protect surpluses, and reform certain benefits (H.R. 3055), S11746 [22SE]

———redirect proposed tax cut revenues into reserve fund to strengthen trust funds, S3845-S3855 [18MR], S4356 [25MR]

———reform, S3402 [10MR], S3935-S3948 [19MR], S11739-S11746 [22SE]

———repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (S. 349), S2209 [11FE]

SSI: clarify that the value of certain funeral and burial arrangements are not to be considered available resources (S. 166), S851 [15JA]

Summer National Senior Games—The Senior Olympics: tribute, S7125 [23MY]

Taxation: allow a refundable credit for the purchase of private health insurance and establish State health insurance safety-net programs (S. 1570), S10919 [1AU]

———allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums (S. 623), S3742 [13MR]

———improve portability of retirement savings and expand pension coverage and savings opportunities (S. 1912), S15408 [21NO]

———provide a partially refundable tax credit to family caregivers (S. 1214), S7552 [9JN]

———provide credit for individuals serving as caregivers of dependent relatives, S4065, S4066 [20MR], S4238 [21MR], S6041 [13MY], S6431 [15MY]

———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]

———treatment of bonds issued to nonprofit nursing homes and elderly care facilities, S5016 [9AP]

———treatment of flexible spending arrangements relative to long-term care insurance (S. 1335), S8570-S8573 [25JN]

———treatment of individual retirement accounts relative to charitable contributions, S4945 [8AP]

———treatment of individual retirement accounts relative to charitable contributions (S. 209), S1484 [23JA]

———treatment of individual retirement accounts relative to charitable contributions (S. 283), S1885 [4FE]

Vermont Associates for Training and Development, Inc.: anniversary, S15972 [25NO]

Veterans: health care funding, S14382, S14388 [11NO], S14464-S14466, S14792, S14793 [12NO], S15917, S15949 [25NO]

Women: provide comprehensive pension protection (S. 1617), S11482 [15SE]

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

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]

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]

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]

Rulings of the Chair

Social Security: provide additional safeguards for certain beneficiaries with representative payees (H.R. 743), H1550 [5MR]

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

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]

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

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. 743, Social Security Protection Act, S16183-S16196 [9DE], H1524-H1533 [5MR], H2625, H2634-H2642 [2AP]

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]

S. 1, Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act, S7720 [11JN]

S. 62, Autonomy for Psychologists and Social Workers Act, S61 [7JA]

S. 64, Equity for Clinical Social Workers Act, S62 [7JA]

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. 209, Charitable IRA Rollover Act, S1484 [23JA]

S. 310, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act, S1988 [5FE]

S. 362, Social Security Family Protection Act, S2220 [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. 386, Education for Retirement Security Act, S2463 [13FE]

S. 623, allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums, S3742 [13MR]

S. 632, Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with cardiovascular diseases, S3806 [17MR]

S. 767, repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits, S4706 [2AP]

S. 778, Medicare Rx Drug Discount and Security Act, S4828-S4834 [3AP]

S. 881, Rural Equity Payment Index Reform Act, S5209 [10AP]

S. 958, Patient Abuse Prevention Act, S5603-S5607 [30AP]

S. 959, relax maximum age requirements for certain pilots, S5607 [30AP]

S. 971, Medicaid Community-Based Attendant Services and Supports Act, S5660-S5664 [1MY], S5727-S5730 [5MY]

S. 1030, Health Coverage, Affordability, Responsibility, and Equity (HealthCARE) Act, S5956-S5964 [8MY]

S. 1095, Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act, S6858 [21MY]

S. 1179, Medicare Chronic Care Improvement Act, S7383-S7387 [4JN]

S. 1185, Rural Provider Equity Act, S7397-S7401 [4JN]

S. 1214, Family Caregiver Relief Act, S7553 [9JN]

S. 1220, Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act, S7626 [10JN]

S. 1227, Medicare Adult Day Services Alternative Act, S7634 [10JN]

S. 1237, Independent Living Improvement Act, S7728 [11JN]

S. 1249, TRICARE Retirees Opportunity Act, S7837 [12JN]

S. 1257, Medicare Payment for Quality and Value Act, S7841 [12JN]

S. 1274, Call to Service Act, S7984-S7999 [17JN]

S. 1286, Seniors Safety Act, S8154-S8159 [18JN]

S. 1335, Long-Term Care and Retirement Security Act, S8571 [25JN]

S. 1418, Notch Fairness Act, S9498 [16JY]

S. 1456, Positive Aging Act, S9963 [25JY]

S. 1519, Medicaid Federal-State cost-sharing program extension to assist low-income Medicare beneficiaries with health care costs, S10643 [31JY]

S. 1570, Fair Care for the Uninsured Act, S10920-S10923 [1AU]

S. 1572, expand the Dept. of Veterans Affairs assisted living pilot program to include additional health care regions, S10973 [2SE]

S. 1647, Hearing Health Accessibility Act, S11914 [24SE]

S. 1697, Elderly Housing Plus Health Support Demonstration Act, S12288 [1OC]

S. 1779, Medicare Indian Health Fairness Act, S13139 [23OC]

S. 1912, Retirement Account Portability Act, S15408-S15411 [21NO]

S. 1926, Support Our Health Care Providers Act, S15420-S15470 [21NO]

S. 1974, Medicare Preservation and Drug Price Fairness Act, S16022 [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]