SOCIAL SECURITY

Amendments

Federal aid programs: extend Medicare cost-sharing for qualifying individuals, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, Medicaid transitional medical assistance, and related programs (S. 1778), S10696, S10764 [29SE]

Medicare: improve benefits for beneficiaries with kidney disease (H.R. 1298), S3852 [18AP]

Analyses

CBO's Estimate for the Medicaid Provisions in H.R. 4241, Deficit Reduction Act, S12691 [10NO]

Articles and editorials

As Medicaid Balloons, Watchdog Force Shrinks, S14105-S14107 [20DE]

Bush May Back Curbs on Accounts—President Courts Critics of Social Security Plan, H269 [1FE]

California Helped Pay for 137 Sex Offenders' Viagra—State Agencies Directed To Stop Providing Such Drugs to Ex-Convicts, H5037 [23JN]

Florida Groves, Cheap Labor Means Machines, S3805 [18AP]

Health of Nations, E423, E425 [10MR]

Insurance Options Has Workers Pay More, E1155 [8JN]

Little Bit Louder, Please, S8295 [14JY]

Push-Button Picks Just Too Simple, E973 [13MY]

Rx for Medicare, S4640 [9MY]

Seniors Try To Decipher Drug Options, H9935 [7NO]

Stealth Amnesty, S3805 [18AP]

Bills and resolutions

Account statements: include additional information (see S. 274), S978 [3FE] (see H.R. 1286), H1416 [14MR]

Benefits: allow a period in which members of the clergy may revoke their exemption from coverage (see H.R. 451), H283 [1FE]

———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. 77), H74 [4JA]

———allow choice of benefit payment method relative to computation rule application to workers attaining age 65 in or after 1982 (see H.R. 615), H410 [8FE]

———authorize waivers of certain waiting periods for benefits based on disability in cases in which such waiting period would cause undue hardship to terminally ill beneficiaries (see H.R. 2799), H4295 [8JN]

———continuation of benefit payment through the month of the beneficiary's death (see H.R. 3459), H6933 [27JY] (see H.R. 4224), H9641 [3NO]

———eliminate reconsideration as an intervening step between initial benefit entitlement decisions and subsequent hearings on the record on such decisions (see H.R. 3249), H5740 [12JY]

———eliminate waiting period for divorced spouse's benefits following the divorce (see H.R. 2189), H3054 [5MY]

———eliminate waiting period for entitlement to disability benefits and requirement for reconsideration between benefit entitlement decision and hearing (see H.R. 308), H193 [25JA]

———guarantee the right of individuals to receive certain benefits in full with an accurate annual cost-of-living adjustment (see S. 1750), S10378 [22SE] (see H.R. 1164), H1024 [8MR]

———increase in widow's and widower's insurance benefits relative to delayed retirement (see H.R. 2190), H3054 [5MY]

———level of payment in the month of the beneficiary's death (see H.R. 961), H795 [17FE]

———protect beneficiaries against any reduction in benefits (see H.R. 266), H137 [6JA]

———protect cost-of-living adjustments (see S. 1795), S10724 [29SE] (see H.R. 3954), H8642 [29SE]

———provide full benefits for disabled widow's and widower's regardless of age (see H.R. 2191), H3054 [5MY]

———provide lump-sum death payments to surviving spouses (see H.R. 78), H74 [4JA]

———reduce the age at which an eligible individual may be paid widow's or widower's insurance benefits (see H.R. 2126), H3052 [5MY]

———repeal eligibility restrictions on widow's and widower's insurance benefits based on disability (see H.R. 2192), H3054 [5MY]

———replace certain employment requirements for Government pension offset exemption with the rule that last applied prior to enactment of the Social Security Protection Act (see H.R. 3661), H7673 [6SE]

———restrict application of windfall elimination provisions to individuals whose benefits exceed certain levels (see H.R. 1690), H2148 [19AP]

Bipartisan Commission on Medicaid: establish (see S. 338), S1199 [9FE] (see H.R. 985), H796 [17FE]

Budget: constitutional amendment to require balanced and protect Social Security surpluses (see S.J. Res. 2), S145 [24JA]

———ensure that receipts and disbursements of the trust funds are not included in a unified Federal budget (see H.R. 653), H411 [8FE]

———public disclosure on treatment of Social Security trust funds (see H.R. 2860), H4355 [9JN]

———require balanced and protect Social Security surpluses (see S. 568), S2245 [8MR]

Bush, President: request certain information relative to a claim made that there is not a Social Security trust (see H. Res. 170), H1695 [17MR]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: ensure the provision of services under the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to frail elders living in rural areas (see S. 1067), S5437 [18MY]

———extend compliance threshold used to determine eligibility of hospitals for designation as an inpatient rehabilitation facility (see S. 1405), S8301 [14JY] (see H.R. 3373), H6326 [21JY]

———tribute for demonstration project to assess quality of care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (see H. Res. 261), H2978 [4MY]

Child support: modify calculation of child support automation penalty and provide for reinvestment of any such penalty (see H.R. 2409), H3434 [17MY]

Children and youth: ensure every uninsured child has health insurance coverage (see H.R. 1668), H2102 [14AP]

———make all uninsured children eligible for the State Children's Health Insurance Program and simplify enrollment and renewal procedures for Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see S. 2137), S13786 [16DE]

———promote adoption of children with special needs (see S. 1539), S9285 [28JY]

———promote safe and permanent homes for foster children (see H.R. 3379), H6327 [21JY]

———provide benefits to certain uninsured children living without parents (see H.R. 2622), H4072 [25MY]

———provide each child with a KidSave Account (see H.R. 1041), H940 [2MR]

———restore children's insurance benefits for children of a certain age who attend postsecondary schools (see H.R. 4328), H10225 [15NO]

Comprehensive Entitlement Reform Commission: establish (see S. 1889), S11559 [19OC] (see H.R. 4122), H9043 [20OC]

Congressional Budget Act: preserve budget surpluses until legislation is enacted significantly extending the solvency of Social Security and Medicare trust funds (see H.R. 116), H75 [4JA]

Constitutional amendments: maintenance of a system of social insurance (see H.J. Res. 25), H796 [17FE]

Courts: disclose certain taxpayer returns and return information upon written request by an order from a State or local court in a family law proceeding (see H.R. 2756), H4186 [7JN]

———strengthen courts for at-risk children (see S. 1679), S9930 [12SE]

Crime: prevent identity fraud (see S. 768), S3481 [12AP]

———provide grants for regional task forces to more effectively investigate and prosecute identity theft and other economic crimes (see H.R. 4244), H9962 [7NO]

Dept. of Defense: reform the TRICARE program to make reimbursement rates the same as those offered under Medicare and contract for health care services with a teaching hospital in an urban area (see H.R. 2670), H4139 [26MY]

Dept. of HHS: encourage dissemination, security, confidentiality, and usefulness of health information technology (see H.R. 4157), H9361 [27OC]

———provide grants to States to conduct demonstration projects designed to enable Medicaid-eligible individuals to receive support for long-term disability services in the settings of their choice (see S. 528), S2004 [3MR] (see H.R. 3063), H5176 [24JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: permit Medicare-eligible veterans to receive an outpatient medication benefit (see S. 614), S2644 [14MR]

Disabled: amend certain disability insurance and SSI programs to provide equitable treatment of disability beneficiaries with waxing and waning medical conditions (see H.R. 4095), H9042 [20OC]

———help individuals with functional impairments to pay for services and supports needed to maximize independence and choices about community participation, education, and employment (see S. 1951), S12237 [2NO]

Diseases: shorten waiting period for disability benefits for individuals with mesothelioma (see S. 1199), S6225 [8JN]

Drugs: authorize the Dept. of HHS to negotiate prices for Medicare outpatient prescription drugs and include prices charged to certain Federal agencies in determining best price for Medicaid outpatient drugs (see H.R. 2200), H3055 [5MY]

———delay implementation of voluntary prescription drug benefit program, extend Medicare prescription drug discount card and transitional assistance programs, and Medicaid coverage of prescription drugs (see H.R. 1382), H1692 [17MR]

———provide discounts to Medicaid and other Federal programs for the advertising costs of certain prescription drugs and ensure that these drugs are prescribed based on health needs rather than marketing (see S. 1128), S6021 [26MY]

Employment: exempt certain employment as a member of a local governing board from coverage (see S. 303), S1049 [7FE]

———improve benefit computation formula for certain workers affected by changes in benefit computation rules (see H.R. 80), H74 [4JA]

ERISA: provide emergency protection for retiree health benefits (see H.R. 1322), H1508 [15MR]

Families and domestic relations: allow foster care maintenance payments to be made to private for-profit agencies (see S. 1894), S11559 [19OC] (see H.R. 3008), H4895 [21JN]

———expand tax incentives for adoption and increase adoptive incentive payments (see H.R. 1561), H1894 [12AP]

Federal aid programs: extend eligibility for certain Federal benefits to citizens of the Freely Associated States (see S. 2051), S13161 [17NO]

———extend Medicare cost-sharing for qualifying individuals, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, Medicaid transitional medical assistance, and related programs (see S. 1778), S10513 [27SE]

———improve provision of care under Medicare, Medicaid, and certain public welfare programs (see S. 2164), S14316 [21DE]

Financial institutions: include a ``Community Bank Option'' in reform legislation (see H. Res. 209), H1895 [12AP]

Foreign trade: require additional tariffs on products of any nonmarket economy country until certified as a market economy country, and deposit amounts generated from such tariffs into the Social Security trust funds (see H.R. 1450), H1694 [17MR]

Health: establish demonstration projects for States to provide universal, comprehensive, and cost-effective health care coverage with simplified administration (see H.R. 3891), H8341 [22SE]

———expand dental coverage and community oral health services under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (see H.R. 594), H352 [2FE]

———expand Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families (see H.R. 2071), H2975 [4MY]

———improve access to emergency medical services through medical liability reform and additional Medicare payments (see H.R. 3875), H8341 [22SE]

———improve access to health insurance and Medicare benefits for individuals aged 55 to 65 and allow tax credits for payment of such premiums (see H.R. 2072), H2975 [4MY]

———improve accessibility to immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases, study Medicare and Medicaid influenza immunization usage, and amend Federal employee immunization services (see H.R. 3598), H7560 [28JY]

———improve quality in health care by providing incentives for adoption of modern information technology (see S. 1227), S6404 [13JN]

———national policy to provide health care, control costs, and enhance the quality of the health care system (see H.R. 1200), H1263 [9MR]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (see S. 2007), S12766 [14NO] (see S. Con. Res. 30), S4547 [28AP] (see H.R. 15), H71 [4JA] (see H.R. 676), H412 [8FE] (see H.R. 1399), H1692 [17MR] (see H.R. 2133), H3052 [5MY] (see H.R. 2599), H3893 [24MY]

———permit qualifying States to use unspent State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments for Medicaid expenditures (see S. 1587), S9467 [29JY] (see H.R. 4150), H9275 [26OC]

———permit States the option of covering certain legal aliens under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see S. 1104), S5778 [23MY] (see H.R. 1233), H1369 [10MR]

———protect enrollees in managed care plans and other health coverage (see S. 1012), S5071 [12MY] (see H.R. 2259), H3196 [11MY] (see H.R. 2650), H4138 [26MY]

———provide a drug discount program for individuals without prescription drug coverage (see H.R. 3956), H8643 [29SE]

———provide access to telehealth services in the home (see H.R. 3588), H7560 [28JY]

———provide coverage of hormone replacement therapy for treatment of menopausal symptoms (see H.R. 1410), H1693 [17MR]

———support Federal and State funded in-home care for the elderly (see H. Res. 194), H1846 [6AP]

Health care facilities: allow qualifying children's hospitals to participate in the 340B drug discount program (see H.R. 4036), H8808 [7OC]

Hurricanes: provide emergency relief to meet the immediate health care, housing, education, and financial needs of survivors of Hurricane Katrina (see S. 1637), S9833 [8SE]

———provide Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program assistance for States providing assistance to Katrina survivors (see H.R. 3845), H8247 [21SE]

———provide Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program assistance for States providing assistance to Katrina survivors and accommodate special needs of such survivors under the Medicare program (see S. 1688), S9931 [12SE]

Immigration: adjust status of certain foreign agricultural workers, reform H-2A worker program, provide a stable, legal agricultural workforce, and extend basic legal protections and better working conditions to more workers (see S. 359), S1260 [10FE] (see H.R. 884), H791 [17FE]

———enforce employment restrictions on unauthorized aliens through the use of improved Social Security cards and an Employment Eligibility Database (see H.R. 98), H74 [4JA]

———exclude from creditable wages income earned by aliens for services illegally performed in the U.S. or derived from an illegal trade or business (see H.R. 1438), H1694 [17MR]

Income: remove limitations on the amount of outside income which an individual may earn while receiving certain benefits (see H.R. 276), H137 [6JA]

———repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (see S. 619), S2644 [14MR] (see H.R. 147), H76 [4JA]

———repeal the windfall elimination provision and protect the retirement of public servants (see S. 866), S4108 [21AP] (see H.R. 1714), H2393 [20AP]

Insurance: coverage of screening mammography (see H.R. 2761), H4186 [7JN] (see H.R. 4540), H11653 [14DE]

———enhance long-term care insurance benefits (see S. 1602), S9468 [29JY]

———guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children (see S. 1303), S7294 [23JN] (see H.R. 3055), H5100 [23JN]

———require comprehensive coverage for childhood immunizations (see H.R. 277), H137 [6JA]

Investments: establish and maintain personal Social Security investment accounts (see H.R. 1800), H2471 [21AP]

———include comprehensive fiduciary standards in any legislation providing for individual accounts (see H. Con. Res. 54), H584 [10FE]

———provide for enhanced retirement security in the form of an Individual Social Security Investment Program (see H.R. 530), H349 [2FE]

———provide the opportunity to provide for retirement through Savings Account for Every American (S.A.F.E.) accounts (see H.R. 3069), H5176 [24JN]

Key West, FL: enable residents of Bayshore Manor assisted living facility to continue to receive SSI benefits (see H.R. 2900), H4485 [14JN]

Medicaid: allow States to expand coverage to uninsured, poor adults (see H.R. 160), H76 [4JA]

———apply the current Federal medical assistance percentage determined for a State to certain subsequent fiscal years (see S. 1754), S10378 [22SE]

———clarify application of Federal medical assistance percentage for services provided by the Indian Health Service or an Indian tribe or organization directly or through referral, contract, or other arrangement (see S. 1572), S9467 [29JY]

———coverage of disabled children and individuals who became disabled as children without regard to income or assets (see H.R. 3454), H6933 [27JY]

———coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (see S. 66), S143 [24JA]

———expand State long-term care partnership programs (see H.R. 3511), H7556 [28JY]

———extend enhanced Federal matching rate under State children's health insurance program and improve enrollment, retention, quality and performance of children's health insurance (see S. 1563), S9467 [29JY]

———extend prescription drug rebate program to enrollees of managed care organizations (see S. 1585), S9467 [29JY]

———extend the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage adjustment for Alaska (see S. 159), S436 [25JA]

———extend the qualified individual program for cost-sharing assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries (see H.R. 3800), H8087 [15SE]

———facilitate establishment of additional long-term care insurance partnerships between States and insurers to promote the use of long-term care insurance (see S. 1569), S9467 [29JY]

———impact of budget reconciliation legislation on the health and well-being of children (see S. Res. 302), S12682 [10NO]

———improve access to advanced practice nurses and physician assistants (see S. 1515), S9158 [27JY] (see H.R. 2716), H4141 [26MY]

———improve the qualified Medicare beneficiary (QMB) and specified low-income Medicare beneficiary (SLMB) programs (see S. 1808), S10796 [30SE] (see H.R. 3980), H8732 [6OC]

———include podiatrists as physicians for purposes of covering physicians services (see S. 440), S1623 [17FE] (see H.R. 699), H521 [9FE]

———permit beneficiaries the choice of self-directed personal assistance services through a cash and counseling program (see H.R. 4153), H9275 [26OC]

———permit local public agencies to act as enrollment brokers (see H.R. 306), H193 [25JA]

———permit States the option to provide coverage for low-income individuals infected with HIV (see S. 311), S1115 [8FE]

———permit States to obtain reimbursement for care or services provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act in a private mental health facility (see S. 1592), S9468 [29JY]

———prevent a reduction in the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for a State for fiscal year 2006 (see H.R. 3735), H7860 [13SE]

———prevent a severe reduction in the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for a State (see S. 1007), S4936 [11MY] (see H.R. 2258), H3196 [11MY]

———prevent a severe reduction in the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for a State and provide adjustment in computation for extraordinary employer pension contributions (see H.R. 3335), H6106 [19JY]

———prohibit cuts in Federal funding until full consideration is given to recommendations of a Bipartisan Commission on Medicaid (see H.R. 4223), H9641 [3NO]

———provide a demonstration project for chronic disease management (see H.R. 4331), H10226 [15NO]

———provide complete reimbursement for medical assistance provided to Native Hawaiians by federally qualified health centers or Native Hawaiian health care systems (see S. 68), S143 [24JA]

———provide families of disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage (see S. 183), S574 [26JA] (see H.R. 1443), H1694 [17MR]

———provide for an on-going cost-of-living increase in disproportionate share hospital (DSH) allotments for States (see H.R. 4606), H12048 [16DE]

———provide for fair treatment of services furnished to Native Americans (see S. 2074), S13361 [18NO] (see H.R. 4447), H11109 [6DE]

———provide for health opportunity accounts (see S. 1833), S11212 [6OC] (see H.R. 3757), H7861 [13SE]

———provide full Federal medical assistance percentage for displaced recipients receiving medical assistance outside their State of residence due to a declared public health emergency (see H.R. 3671), H7741 [7SE]

———provide funding to States to enable them to increase the wages paid to targeted direct support professionals in providing services to individuals with disabilities (see H.R. 1264), H1371 [10MR]

———provide health information technology grants to States and reduce number of medical and medication errors, unnecessary hospitalizations, infections, and inappropriate care (see H.R. 4142), H9102 [25OC]

———provide public access to quality medical imaging procedures and radiation therapy procedures (see H.R. 1426), H1693 [17MR]

———provide public disclosure of average manufacturer prices and best prices for prescription drugs (see H.R. 3546), H7558 [28JY]

———provide temporary disaster relief in response to Hurricane Katrina (see H.R. 3698), H7813 [8SE]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (see S. 401), S1513 [16FE] (see H.R. 910), H792 [17FE]

———recognize importance and ensure that reconciliation legislation reported by a conference committee does not have an adverse affect on beneficiaries (see S. 1969), S12447 [7NO]

———recognize importance of prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers (see S. Con. Res. 65), S13161 [17NO] (see H. Con. Res. 231), H7561 [28JY]

———remove cap on payments and adjust statutory matching rate for certain territories (see H.R. 57), H73 [4JA]

———require drug manufacturers to report the average manufacturer price and the best price of authorized generic drugs and any other drugs sold under a certain new drug application to the Dept. of HHS (see S. 1903), S11665 [20OC]

———require drug utilization review programs to deny coverage of erectile dysfunction drugs for individuals registered (or required to be registered) as sex offenders (see H.R. 2648), H4138 [26MY]

———require prorating of beneficiary contributions relative to partial coverage for nursing facility services during a month (see H.R. 4362), H10908 [17NO]

———require staff working with developmentally disabled individuals to call emergency services in the event of a life-threatening situation (see H.R. 1649), H2101 [14AP]

———require States that provide prescription drug coverage to cover drugs that treat obesity (see H.R. 286), H137 [6JA]

———require States to provide oral health services to children and aged, blind, or disabled individuals (see H.R. 4624), H12167 [17DE]

———require States to report data on beneficiaries who are employed (see S. 1286), S7070 [22JN] (see H.R. 3042), H4984 [22JN]

Medicare: adjust the fee for collecting specimens for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests (see H.R. 2218), H3112 [10MY]

———allow beneficiaries direct access to physical therapists without a physician referral (see S. 647), S2994 [17MR] (see H.R. 1333), H1620 [16MR]

———anniversary (see S. Con. Res. 50), S9469 [29JY] (see H. Con. Res. 213), H6327 [21JY]

———assure cost credibility of the prescription drug benefit (see H.R. 729), H523 [9FE]

———assure equitable payment for physicians services (see H.R. 4520), H11503 [13DE]

———clarify congressional intent regarding counting of residents in a nonhospital setting (see S. 2071), S13361 [18NO] (see H.R. 4403), H11033 [18NO]

———clarify payment for clinical laboratory tests furnished by critical access hospitals (see S. 236), S738 [1FE] (see H.R. 1016), H846 [1MR]

———clarify right of beneficiaries to enter into private contracts with physicians and other health care professionals for services not payable under Medicare (see H.R. 709), H522 [9FE]

———condition the payment of employer prescription drug subsidies on the maintenance of current prescription drug benefits (see H.R. 655), H411 [8FE]

———contain costs of prescription drug program (see S. 581), S2383 [9MR] (see H.R. 918), H793 [17FE]

———continue Medicaid prescription drug coverage to dual-eligible beneficiaries for a certain period while allowing part D benefits to be implemented as scheduled (see S. 566), S2245 [8MR] (see H.R. 1144), H1023 [8MR]

———coverage of, as supplies for the injection of insulin, home needle destruction devices and the disposal of needles and lancets through a sharps-by-mail or similar program (see H.R. 2841), H4355 [9JN]

———coverage of acupuncturist services (see H.R. 818), H629 [15FE]

———coverage of adult day care services (see H.R. 1981), H2735 [28AP]

———coverage of bone mass measurements for all individuals at clinical risk for osteoporosis (see H.R. 2257), H3196 [11MY]

———coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for beneficiaries who receive an organ transplant (see S. 173), S573 [26JA]

———coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for beneficiaries who receive an organ transplant without regard to when the transplant was received (see H.R. 3633), H7612 [29JY]

———coverage of infertility treatment services for certain disabled individuals (see H.R. 2758), H4186 [7JN]

———coverage of kidney disease education services (see S. 717), S3278 [6AP]

———coverage of marriage and family therapist services (see S. 784), S3652 [14AP] (see H.R. 1447), H1694 [17MR]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services (see S. 604), S2517 [11MR] (see H.R. 1582), H1895 [12AP]

———coverage of medically necessary dental procedures (see H.R. 3161), H5600 [30JN]

———coverage of more frequent hemodialysis treatments (see H.R. 3096), H5361 [28JN]

———coverage of respiratory therapists under home health service plans (see H.R. 964), H795 [17FE]

———coverage of screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysms (see S. 390), S1413 [15FE] (see H.R. 827), H629 [15FE]

———delay implementation of prescription drug benefit for individuals who are not lowest-income subsidy eligible individuals (see H.R. 3870), H8340 [22SE]

———deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices (see S. 345), S1260 [10FE] (see S. 873), S4108 [21AP] (see H.R. 752), H582 [10FE]

———deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices (H.R. 752), consideration (see H. Res. 584), H11109 [6DE]

———eliminate cost-sharing for bone mass measurements (see S. 1345), S7820 [30JN]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (see S. 1152), S6021 [26MY] (see H.R. 1125), H983 [3MR]

———eliminate waiting period for coverage of certain disabled individuals (see H.R. 2343), H3260 [12MY] (see H.R. 3202), H5637 [11JY]

———enhance access of beneficiaries who live in medically underserved areas to critical primary and preventive health care benefits at federally qualified health centers (see S. 1593), S9468 [29JY] (see H.R. 1819), H2548 [26AP]

———ensure access to durable medical equipment (see H.R. 3559), H7558 [28JY]

———ensure that prescription drug benefits have no impact on benefits under other Federal programs (see S. 1179), S6154 [7JN] (see H.R. 2746), H4186 [7JN]

———establish a demonstration project for the use of an Internet-based form for submission of certain claims (see H.R. 2762), H4186 [7JN]

———establish a floor for physician payment rates (see H.R. 4078), H8985 [19OC]

———establish a hospice demonstration and grant program for beneficiaries (see S. 1001), S4936 [11MY]

———establish criminal penalties for defrauding individuals relative to enrollment in a prescription drug plan (see H.R. 4406), H11033 [18NO]

———establish pilot projects to provide incentives for home health agencies to utilize home monitoring and communications technologies (see S. 1733), S10233 [20SE]

———exclude coverage of drugs prescribed for treatment of impotence (see H.R. 712), H522 [9FE]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services (see S. 927), S4398 [27AP] (see H.R. 1946), H2647 [27AP]

———expand coverage of paramedic intercept services (see H.R. 3047), H5100 [23JN]

———extend and improve protections for sole community hospitals (see H.R. 2961), H4721 [17JN]

———extend coverage of orthopedic shoes to individuals without diabetes who medically require them (see H.R. 2324), H3260 [12MY]

———extend implementation of prescription drug program (see H.R. 3940), H8642 [29SE]

———extend initial enrollment period for prescription drug benefits, waive penalties for late enrollment, and provide other additional beneficiary protections (see H.R. 4410), H11034 [18NO]

———extend initial enrollment period for prescription drug benefits and waive penalties for late enrollment (see H.R. 4399), H11033 [18NO]

———extend minimum deadlines for filing claims relative to adjustments from secondary payor status to primary payor status (see S. 856), S4021 [20AP] (see H.R. 1045), H940 [2MR]

———extend reasonable cost contracts to expand the area in which plans offered under such contracts may operate and to apply certain provisions of Medicare Advantage program to such plans (see S. 1403), S8301 [14JY] (see H.R. 4050), H8808 [7OC]

———impose minimum nurse staffing in participating hospitals (see H.R. 1372), H1691 [17MR]

———improve (see S. 18), S142 [24JA]

———improve access to diabetes self-management training by designated certified diabetes educators (see S. 626), S2734 [15MR] (see H.R. 3612), H7561 [28JY]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals (see S. 933), S4546 [28AP] (see H.R. 2350), H3261 [12MY]

———improve accountability in the Medicare Advantage and prescription drug programs (see H.R. 4103), H9042 [20OC]

———improve benefits for beneficiaries with kidney disease (see S. 635), S2846 [16MR] (see H.R. 1298), H1507 [15MR]

———improve coordination of prescription drug coverage under retiree plans and State pharmaceutical assistance programs with Medicare drug benefits (see H.R. 152), H76 [4JA]

———improve coordination of prescription drug coverage under State pharmaceutical assistance programs with Medicare drug benefits (see S. 764), S3481 [12AP] (see H.R. 1572), H1894 [12AP]

———improve fairness and reduce regional inequities in reimbursement payments to providers (see S. 411), S1513 [16FE]

———improve patient access to, and utilization of, the colorectal cancer screening benefit (see S. 1010), S5071 [12MY] (see H.R. 1632), H2100 [14AP]

———improve quality of care in skilled nursing facilities through development of quality measures and changes in reimbursement (see H.R. 1166), H1024 [8MR]

———improve reimbursement for clinical social worker services (see S. 61), S143 [24JA]

———improve the provision of items and services to beneficiaries in rural areas (see H.R. 868), H718 [16FE]

———improve the provision of telehealth services (see S. 1909), S11768 [24OC] (see H.R. 2807), H4295 [8JN]

———improve voluntary prescription drug benefit and provide greater access to affordable pharmaceuticals (see H.R. 4395), H11033 [18NO]

———increase inpatient hosptial payments to hospitals in Puerto Rico (see S. 862), S4021 [20AP] (see H.R. 1729), H2393 [20AP]

———increase per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments to hospitals (see H.R. 4371), H10908 [17NO]

———make a technical correction in the definition of outpatient speech-language pathology services (see S. 657), S2994 [17MR] (see H.R. 3795), H8087 [15SE]

———make improvements in payments to hospitals (see S. 1002), S4936 [11MY]

———make improvements to payments to ambulance providers in rural areas (see S. 1108), S5851 [24MY] (see H.R. 2525), H3768 [23MY]

———modernize payments for ambulatory surgical centers (see S. 1884), S11476 [18OC] (see H.R. 4042), H8808 [7OC]

———negotiate for lower prices for prescription drugs (see S. 813), S3734 [15AP]

———negotiate for lower prices for prescription drugs, eliminate gap in coverage of prescription drug benefits, and promulgate regulations for the reimportation of prescription drugs (see H.R. 1626), H1969 [13AP]

———pay ambulance suppliers the full costs of providing such services (see S. 1109), S5851 [24MY] (see H.R. 2014), H2737 [28AP]

———permit beneficiaries to use identification numbers other than Social Security numbers to deter identity theft (see H.R. 92), H74 [4JA]

———permit direct payment for clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities (see S. 1148), S6021 [26MY] (see H.R. 2736), H4141 [26MY]

———permit eligible seniors to elect to receive vouchers for health savings accounts and/or premiums for high deductible health insurance plan and suspend certain late enrollment penalties (see H.R. 4551), H11878 [15DE]

———permit negotiation of fair prices for, and allow the reimportation of, prescription drugs (see S. 239), S738 [1FE]

———permit Puerto Rico to qualify for Federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens (see H.R. 4206), H9555 [2NO]

———permit the Dept. of HHS to enter into direct negotiations to promote the best prices for beneficiaries (see H.R. 376), H233 [26JA]

———permit the Dept. of HHS to enter into direct negotiations to promote the best prices for beneficiaries (H.R. 376), consideration (see H. Res. 267), H3055 [5MY]

———permit the Indian Health Service, an Indian tribe, or a tribal or Indian organization to pay premiums for eligible beneficiaries (see S. 1239), S6481 [14JN]

———permit waiver of waiting period for Medicare coverage of terminally ill disabled individuals (see H.R. 2680), H4139 [26MY]

———phase-out waiting period for coverage of disabled individuals and waive waiting period for people with life-threatening illnesses (see S. 1217), S6299 [9JN] (see H.R. 2869), H4400 [13JN]

———preserve access to appeals before administrative law judges (see S. 1335), S7614 [29JN]

———preserve beneficiary access to community cancer care (see H.R. 4098), H9042 [20OC]

———prevent a decrease in benefits resulting from part D premiums increases (see H.R. 3637), H7612 [29JY]

———prohibit disclosure of Social Security numbers on Medicare-related mailings (see H.R. 2518), H3767 [23MY]

———prohibit health care providers from charging membership or extraneous fees as a prerequisite to service to a patient (see S. 2080), S13451 [12DE]

———prohibit operation of comparative cost adjustment (CCA) program in Texas (see H.R. 1280), H1416 [14MR]

———prohibit the telemarketing of prescription drug and Advantage plans to beneficiaries (see S. 1798), S10724 [29SE]

———protect enrollees eligible for prescription drug benefit coverage from abusive marketing practices (see H.R. 4645), H12289 [18DE]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (see S. 71), S143 [24JA] (see S. 351), S1260 [10FE] (see H.R. 791), H586 [14FE]

———provide a minimum update for physicians' services (see S. 1081), S5531 [19MY] (see S. 1574), S9467 [29JY]

———provide access to audiologists (see S. 277), S978 [3FE] (see H.R. 415), H234 [26JA]

———provide additional beneficiary protections (see H.R. 2487), H3693 [19MY]

———provide beneficiaries access to information on the quality of care provided by skilled nursing facilities and provide incentives for such facilities to improve the quality of care (see S. 708), S3200 [5AP]

———provide beneficiaries prescription drugs at reduced prices (see H.R. 2685), H4140 [26MY]

———provide beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care management (see S. 40), S143 [24JA] (see H.R. 467), H284 [1FE]

———provide beneficiaries with access to prescription drugs at Federal Supply Schedule prices (see H.R. 4610), H12049 [16DE] (see H.R. 4652), H13189 [22DE]

———provide continued coverage for immunosuppressive drugs furnished to beneficiaries that have received an organ transplant and whose coverage would otherwise expire (see H.R. 2051), H2879 [3MY]

———provide coverage for cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation services (see S. 1440), S8664 [21JY]

———provide coverage of remote patient management services for chronic health care conditions (see S. 2022), S12949 [16NO]

———provide eligibility for coverage of home health services on the basis of a need for occupational therapy (see H.R. 3022), H4984 [22JN]

———provide equity in the calculation of disproportionate share hospital payments for hospitals in Puerto Rico (see H.R. 4207), H9555 [2NO]

———provide exception to reduction in unused medical residency positions for small family practice residency programs (see H.R. 4039), H8808 [7OC]

———provide extended and additional protection to beneficiaries enrolled in prescription drug benefit plans (see S. 1841), S11212 [6OC] (see H.R. 3861), H8340 [22SE]

———provide extended and additional protection to beneficiaries enrolled in prescription drug benefit plans (H.R. 3861), consideration (see H. Res. 585), H11109 [6DE]

———provide extended and additional protections to certain beneficiaries (see S. 2168), S14317 [21DE]

———provide for cost-based reimbursement for ambulance services furnished by, or under arrangements with, a critical access hospital (see H.R. 4269), H10144 [9NO]

———provide for negotiation of fair prices for prescription drugs (see S. 123), S145 [24JA] (see S. 445), S1623 [17FE]

———provide for public disclosure of prices for hospital and ambulatory surgical center procedures and drugs (see H.R. 1362), H1690 [17MR]

———provide for the use of qualified family caregivers in the provision of home health aide services and amend the Family and Medical Leave Act (see H.R. 175), H77 [4JA]

———provide for value-based purchasing in payment for physicians' services (see H.R. 3617), H7611 [29JY]

———provide geographic equity in fee-for-service reimbursement for providers (see H.R. 1627), H1969 [13AP]

———provide incentives for provision of high quality care (see S. 1356), S7820 [30JN]

———provide incentives linking quality to payment for skilled nursing facilities and establish a Long-Term Care Financing Commission (see H.R. 1381), H1692 [17MR]

———provide incentives to physicians for writing electronic prescriptions (see S. 1910), S11768 [24OC]

———provide whistleblower protection to employees of clinical laboratories (see H.R. 686), H521 [9FE]

———reduce part B premium through elimination of certain overpayments to Medicare Advantage organizations (see S. 1589), S9468 [29JY]

———reduce work hours and increase supervision of resident-physicians to ensure the safety of both patients and resident-physicians (see S. 1297), S7293 [23JN] (see H.R. 1228), H1369 [10MR]

———reform the physician payment update system through repeal of the sustainable growth rate payment update system (see H.R. 2356), H3261 [12MY]

———reimbursement for certain midwife services (see S. 911), S4397 [27AP] (see H.R. 872), H719 [16FE]

———remove cap on disproportionate share adjustment percentages for certain rural hospitals (see H.R. 4585), H12048 [16DE]

———remove exclusion of benzodiazepines from required coverage under the prescription drug program (see H.R. 3151), H5600 [30JN]

———remove prescription drug benefit late enrollment penalty and extend the initial enrollment period (see H.R. 4557), H11879 [15DE]

———remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (see S. 70), S143 [24JA]

———repeal Medicare Advantage Regional Plan Stabilization Fund (see S. 124), S145 [24JA]

———repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps (see S. 438), S1623 [17FE] (see H.R. 916), H793 [17FE]

———repeal reduction in payment for therapeutic shoes and inserts for individuals with diabetes (see H.R. 1416), H1693 [17MR]

———require hospitals and critical access hospitals to meet certain requirements in order to advertise that the hospital has the capability of addressing emergency and acute coronary syndromes (see S. 1277), S6909 [21JN]

———require hospitals to establish and implement security procedures to reduce the likelihood of infant patient abduction and baby switching (see H.R. 252), H136 [6JA]

———require hospitals to make an effort to contact a surrogate decisionmaker of patients who arrive at an emergency department physically incapable of communicating with the attending health care practitioners (see H.R. 2560), H3892 [24MY]

———require Medicare Advantage organizations to pay for critical access hospital services and rural health clinic services at a greater percentage than regular Medicare payment rates (see H.R. 880), H791 [17FE]

———require preparation of audit reports based on the financial auditing of Medicare Advantage organizations and make such reports available to the public (see H.R. 2760), H4186 [7JN]

———require providers to disclose staffing and performance data to promote improved consumer information and choice (see H.R. 4349), H10502 [16NO]

———require that prescription drug plans or Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug plans with initial coverage limits obtain signed certification prior to enrolling benficiaries (see S. 2026), S12949 [16NO]

———require the negotiation and disclosure of the lowest possible prices for prescription drugs and permit beneficiaries to import prescription drugs from Canada (see H.R. 563), H351 [2FE]

———stabilize amount of part B premium (see S. 222), S647 [31JA] (see S. 1900), S11665 [20OC] (see H.R. 201), H78 [4JA]

———temporarily increase payment rates for home health services in rural areas (see S. 300), S1049 [7FE] (see H.R. 11), H71 [4JA]

———waive late enrollment penalty for certain beneficiaries living abroad and provide a special Medigap open enrollment period which prohibits underwriting (see H.R. 3654), H7672 [6SE] (see H.R. 3901), H8386 [27SE]

Medicare Eligible Military Retiree Health Care Consensus Task Force: establish (see H.R. 79), H74 [4JA]

Medicare/Medicaid: assist pharmacies in facilitating enrollment of dual eligible populations under the prescription drug benefit (see S. 2173), S14317 [21DE]

———coverage of certain screening procedures for diabetic retinopathy and establish pilot programs to foster such screening (see H.R. 801), H628 [15FE]

———coverage of incontinence undergarments (see H.R. 1052), H940 [2MR]

———eliminate coverage of drugs when used for treatment of erectile dysfunction (see H.R. 3543), H7558 [28JY]

———ensure that pharmacies receiving reimbursements fill all valid prescriptions without unnecessary delay or interference (see S. 778), S3555 [13AP]

———improve implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit for individuals who are both Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries (see S. 1822), S11130 [5OC]

———prohibit coverage of sex-enhancing drugs for individuals convicted of a sex offense (see H.R. 2626), H4072 [25MY]

———provide coverage for end-of-life planning consultations and raise awareness about and assist in preparation of advance directives on end-of-life decisionmaking (see S. 347), S1260 [10FE] (see S. 570), S2383 [9MR] (see H.R. 2058), H2879 [3MY]

———reform Federal survey and certification process for nursing facilities (see H.R. 3437), H6649 [26JY]

———require certain staffing in nursing facilities (see H.R. 4293), H10156 [10NO]

Members of Congress: ensure that prescription drug coverage for Members is not better than coverage for Medicare beneficiaries (see S. 143), S145 [24JA]

Mental health: extend provisions requiring parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits (see H.R. 4579), H12047 [16DE]

Merchant marine industry: provide a monthly monetary benefit to certain individuals who served in the U.S. merchant marine during World War II (see S. 1272), S6825 [20JN] (see H.R. 23), H72 [4JA]

Mexico: disapprove U.S.-Mexico Social Security totalization agreement (see H. Con. Res. 50), H523 [9FE] (see H. Res. 20), H79 [4JA]

National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation: establish (see S. 1405), S8301 [14JY] (see H.R. 3373), H6326 [21JY]

Native Americans: Federal funding for certain adoption and foster care programs (see S. 672), S2995 [17MR]

Pensions: computation system for benefits relative to spouses' and surviving spouses' Government pensions (see S. 1799), S10724 [29SE]

———create personal guarantee accounts ensuring full benefits for all workers and their families, restore long-term solvency, and make certain benefit improvements (see H.R. 750), H582 [10FE]

———dedicate surpluses to personal accounts that can only be used to pay Social Security benefits (see S. 1302), S7294 [23JN] (see H.R. 3304), H5913 [14JY]

———reform proposals relative to coverage of State and local government employees (see H. Con. Res. 43), H353 [2FE]

Personal investment plans: diversion of percentage of payroll tax payments and extend the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program (see H.R. 440), H283 [1FE]

Privacy: eliminate requirement that States collect Social Security numbers from applicants for recreational licenses (see H.R. 4144), H9275 [26OC]

———enhance privacy protections for individuals and prevent fraudulent misuse of account numbers (see H.R. 1745), H2394 [20AP]

———limit the misuse of Social Security numbers and establish criminal penalties for such misuse (see S. 29), S142 [24JA]

———protect the integrity and confidentiality of Social Security numbers and prohibit the establishment of any uniform national identifying number (see H.R. 220), H78 [4JA]

———protection of Social Security numbers and other personal information (see H.R. 82), H74 [4JA]

———require consent of an individual prior to the sale and marketing of personally identifiable information (see S. 116), S145 [24JA]

———strengthen the authority of the Federal Government to protect individuals from certain acts and practices in the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers and Social Security account numbers (see H.R. 1078), H981 [3MR]

Program Reform Commission: establish (see H.R. 973), H795 [17FE]

Public Health Service Act: increase affordability of inpatient drugs for Medicaid and safety net hospitals (see S. 1840), S11212 [6OC] (see H.R. 3547), H7558 [28JY]

Public welfare programs: allow State receipt of credit towards the work requirements under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program for certain disabled recipients (see S. 456), S1623 [17FE]

———ensure fair treatment and due process protections for enhanced data collection and reporting requirements under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 1385), S8134 [12JY]

———exempt preparation for high-skilled, high-demand jobs from participation and time limits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 1161), S6100 [6JN]

———increase payments to States for expenditures for short term training of certain child welfare agencies staff (see H.R. 876), H791 [17FE]

———make grants to States to establish emergency assistance programs to help low-income households purchase gasoline (see H.R. 4010), H8734 [6OC]

———permit States to create a program that allows individuals to obtain post-secondary or vocational education under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 458), S1717 [18FE]

———provide a State option to extend current waivers and create additional waiver authority under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see H.R. 3663), H7673 [6SE]

Puerto Rico: eligibility of residents for the refundable portion of the child tax credit (see S. 1757), S10378 [22SE] (see H.R. 4451), H11109 [6DE]

Railroad Retirement Act: provide that a current connection is not lost by an individual who is misled or misinformed by the Railroad Retirement Board (see H.R. 2738), H4141 [26MY]

Reform: establish a Personal Social Security Savings Program and provide new limitations on the budget (see S. 857), S4021 [20AP] (see H.R. 1776), H2470 [21AP]

———express concern relative to pending bankruptcy and call for reform (see H. Res. 168), H1695 [17MR]

Senior citizens: ensure adequate public-private infrastructure and resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation (see S. 2010), S12839 [15NO]

———establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits (see H.R. 3601), H7560 [28JY]

———establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security benefits (see S. 275), S978 [3FE]

———establish regional consumer price indices to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits (see H.R. 736), H523 [9FE]

———provide greater health care freedom (see H.R. 580), H351 [2FE]

Social Security Investment Commission: establish (see H.R. 3435), H6649 [26JY]

SSI: authorize extension to American Samoa (see H.R. 1051), H940 [2MR] (see H.R. 1187), H1263 [9MR]

———clarify that the value of certain funeral and burial arrangements are not to be considered available resources (see S. 1588), S9468 [29JY] (see H.R. 4227), H9641 [3NO]

———disregard State annuities paid to blind veterans in the determination of benefits (see H.R. 592), H352 [2FE]

———eliminate the unfair and disadvantageous treatment of cash military compensation other than basic pay (see H.R. 536), H349 [2FE]

———extend for refugees, asylees, and certain other humanitarian immigrants (see S. 453), S1623 [17FE] (see H.R. 899), H792 [17FE]

———increase incentives for working, saving, and pursuing an education (see H.R. 1682), H2148 [19AP]

———require compensation for jury service to be excluded in determining income (see H.R. 3951), H8642 [29SE]

States: allow States to expand or add coverage of pregnant women under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (see S. 710), S3201 [5AP] (see S. 740), S3358 [7AP]

———assure coverage of legal immigrant children and pregnant women under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (see H.R. 287), H137 [6JA]

———ensure health insurance coverage for every child under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (see S. 114), S144 [24JA]

———permit coverage of certain low-income youth with an enhanced matching rate under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (see S. 1298), S7293 [23JN] (see H.R. 3040), H4984 [22JN]

———provide grants to promote innovative outreach and enrollment under Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (see S. 1049), S5300 [17MY] (see H.R. 3050), H5100 [23JN]

———streamline enrollment for Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program through better linkages with low-income nutrition and related assistance programs (see S. 747), S3413 [11AP] (see H.R. 2948), H4655 [16JN]

Strengthen and permanently preserve (see S. 540), S2148 [7MR]

Taxation: allow a refundable credit for certain Medicare premiums (see H.R. 321), H194 [25JA]

———allow a refundable credit to military retirees for certain Medicare premiums (see H.R. 322), H194 [25JA]

———allow seniors with Social Security and pension income to file income tax form 1040S without regard to amount of interest or taxable income (see H.R. 1581), H1895 [12AP]

———coordinate the threshold requirement for coverage of domestic employees with the amount required for a quarter of coverage (see H.R. 1761), H2470 [21AP]

———disclose to State and local law enforcement agencies individuals using Social Security numbers of others to claim tax benefits (see H.R. 1676), H2106 [18AP]

———impose a tax on the amount of wages in excess of the contribution and benefit base and extend budget pay-as-you-go requirements (see H.R. 2472), H3556 [18MY]

———increase base and adjusted base amounts used for purposes of determining the amount of Social Security benefits excluded from gross income (see H.R. 2202), H3055 [5MY]

———provide a credit to physicians who serve a substantial number of Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas (see H.R. 3299), H5913 [14JY]

———provide for employer retirement savings accounts (see S. 547), S2244 [8MR] (see H.R. 1161), H1024 [8MR]

———provide for retirement savings accounts (see S. 546), S2244 [8MR] (see H.R. 1162), H1024 [8MR]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (see S. 774), S3555 [13AP] (see H.R. 137), H76 (see H.R. 179), H77 [4JA] (see H.R. 1014), H846 [1MR] (see H.R. 1517), H1845 [6AP]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits and increase the distribution age for certain retirement plans (see H.R. 1809), H2471 [21AP]

———repeal withholding of income and Social Security taxes (see H.R. 3409), H6380 [22JY]

———require employer disclosure of their share of taxes for old-age, survivors, and disability insurance and hospital insurance as well as the employee's share of such taxes on W-2 forms (see H.R. 3167), H5601 [30JN]

———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. 858), H718 [16FE]

———treatment of Social Security benefits (see H.R. 180), H77 [4JA]

———waive the employee portion of Social Security taxes imposed on individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer or a terminal disease (see H.R. 3078), H5252 [27JN]

Treaties and agreements: provide congressional oversight and approval of totalization agreements (see H.R. 2339), H3260 [12MY]

Trust funds: establish a procedure to safeguard (see S. 292), S979 [3FE]

———establish a Social Security Surplus Protection Account in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and enact legislation allowing for investment of the Trust Fund in non-Federal obligations (see H.R. 3435), H6649 [26JY]

———establish an effective real annual rate of interest for special obligations issued to trust funds (see H.R. 1123), H983 [3MR]

———invest in marketable interest-bearing securities and insured certificates of deposit, and protect from public debt limit (see H.R. 219), H78 [4JA]

———protect solvency by mandating that trust fund monies cannot be diverted to create private accounts (see H.R. 1330), H1620 [16MR]

———provide for investment and protection of surpluses (see H.R. 3913), H8387 [27SE]

Women: promote economic security and safety of domestic and sexual violence victims (see H.R. 3185), H5602 [30JN]

———promote economic security and safety of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victims (see S. 1796), S10724 [29SE]

———recognize effects of reform proposals (see H. Res. 61), H286 [1FE]

Factsheets

Adjust Status of Certain Foreign Agricultural Workers, Reform H-2A Worker Program, and Provide a Stable and Legal Agricultural Workforce, S3807 [18AP]

Bipartisan Commission on Medicaid (S. 338), S1213 [9FE]

Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act (S. 1217), S6321 [9JN]

Medicaid Indian Health Act (S. 2074), S13385 [18NO]

Medicare Beneficiary Assistance Improvement Act (S. 1808), S10803 [30SE]

Letters

Adjust status of certain foreign agricultural workers, reform H-2A worker program, and provide a stable and legal agricultural workforce: Clayton Yeutter, S3809 [18AP]

———Grover G. Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform (organization), S3809 [18AP]

———John Young, New England Apple Council, Inc., S3809 [18AP]

———William Samuel, AFL-CIO, S3785 [18AP]

Adult day health care in California: Senators Feinstein and Boxer, S14151 [20DE]

———several members of the California congressional delegation, S14151 [20DE]

Bipartisan Commission on Medicaid establishment: A. Gene Copello, AIDS Institute, S1209 [9FE]

———Daniel R. Hawkins, Jr., National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc., S1210 [9FE]

———Hal Daub, American Health Care Association, S1208 [9FE]

———James Firman, National Council on the Aging, S1210 [9FE]

———James H. Scully, Jr., American Psychiatric Association, S1211 [9FE]

———Larry S. Gage, National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, S1210 [9FE]

———Lawrence A. McAndrews, National Association of Children's Hospitals, S1209 [9FE]

———Margaret A. Murray, Association for Community Affiliated Plans, S1209 [9FE]

———Michael J. Fitzpatrick, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, S1210 [9FE]

———Michael Rodgers, Catholic Health Association, S1210 [9FE]

———Richard Haught and James B. Bramson, American Dental Association, S1211 [9FE]

———Rick Pollack, American Hospital Association, S1211 [9FE]

Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act: Christine M. de Vries, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, S6043 [26MY]

———David Dempsey, National Association of Social Workers, S6042 [26MY]

Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act: Jordan Cohen, Association of American Medical Colleges, S13378 [18NO]

———Philip Shettle, American Osteopathic Association, S13377 [18NO]

———William K. Mygdal, Penny Tenzer, Warren Newton, and Perry Dickinson, Academic Family Medicine Advocacy Alliance, S13378 [18NO]

Deficit Reduction Act: William S. Skylstad, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, S14081 [20DE]

Deficit Reduction Act Medicaid and Medicare provisions: William D. Novelli, AARP, S14083, S14157 [20DE]

Deficit Reduction Act Medicaid provisions: Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, S14157 [20DE]

———Daniel E. Smith and Wendy K.D. Selig, American Cancer Society, S14157 [20DE]

———Janet Murguia, National Council of La Raza, S14158 [20DE]

———Miriam A. Rollin, Fight Crime—Invest in Kids (organization), S14158 [20DE]

———several organizations, S14082 [20DE]

———several Senators, S13530 [14DE]

Early Treatment for HIV Act: A. Gene Copello, AIDS Institute, S1120 [8FE]

———American Academy of HIV Medicine, S1120 [8FE]

———Jim Pickett, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, S1122 [8FE]

———Julie M. Scofield, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, S1121 [8FE]

———Lynda Dee, AIDS Action Baltimore, Inc., S1122 [8FE]

———Marsha A. Martin, AIDS Action Council, S1120, S1122 [8FE]

———Rick Stoller, Partnership Project (organization), S1121 [8FE]

———Ryan Clary, Project Inform (organization), S1121 [8FE]

———Thomas Bruner, Cascade AIDS Project (organization), S1121 [8FE]

———William E. Arnold, Title II Community AIDS National Network (organization), S1121 [8FE]

Extend eligibility for certain Federal benefits to citizens of the Freely Associated States: Lillian B. Koller, Hawaii Dept. of Human Services, S13183 [17NO]

Health Information Technology Act: Andrew M. Mekelberg, Verizon Communications, Inc., S6413 [13JN]

———Brian Peters, Michigan Health and Hospital Association, S6413 [13JN]

———Christopher Caine, IBM Corp., S6412 [13JN]

———Daniel R. Hawkins, Jr., National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc., S6412 [13JN]

———Foundation for eHealth Initiative, S6412 [13JN]

———H. Stephen Lieber and Pamela R. Wirth, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, S6413 [13JN]

———Hal Daub, American Health Care Association, S6412 [13JN]

———Kenneth R. Baker, Altarum Institute, S6413 [13JN]

———Michael Fleming, American Academy of Family Physicians, S6411 [13JN]

———Scott Decker and Jonathan Teich, HealthVision, Inc., S6412 [13JN]

Improving Long-Term Care Choices Act: Kimberly Ruff-Wilbert, United Spinal Association, S9522 [29JY]

———Lynn Breedlove, National Disability Rights Network, S9522 [29JY]

———Paul Marchand, Disability Policy Collaboration, S9522 [29JY]

———Robert Bacon and Lucille Zeph, Association of University Centers on Disabilities, S9523 [29JY]

———Suellen R. Galbraith, American Network of Community Options and Resources, S9522 [29JY]

Medicaid Emergency Psychiatric Care Act: Carol Carothers, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Maine, S9514 [29JY]

———Dennis P. King, Spring Harbor Hospital, Westbrook, ME, S9513 [29JY]

———Larry E. Naake, National Association of Counties, and Melissa Staats, National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors, S9512 [29JY]

———Mark Covall, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, S9513 [29JY]

———Michael J. Fitzpatrick, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, S9512 [29JY]

———Rick Pollack, National Hospital Association, S9512 [29JY]

———Robert E. Suter, American College of Emergency Physicians, S9513 [29JY]

———Steven R. Michaud, Maine Hospital Association, S9513 [29JY]

———Steven S. Sharfstein, National Psychiatric Association, S9512 [29JY]

Medicaid Formula Fairness Act: Rick Pollack, American Hospital Association, S4957 [11MY]

Medicaid funding: Mark R. Warner and Mike Huckabee, National Governors Association, H2517 [26AP]

Medicaid funding and Bipartisan Commission on Medicaid establishment: several organizations, S2810 [16MR]

Medicaid Health Plan Rebate Act: Thomas Johnson, Medicaid Health Plans of America (organization), S9508 [29JY]

Medicare Mental Health Copayment Equity Act: James H. Scully, Jr., American Psychiatric Association, S6051 [26MY]

———Mental Health Liaison Group, S6052 [26MY], E356 [3MR]

Medicare Payment Adjustment to Community Health Centers (PATCH) Act: Daniel R. Hawkins, Jr., National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc., S9515 [29JY]

Negotiation of fair prices for Medicare prescription drugs: David P. Sloane, AARP, S12283 [2NO]

Pathways to Independence Act: Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities, S1677 [17FE]

———several organizations, S1677 [17FE]

Preserving Patient Access to Physicians Act: George Thomas, American Osteopathic Association, S5539 [19MY]

———Michael D. Maves, American Medical Association, S5538 [19MY]

Procedural waivers and requests and budgetary requests for family and child services programs in response to Hurricane Katrina: Marketa G. Gautreau, Louisiana Dept. of Social Services, H9983 [8NO]

Restrict access to certain personal information in bankruptcy documents: Leonidas R. Mecham, Judicial Conference of the U.S., S1851 [1MR]

Social Security reform: Michael Pesho, S723 [1FE]

Social Security reform proposals based on race and gender: Representatives Maloney and Pallone, H225, H226 [26JA]

———several Members of Congress, H264 [1FE]

Streamline H-2A worker program and create blue card program for temporary agricultural guest workers: Bob Stallman, American Farm Bureau Federation, S3769 [18AP]

Tribute to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for demonstration project to assess quality of care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: Representative Barton, Committee on Energy and Commerce (House), E2115 [18OC]

———Representative Thomas, Committee on Ways and Means (House), E2115 [18OC]

Lists

Organizations opposed to Social Security privatization proposals, H841 [1MR]

Organizations supporting S. 338, Bipartisan Commission on Medicaid establishment, S1208 [9FE]

Organzations supporting S. 1217, Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act, S6321 [9JN]

Messages

State of the Union: President Bush, S878-S881 [2FE]

Questions and answers

Adjust status of certain foreign agricultural workers, reform H-2A worker program, and provide a stable and legal agricultural workforce, S3808 [18AP]

Remarks in House

AARP: characterization in certain television ads relative to position on Social Security privatization proposals, H842 [1MR]

Anniversary, H6941 [28JY]

Benefits: disability and survior benefits, H841 [1MR]

———impact of privatization on African Americans, H1973 [14AP]

———impact of privatization on Hispanic Americans, H1857 [12AP], E829 [28AP]

———impact of privatization on women, H144 [25JA], H290 [2FE], H510 [9FE], H634 [16FE], H840 [1MR], H926, H928-H931 [2MR], H3294 [16MY], H4965, H4966-H4970 [22JN], H6112, H6113 [20JY], E129 [1FE], E344 [2MR]

———impact of reform proposals on young Americans, H3550 [18MY]

———privatization proposals, H202 [26JA], H241, H262-H270 [1FE], H291, H292, H339 [2FE], H375 [8FE], H418, H484, H485, H495-H506, H507, H509-H512 [9FE], H526, H527, H568 [10FE], H615, H619 [15FE], H634, H635, H691, H695, H696 [16FE], H721 [17FE], H812, H836-H842 [1MR], H852, H920-H937 [2MR], H945, H947 [3MR], H992, H994, H996, H1004, H1016-H1021 [8MR], H1028, H1206, H1208 [9MR], H1270, H1271, H1272, H1339, H1341, H1344-H1349 [10MR], H1426 [15MR], H1512, H1514, H1537-H1544, H1556, H1579, H1607, H1611-H1614 [16MR], H1626, H1683 [17MR], H1738, H1753, H1769-H1774 [5AP], H1787, H1788 [6AP], H1953-H1958 [13AP], H1972, H1974, H2087-H2092 [14AP], H2128, H2139-H2143 [19AP], H2458-H2464 [21AP], H2481, H2535-H2541 [26AP], H2556, H2633, H2634-H2637 [27AP], H2653, H2721 [28AP], H2745, H2747, H2749, H2750, H2782, H2785 [3MY], H2969-H2973 [4MY], H2984 [5MY], H3092-H3098 [10MY], H3201, H3241 [12MY], H3294 [16MY], H3336, H3408-H3414, H3432 [17MY], H3441 [18MY], H3587 [19MY], H3756-H3758 [23MY], H3898, H3900 [25MY], H4123 [26MY], H4173-H4179 [7JN], H4193 [8JN], H4300 [9JN], H4474 [14JN], H4490 [15JN], H4658, H4712-H4714 [17JN], H4900, H4965, H4977-H4983 [22JN], H4988, H4989, H4990 [23JN], H5103, H5104, H5105 [24JN], H5239-H5242 [27JN], H5258, H5259, H5260, H5262 [28JN], H5368, H5369, H5370, H5371 [29JN], H5596 [30JN], H5643, H5645 [12JY], H5745, H5791-H5798 [13JY], H5895-H5898 [14JY], H6110, H6111 [20JY], H6439 [26JY], H6655 [27JY], H6941 [28JY], E127 [1FE], E584 [7AP], E973 [13MY], E1692 [29JY]

———protect beneficiaries against any reduction in benefits (H.R. 266), H329 [2FE]

———protect cost-of-living adjustments (H.R. 3954), E1998 [29SE]

———reduce the age at which an eligible individual may be paid widow's or widower's insurance benefits (H.R. 2126), E897 [5MY]

———reform, H4988, H4989, H4990 [23JN], H5895-H5898 [14JY]

———reform proposals based on race and gender, H225 [26JA], H262-H270 [1FE], H498, H509 [9FE]

———reject privatization proposals, H82 [6JA]

———replace certain employment requirements for Government pension offset exemption with the rule that last applied prior to enactment of the Social Security Protection Act (H.R. 3661), E1760 [6SE]

Bipartisan Commission on Medicaid: establish, H2509-H2520 [26AP], E875 [4MY]

Budget: allocation of funds, H374, H383-H398, H402-H404 [8FE], H508, H509 [9FE], H526 [10FE], H606, H611 [15FE], H691-H699 [16FE], H722 [17FE], H2638 [27AP], H9015 [20OC], H9106 [26OC], H9281 [27OC], H9954-H9960 [7NO], H10005-H10012 [8NO], H10117-H10124 [9NO], H10230 [16NO], H12234-H12241 [18DE]

———constitutional amendment on ensuring Social Security trust funds are outside the U.S. budget, H4926 [22JN]

———increase veterans, education, health care, homeland security, environment, and infrastructure funding through reductions in tax cuts and defense spending, H1628-H1632 [17MR]

Bush, President: request certain information relative to a claim made that there is not a Social Security trust, H1755 [5AP], H1787, H1788 [6AP]

———request certain information relative to a claim made that there is not a Social Security trust (H. Res. 170), H1787 [6AP], H1971 [14AP]

———State of the Union Message, H339 [2FE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: extend compliance threshold used to determine eligibility of hospitals for designation as an inpatient rehabilitation facility (H.R. 3373), E1563 [21JY]

———prohibit funding to implement rule on critical access hospital replacement facility construction, H5122, H5123 [24JN]

———tribute for demonstration project to assess quality of care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (H. Res. 261), H8683-H8685 [6OC], E1562 [21JY], E1732 [29JY]

Child support: modify calculation of child support automation penalty and provide for reinvestment of any such penalty (H.R. 2409), H3338 [17MY]

Congress: accomplishments of the 109th Congress, H6555 [26JY]

Crime: establish penalties for child identity theft, H7917 [14SE]

———prevent identity fraud, H4472 [14JN]

Democratic Party: national agenda, H1610 [16MR], H2533, H2540 [26AP], H3289 [16MY], H3756-H3761 [23MY], H4125 [26MY], H4174-H4179 [7JN], H5948-H5954 [18JY], H6555 [26JY], H8989 [20OC], H9110 [26OC], H9633-H9638 [3NO], H10150 [10NO], H10379, H10382 [16NO]

Dept. of HHS: prohibit distribution of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries' personal information to private companies for marketing purposes, H5150, H5156 [24JN]

Disabled: amend certain disability insurance and SSI programs to provide equitable treatment of disability beneficiaries with waxing and waning medical conditions (H.R. 4095), E2143 [20OC]

———disability insurance program funding, H5161 [24JN]

Domestic policy: national objectives priority assignments, H8251 [22SE]

Domestic violence: research health impact and prevention and provide training and Federal coverage for health care professionals to identify and treat families experiencing family violence, H1271 [10MR]

Drugs: prohibit Federal payment or reimbursement for drugs prescribed for the treatment of sexual or erectile dysfunction, H5126-H5128 [24JN]

———prohibit Federal payment or reimbursement for drugs prescribed to sex offenders for the treatment of sexual or erectile dysfunction, H4988, H5037 [23JN]

———promote fairer prescription drug pricing through Internet sites supported by public-private partnerships, H11658 [15DE]

Economy: national objectives priority assignments, H2963-H2969 [4MY]

Elizabethtown, KY: anniversary of Hospice and Palliative Care of Central Kentucky, E1544 [20JY]

Executive departments: allegations of payments to journalists for favorable comments concerning Bush administration proposals, H240 [1FE]

Families and domestic relations: allow foster care maintenance payments to be made to private for-profit agencies (H.R. 3008), E2307 [9NO]

———allow foster care maintenance payments to be made to private for-profit agencies (S. 1894), H9982-H9987 [8NO]

Federal aid programs: extend Medicare cost-sharing for qualifying individuals and Medicaid transitional medical assistance programs, H8948, H8950 [19OC]

Health: expand dental coverage and community oral health services under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (H.R. 594), E130 [1FE]

———expand Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program to include parents of low-income families (H.R. 2071), H8950 [19OC], E874 [4MY]

———improve access to health insurance and Medicare benefits for individuals aged 55 to 65 and allow tax credits for payment of such premiums (H.R. 2072), E862 [4MY]

———improve accessibility to immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases, study Medicare and Medicaid influenza immunization usage, and amend Federal employee immunization services (H.R. 3598), H6939 [28JY], E1662 [29JY]

———national policy to provide health care, control costs, and enhance the quality of the health care system (H.R. 1200), H11871 [15DE]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, H1610 [16MR], H1647 [17MR], H2749, H2806-H2809 [3MY], H2982 [5MY], H3162 [11MY], H3246-H3249 [12MY], H4056 [25MY], H4192 [8JN], H4300 [9JN], H4409 [14JN], H4717 [17JN], H5172 [24JN], H6436 [26JY], H8959-H8966 [19OC], H9026-H9031, H9033, H9035 [20OC], E423 [10MR], E1155 [8JN], E1526 [19JY], E2136 [20OC]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 676), H3162 [11MY], H3897 [25MY], H4075 [26MY], H8923 [19OC], H9032 [20OC], E1164 [8JN]

———protect enrollees in managed care plans and other health coverage (H.R. 2259), E937 [11MY]

———support Federal and State funded in-home care for the elderly (H. Res. 194), E584 [7AP]

House of Representatives: bribery allegations relative to Representative Nick Smith's vote on Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, H994 [8MR]

———legislative priorities, H4145 [7JN], H11331 [12DE]

Hurricanes: establish offsets for funding for relief for States impacted by Hurricane Katrina, H8953 [19OC]

———simplify process for Hurricane Katrina victims to request disaster-related assistance, H7650 [6SE]

Immigration: adjust status of certain foreign agricultural workers, reform H-2A worker program, provide a stable, legal agricultural workforce, and extend basic legal protections and better working conditions to more workers, H11993, H11994 [16DE]

———enforce employment restrictions on unauthorized aliens through the use of improved Social Security cards and an Employment Eligibility Database, H11675 [15DE]

———enforce employment restrictions on unauthorized aliens through the use of improved Social Security cards and an Employment Eligibility Database (H.R. 98), H2747 [3MY], H2989 [5MY], H3445 [18MY], H9684 [4NO], E14 [4JA], E1061 [23MY]

Income: repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (H.R. 147), H6522 [26JY]

Insurance: guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children (H.R. 3055), E1339 [24JN]

Investments: establish and maintain personal Social Security investment accounts (H.R. 1800), E734 [22AP]

———provide for enhanced retirement security in the form of an Individual Social Security Investment Program, E740 [22AP]

———provide for enhanced retirement security in the form of an Individual Social Security Investment Program (H.R. 530), H3031 [5MY]

Labor unions: use of pension and financial services funds to back Social Security privatization proposals, H2751 [3MY]

Marietta, GA: supplemental pension plan for city employees, H3201 [12MY]

Medicaid: extend the qualified individual program for cost-sharing assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries, H8949 [19OC]

———extend the qualified individual program for cost-sharing assistance to low-income Medicare beneficiaries (H.R. 3800), H8516 [29SE], H8949 [19OC]

———funding, H590, H606 [15FE], H1558, H1560 [16MR], H1671 [17MR], H2509-H2520 [26AP], H2640 [27AP], H2652, H2656, H2697, H2700, H2708, H2712, H2715, H2716 [28AP], H2787 [3MY], H9078 [25OC], H9106 [26OC], H9606 [3NO], H9938, H9945, H9946 [7NO], H10045 [9NO], H10150 [10NO], H12236 [18DE], E875 [4MY]

———GAO study on pharmacy reimbursements for enrollees' prescriptions, H10631 [17NO]

———improve documentation requirements for applicants, H12276 [18DE], E2561, E2576 [17DE]

———improve the qualified Medicare beneficiary (QMB) and specified low-income Medicare beneficiary (SLMB) programs (H.R. 3980), H8950 [19OC]

———provide for health opportunity accounts, H9550 [2NO]

———provide public access to quality medical imaging procedures and radiation therapy procedures (H.R. 1426), E508 [17MR]

———provide temporary disaster relief in response to Hurricane Katrina, H7701 [7SE]

———recognize importance of prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers (H. Con. Res. 231), E1681 [29JY]

———reduce benefits and increase cost to beneficiaries, H11962, H11963 [16DE]

———reform, H374 [8FE], H3248 [12MY], H4493 [15JN], H8987 [20OC], H9050 [25OC], H10008 [8NO], H10118, H10119, H10123 [9NO], H10622-H10630, H10639, H10640, H10642, H10643, H10644 [17NO], E2409 [18NO], E2443 [6DE]

———remove cap on payments and adjust statutory matching rate for certain territories, H12275 [18DE]

———require drug utilization review programs to deny coverage of erectile dysfunction drugs for individuals registered (or required to be registered) as sex offenders (H.R. 2648), H5037 [23JN]

———require States to pay dispensing fees to pharmacies for prescriptions, H10639 [17NO]

Medicaid Commission: funding, H5117, H5118 [24JN]

Medicare: anniversary, H9934 [7NO], H10149 [10NO], H10190 [15NO], E1679, E1744 [29JY]

———assure equitable payment for physicians services (H.R. 4520), E2513 [13DE]

———cost estimates for prescription drug benefit program, H526 [10FE], H699 [16FE], H757 [17FE], H3247 [12MY]

———cost of prescription drug benefit coverage implementation, H11275 [8DE], H11510 [14DE]

———coverage of bone mass measurements for all individuals at clinical risk for osteoporosis (H.R. 2257), E1220 [14JN]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services (H.R. 1582), E626 [12AP]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs, H418 [9FE], H1344 [10MR], H6210 [21JY], H8394 [28SE], H8832 [17OC], H8902-H8907 [18OC], H9090 [25OC]

———deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices (H.R. 752), E1940 [22SE]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (H.R. 1125), H1757 [5AP]

———ensure that prescription drug benefits have no impact on benefits under other Federal programs (H.R. 2746), E1152 [7JN]

———establish pay for performance system to adequately reimburse physicians, H10367 [16NO]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services (H.R. 1946), E779 [27AP]

———extend implementation of prescription drug program, H11331 [12DE]

———extend initial enrollment period for prescription drug benefits, waive penalties for late enrollment, and provide other additional beneficiary protections (H.R. 4410), H11189 [7DE]

———improve coordination of prescription drug coverage under retiree plans and State pharmaceutical assistance programs with Medicare drug benefits (H.R. 152), E22 [4JA]

———improve coordination of prescription drug coverage under State pharmaceutical assistance programs with Medicare drug benefits (H.R. 1572), E629 [12AP]

———improve implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit, H8651 [6OC]

———increase per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments to hospitals (H.R. 4371), E2391 [17NO]

———Medicare Advantage Risk Program and physician payments funding, H11961, H11962, H11965 [16DE]

———permit direct payment for clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities (H.R. 2736), E1111 [26MY]

———permit the Dept. of HHS to enter into direct negotiations to promote the best prices for beneficiaries, H11275 [8DE], H11331 [12DE], H12055 [17DE], E2445 [6DE]

———permit the Dept. of HHS to enter into direct negotiations to promote the best prices for beneficiaries (H.R. 376), H3758 [23MY], H9934 [7NO]

———prescription drug benefit coverage, H9968 [8NO], H10149 [10NO], H10164, H10166, H10167, H10190, H10193, H10195, H10208-H10214 [15NO], H10231, H10232, H10233 [16NO], H11115, H11116, H11184 [7DE], H11508, H11509, H11510 [14DE], H11659 [15DE], E2394 [17NO]

———prescription drug discount card program implementation, H3046 [5MY]

———prohibit disclosure of Social Security numbers on Medicare-related mailings (H.R. 2518), E1060 [23MY]

———prohibit Federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens, H5123-H5125 [24JN]

———prohibit inclusion of Social Security numbers on identification cards issued to beneficiaries, H5125, H5126 [24JN]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (S. 351), E212 [10FE]

———provide additional beneficiary protections (H.R. 2487), E1046 [20MY]

———provide extended and additional protection to beneficiaries enrolled in prescription drug benefit plans (H.R. 3861), H11511, H11512 [14DE], H12055 [17DE], E1932, E1940 [22SE]

———provide whistleblower protection to employees of clinical laboratories (H.R. 686), H495 [9FE]

———reform, H2538, H2539 [26AP], H5950 [18JY], H8987, H9027 [20OC], H10031, H10032 [8NO], H11338 [13DE], H12055 [17DE]

———reform the physician payment update system through repeal of the sustainable growth rate payment update system (H.R. 2356), E990 [16MY]

———require hospitals to make an effort to contact a surrogate decisionmaker of patients who arrive at an emergency department physically incapable of communicating with the attending health care practitioners (H.R. 2560), H3880 [24MY]

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act: implementation and funding, H1757-H1763 [5AP]

Medicare/Medicaid: funding, H10007, H10008 [8NO]

———protect personal information of beneficiaries from private insurance companies, H5084 [23JN]

Mental health: extend provisions requiring parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits (H.R. 4579), H12125-H12128 [17DE]

Merchant marine industry: provide a monthly monetary benefit to certain individuals who served in the U.S. merchant marine during World War II (H.R. 23), E7 [4JA], E1833 [13SE]

National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation: establish (H.R. 3373), E1563 [21JY]

Older Women's League: tribute, E2163 [25OC]

109th Congress: goals, H5 [4JA]

Pensions: create personal guarantee accounts ensuring full benefits for all workers and their families, restore long-term solvency, and make certain benefit improvements (H.R. 750), E220 [10FE]

———dedicate surpluses to personal accounts that can only be used to pay Social Security benefits, H5644 [12JY], H5791-H5798 [13JY], E1692 [29JY]

———dedicate surpluses to personal accounts that can only be used to pay Social Security benefits (H.R. 3304), H5804 [14JY], H5948 [18JY], H6190-H6196 [20JY], H6440 [26JY], E1499 [15JY]

Pharmaceuticals: impact of industry lobbyists, H2534 [26AP]

———require pharmacists manage and monitor medications for patients with chronic illness, H8737 [7OC]

Privacy: enhance privacy protections for individuals and prevent fraudulent misuse of account numbers (H.R. 1745), E720 [21AP]

———protect the integrity and confidentiality of Social Security numbers and prohibit the establishment of any uniform national identifying number (H.R. 220), E3 [4JA]

———strengthen the authority of the Federal Government to protect individuals from certain acts and practices in the sale and purchase of Social Security numbers and Social Security account numbers (H.R. 1078), E368 [3MR]

Public welfare programs: funding, H12237 [18DE]

———make grants to States to establish emergency assistance programs to help low-income households purchase gasoline (H.R. 4010), E2051 [7OC]

Reform, H202 [26JA], H241, H262-H270 [1FE], H375, H390, H393 [8FE], H418, H484, H485, H495-H512 [9FE], H526, H568 [10FE], H614-H621 [15FE], H634, H635 [16FE], H721 [17FE], H800, H812, H816, H836-H842 [1MR], H852, H920-H937 [2MR], H945, H947, H948 [3MR], H992, H994, H995, H996, H1004, H1016-H1021 [8MR], H1027, H1028, H1206, H1208 [9MR], H1337-H1349 [10MR], H1374 [14MR], H1426 [15MR], H1512, H1513, H1514, H1537-H1544, H1556, H1579, H1582, H1583, H1594, H1607, H1610-H1614 [16MR], H1626, H1683 [17MR], H1738, H1753, H1755, H1769-H1774 [5AP], H1787, H1788 [6AP], H1857, H1869, H1881-H1886 [12AP], H1952-H1958 [13AP], H1972, H1973, H1974, H2087-H2092 [14AP], H2128, H2139-H2143 [19AP], H2458-H2464 [21AP], H2535-H2541 [26AP], H2555, H2556, H2632-H2638, H2640 [27AP], H2653, H2697, H2698, H2721 [28AP], H2745, H2747, H2749, H2750, H2782, H2785, H2802-H2804 [3MY], H2885, H2887, H2969-H2973 [4MY], H2982, H2984 [5MY], H3092-H3098 [10MY], H3116, H3118, H3119, H3171-H3177 [11MY], H3241 [12MY], H3294 [16MY], H3336, H3337, H3408-H3414 [17MY], H3441 [18MY], H3587, H3589 [19MY], H3756-H3758 [23MY], H3774 [24MY], H3898, H3900 [25MY], H4123 [26MY], H4173-H4179 [7JN], H4193 [8JN], H4300 [9JN], H4474 [14JN], H4490 [15JN], H4565 [16JN], H4658, H4712-H4714 [17JN], H4900, H4902, H4965, H4977-H4983 [22JN], H5103, H5104, H5105 [24JN], H5239-H5242 [27JN], H5258, H5259, H5260, H5262 [28JN], H5368, H5369, H5370, H5371 [29JN], H5596 [30JN], H5643, H5645 [12JY], H5791-H5798 [13JY], H6110, H6111, H6113 [20JY], H6207 [21JY], H6439 [26JY], H6655 [27JY], H10507 [17NO], E584 [7AP], E973 [13MY], E1692 [29JY]

———establish a Personal Social Security Savings Program and provide new limitations on the budget (H.R. 1776), H2634, H2636 [27AP], H3031 [5MY], H6111 [20JY], E750 [22AP]

Republican Party: national agenda, H3889 [24MY], H5082 [23JN], H6111 [20JY], H8729 [6OC], H9108, H9110 [26OC], H9281, H9331-H9349 [27OC], H9558, H9559 [3NO], H11512 [14DE]

Senior citizens: establish a consumer price index for elderly consumers to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits, H8907 [18OC]

———provide greater health care freedom (H.R. 580), E133 [2FE]

SSA: prohibit use of funding to pay salaries of employees to administer Social Security benefits under a totalization agreement with Mexico, H5143, H5144 [24JN]

SSI: eliminate the unfair and disadvantageous treatment of cash military compensation other than basic pay (H.R. 536), E154 [2FE]

———increase incentives for working, saving, and pursuing an education (H.R. 1682), E688 [19AP]

State Children's Health Insurance Program: funding, H2787 [3MY]

States: permit coverage of certain low-income youth with an enhanced matching rate under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (H.R. 3040), H4982 [22JN]

———streamline enrollment for Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program through better linkages with low-income nutrition and related assistance programs (H.R. 2948), E1253 [17JN]

Taxation: repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (H.R. 179), E5 [4JA]

———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. 858), E255 [16FE]

———treatment of Social Security benefits (H.R. 180), E5 [4JA]

———waive the employee portion of Social Security taxes imposed on individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer or a terminal disease (H.R. 3078), E1368 [27JN]

Treaties and agreements: provide congressional oversight and approval of totalization agreements (H.R. 2339), E963 [13MY]

Trust funds: apply savings from the enactment of certain estate tax legislation to trust fund restoration, H1918 [13AP]

———budget treatment, H176 [25JA], H692 [16FE], H1738, H1755 [5AP], H1926 [13AP], H2634, H2644 [27AP], H2698-H2701 [28AP], H2749 [3MY], H4902 [22JN], H6111, H6114 [20JY]

———invest in marketable interest-bearing securities and insured certificates of deposit, and protect from public debt limit (H.R. 219), E6 [4JA]

———protect solvency by mandating that trust fund monies cannot be diverted to create private accounts (H.R. 1330), H1540, H1543 [16MR]

———restore solvency, H6209 [21JY]

Women: promote economic security and safety of domestic and sexual violence victims (H.R. 3185), E2645 [22DE]

Remarks in Senate

Account statements: include additional information (S. 274), S981 [3FE]

Advertising: campaign designed to build public support for privatization proposals, S547 [26JA]

Appropriations: legislative process relative to Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts proposals, S10014-S10016 [14SE]

Armed Forces: use only basic pay as earned income to determine SSI eligibility for child or spouse of service member, S11119, S11120 [5OC]

Bankruptcy: restrict access to certain personal information in bankruptcy documents, S1850-S1852 [1MR], S2139-S2141 [7MR]

Benefits: guarantee the right of individuals to receive certain benefits in full with an accurate annual cost-of-living adjustment (S. 1750), S10379 [22SE], S12828-S12835 [15NO]

———guarantee the right of individuals to receive certain benefits in full with an accurate annual cost-of-living adjustment (S. 1750), unanimous-consent request, S12832 [15NO]

———impact of privatization on women, S909-S918 [3FE]

———impact of progressive price indexing on benefits, S7544 [29JN]

———privatization proposals, S109, S114, S116 [24JA], S547-S550, S553 [26JA], S617, S625 [31JA], S686, S722 [1FE], S917, S921, S923, S961-S964 [3FE], S1154-S1156 [9FE], S1222, S1223 [10FE], S1314-S1316 [14FE], S1439-S1444, S1454-S1457 [16FE], S1583-S1586, S1589 [17FE], S1815 [1MR], S1915 [2MR], S1960 [3MR], S2059-S2061 [4MR], S2232 [8MR], S2305 [9MR], S2510 [11MR], S2611, S2623 [14MR], S2662-S2665, S2667, S2668, S2689, S2690, S2711 [15MR], S3228-S3235 [5AP], S3352 [7AP], S3444 [12AP], S4447 [28AP], S5051 [12MY], S7402 [27JN], S7544 [29JN]

———protect cost-of-living adjustments (S. 1795), S10737 [29SE]

———protection of disability benefits, S625 [31JA]

Bipartisan Commission on Medicaid: establish, S2801, S2809-S2817 [16MR], S2876-S2886, S2919, S2946 [17MR]

———establish (S. 338), S1208, S1211-S1214 [9FE], S1257 [10FE]

Budget: allocation of funds, S2592-S2597 [14MR], S9712-S9715 [7SE]

———constitutional amendment to require balanced and protect Social Security surpluses (S.J. Res. 2), S366 [24JA]

———require a two-thirds vote for all non-defense, non-trust fund discretionary funding which exceeds previous fiscal years, S11877 [26OC], S11993 [27OC], S12114-S12120 [1NO], S12302 [3NO]

———require balanced and protect Social Security surpluses (S. 568), S2422-S2424 [10MR]

———treatment of any budget surpluses, S14016 [19DE]

Bush, President: evaluation of administration, S6721 [16JN]

———State of the Union Message, S918-S923 [3FE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: extend compliance threshold used to determine eligibility of hospitals for designation as an inpatient rehabilitation facility (S. 1405), S8318 [14JY]

———provide for the production of a corrected ``Medicare and You'' handbook, S11881, S11905 [26OC]

———reduce administrative costs, S11756 [24OC]

Children and youth: promote adoption of children with special needs (S. 1539), S9299 [28JY]

Citizens' Health Care Working Group: implementation of proposals, S5037, S5038 [12MY]

Committee on Finance (Senate): retain jurisdiction over Medicare supplemental policies in the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, S1484 [16FE]

Comprehensive Entitlement Reform Commission: establish (S. 1889), S11564 [19OC]

Congress: accomplishments of the 109th Congress, S13407 [18NO]

Courts: strengthen courts for at-risk children (S. 1679), S9932, S9939 [12SE]

Crime: prevent identity fraud (S. 768), S3510 [13AP]

Democratic Party: national agenda, S110, S116, S127, S130-S132 [24JA]

Democratic Policy Committee: oversight hearings on Social Security privatization proposals, S553 [26JA]

Dept. of HHS: provide grants to States to conduct demonstration projects designed to enable Medicaid-eligible individuals to receive support for long-term disability services in the settings of their choice (S. 528), S2041 [3MR], S2081 [4MR]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: permit Medicare-eligible veterans to receive an outpatient medication benefit (S. 614), S2648 [14MR]

Depts. of Labor, HHS, and Education, and related agencies: across-the-board funding reduction, S13600-S13603, S13607 [15DE]

Disabled: help individuals with functional impairments to pay for services and supports needed to maximize independence and choices about community participation, education, and employment (S. 1951), S12239, S12240 [2NO]

Diseases: shorten waiting period for disability benefits for individuals with mesothelioma (S. 1199), S6234 [8JN]

Drugs: provide discounts to Medicaid and other Federal programs for the advertising costs of certain prescription drugs and ensure that these drugs are prescribed based on health needs rather than marketing (S. 1128), S6056, S6057 [26MY]

Economy: national objectives priority assignments, S1067-S1070 [8FE]

Executive departments: allegations of payments to journalists for favorable comments concerning Bush administration proposals, S547-S550 [26JA]

Families and domestic relations: allow foster care maintenance payments to be made to private for-profit agencies (S. 1894), S11596 [19OC]

———promote healthy marriages and responsible fatherhood, S11883-S11885 [26OC]

Federal aid programs: extend eligibility for certain Federal benefits to citizens of the Freely Associated States (S. 2051), S13181 [17NO]

———extend Medicare cost-sharing for qualifying individuals, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, Medicaid transitional medical assistance, and related programs (S. 1778), S10517 [27SE], S10696 [29SE]

———improve provision of care under Medicare, Medicaid, and certain public welfare programs (S. 2164), unanimous-consent request, S14290 [21DE]

Health: coordination of health care for senior citizens, S4640 [9MY]

———improve quality in health care by providing incentives for adoption of modern information technology (S. 1227), S6410-S6413 [13JN]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, S15-S18 [4JA], S96 [20JA], S138 [24JA], S7805 [30JN], S9107-S9109 [27JY]

———permit qualifying States to use unspent State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments for Medicaid expenditures (S. 1587), S9509 [29JY]

———permit States the option of covering certain legal aliens under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 1104), S5788 [23MY]

———protect enrollees in managed care plans and other health coverage (S. 1012), S5075 [12MY]

History, S2057-S2059 [4MR]

Hurricanes: provide emergency health care relief for survivors of Hurricane Katrina, S12106-S12114 [1NO], S12301 [3NO]

———provide emergency relief to meet the immediate health care, housing, education, and financial needs of survivors of Hurricane Katrina (S. 1637), S9895 [12SE], S13407 [18NO]

———provide Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program assistance for States providing assistance to Katrina survivors and accommodate special needs of such survivors under the Medicare program (S. 1688), S9941 [12SE]

———reallocate certain unspent emergency relief funding to meet the immediate health care, housing, education, and financial needs of survivors of Hurricane Katrina, S11167-S11172 [5OC]

Immigration: adjust status of certain foreign agricultural workers, reform H-2A worker program, provide a stable, legal agricultural workforce, and extend basic legal protections and better working conditions to more workers, S3540, S3603 [13AP], S3723-S3728, S3765, S3766 [15AP], S3767-S3770, S3776-S3786, S3788-S3793, S3800-S3810 [18AP], S3866-S3879 [19AP]

———adjust status of certain foreign agricultural workers, reform H-2A worker program, provide a stable, legal agricultural workforce, and extend basic legal protections and better working conditions to more workers (S. 359), S1288 [10FE], S1710 [18FE]

———streamline H-2A worker program and create blue card program for temporary agricultural guest workers, S3767-S3770 [18AP], S3866-S3879 [19AP]

Income: repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (S. 619), S2653 [14MR], S5493 [19MY], S6279 [9JN]

Insurance: enhance long-term care insurance benefits (S. 1602), S9520-S9523 [29JY]

———guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children, S12939 [16NO], S13123, S13124 [17NO]

———guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children (S. 1303), S7308 [23JN]

Medicaid: apply the current Federal medical assistance percentage determined for a State to certain subsequent fiscal years (S. 1754), S10381 [22SE]

———clarify application of Federal medical assistance percentage for services provided by the Indian Health Service or an Indian tribe or organization directly or through referral, contract, or other arrangement (S. 1572), S9494 [29JY]

———clarify treatment of prescription drug distributor service fees, S14205 [21DE]

———contain costs of prescription drug program, S2145 [7MR]

———coverage of primary and secondary preventative medical strategies for children and adults with sickle cell disease, S11989 [27OC]

———coverage of services provided by nursing school clinics (S. 66), S245 [24JA]

———eliminate increase in rebate for generic drugs, S12318, S12319 [3NO]

———eliminate targeted case management reforms, S12321 [3NO]

———ensure that rural remote pharmacies receive reimbursements for enrollees' prescriptions, S12325 [3NO]

———exclude discounts provided to mail order and nursing facility pharmacies from the determination of average manufacturer price, S12318 [3NO]

———exclude prompt-pay discounts from pharmacy reimbursement methodology, S12327 [3NO]

———extend enhanced Federal matching rate under State children's health insurance program and improve enrollment, retention, quality and performance of children's health insurance (S. 1563), S9478-S9481 [29JY]

———extend prescription drug rebate program to enrollees of managed care organizations (S. 1585), S9507 [29JY]

———funding, S2604, S2609, S2611, S2618 [14MR], S2709 [15MR], S2801, S2809 [16MR], S2876-S2886, S2919, S2946 [17MR], S4500, S4512, S4515, S4520, S4522, S4523 [28AP], S12194-S12196 [2NO], S13479-S13483, S13494 [13DE], S13527-S13530 [14DE], S14097, S14104-S14108, S14150-S14156 [20DE], S14209, S14215 [21DE]

———impact of budget reconciliation legislation on the health and well-being of children (S. Res. 302), S12690 [10NO]

———improve access to advanced practice nurses and physician assistants (S. 1515), S9186 [27JY]

———improve the qualified Medicare beneficiary (QMB) and specified low-income Medicare beneficiary (SLMB) programs (S. 1808), S10802 [30SE]

———include pharmacy benefit managers as liable third party payors, S14205 [21DE]

———include podiatrists as physicians for purposes of covering physicians services (S. 440), S1655 [17FE]

———permit States the option to provide coverage for low-income individuals infected with HIV, S12217 [2NO], S12323 [3NO]

———permit States the option to provide coverage for low-income individuals infected with HIV (S. 311), S1119 [8FE], S1602 [17FE], S6732 [16JN]

———permit States to obtain reimbursement for care or services provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act in a private mental health facility (S. 1592), S9511 [29JY]

———prevent a severe reduction in the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for a State (S. 1007), S4956-S4958 [11MY]

———prevent a severe reduction in the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for a State and extend rebates for prescription drugs to enrollees in Medicaid managed care organizations, S12185-S12188 [2NO], S12307 [3NO]

———provide complete reimbursement for medical assistance provided to Native Hawaiians by federally qualified health centers or Native Hawaiian health care systems (S. 68), S246 [24JA]

———provide families of disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage, S14117 [20DE], S14219 [21DE]

———provide families of disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage (S. 183), S592, S593 [26JA]

———provide for fair treatment of services furnished to Native Americans (S. 2074), S13381-S13384 [18NO], S14155 [20DE]

———provide temporary disaster relief in response to Hurricane Katrina, S9776-S9778, S9783 [8SE], S11522-S11524 [19OC]

———provide the disabled and elderly with equal access to community-based attendant services (S. 401), S1535-S1540 [16FE]

———recognize importance and ensure that reconciliation legislation reported by a conference committee does not have an adverse affect on beneficiaries (S. 1969), S12460 [7NO], S12551 [8NO]

———recognize importance of prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers (S. Con. Res. 65), S13185 [17NO]

———reduce benefits and increase cost to beneficiaries, S14077 [20DE]

———reform, S11757 [24OC], S14116, S14117 [20DE], S14220 [21DE]

———require Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to post public notification of State waivers, S12326 [3NO]

———require States to pay dispensing fees to pharmacies for prescriptions, S12326 [3NO]

———require States to report data on beneficiaries who are employed (S. 1286), S7072 [22JN]

Medicare: amend bad debt collection policy, S12327 [3NO], S12443 [7NO]

———anniversary, S9425 [29JY]

———anniversary (S. Con. Res. 50), S9544-S9547 [29JY]

———clarify congressional intent regarding counting of residents in a nonhospital setting (S. 2071), S13377 [18NO]

———clarify payment for clinical laboratory tests furnished by critical access hospitals (S. 236), S744 [1FE]

———continue Medicaid prescription drug coverage to dual-eligible beneficiaries for a certain period while allowing part D benefits to be implemented as scheduled, S11853-S11855, S11858 [26OC]

———continue Medicaid prescription drug coverage to dual-eligible beneficiaries for a certain period while allowing part D benefits to be implemented as scheduled (S. 566), S2270 [8MR], S13342 [18NO]

———coverage of marriage and family therapist services (S. 784), S3657 [14AP]

———coverage of medical nutrition therapy services (S. 604), S2521 [11MR]

———coverage of outpatient prescription drugs, S2604 [14MR]

———coverage of screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysms, S12336 [3NO]

———coverage of screening ultrasound for abdominal aortic aneurysms (S. 390), S1431, S1432 [15FE]

———deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices (S. 345), S1272, S1273 [10FE]

———deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices (S. 873), S4137 [21AP], S4157 [22AP], S10525 [27SE]

———eliminate discriminatory copayment rates for outpatient psychiatric services (S. 1152), S6051 [26MY]

———enhance access of beneficiaries who live in medically underserved areas to critical primary and preventive health care benefits at federally qualified health centers (S. 1593), S9514 [29JY]

———ensure that savings from reducing overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans is reserved for deficit reduction and to strengthen the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, S2937 [17MR]

———establish a hospice demonstration and grant program for beneficiaries, S3121 [4AP]

———establish a hospice demonstration and grant program for beneficiaries (S. 1001), S4941 [11MY]

———establish pilot projects to provide incentives for home health agencies to utilize home monitoring and communications technologies (S. 1733), S10237 [20SE]

———expand and improve coverage of mental health services (S. 927), S4422 [27AP]

———extend reasonable cost contracts to expand the area in which plans offered under such contracts may operate and to apply certain provisions of Medicare Advantage program to such plans (S. 1403), S8317 [14JY]

———funding, S14116 [20DE], S14208, S14215 [21DE]

———improve access to diabetes self-management training by designated certified diabetes educators (S. 626), S2740 [15MR]

———improve access to services in rural hospitals and critical access hospitals (S. 933), S4549 [28AP]

———improve benefits for beneficiaries with kidney disease (S. 635), S2849 [16MR]

———improve coordination of prescription drug coverage under State pharmaceutical assistance programs with Medicare drug benefits (S. 764), S3487 [12AP]

———improve fairness and reduce regional inequities in reimbursement payments to providers (S. 411), S1555 [16FE]

———improve patient access to, and utilization of, the colorectal cancer screening benefit (S. 1010), S13153 [17NO]

———improve reimbursement for clinical social worker services (S. 61), S242 [24JA]

———improve (S. 18), S111, S208-S210 [24JA]

———improve the provision of telehealth services (S. 1909), S11769 [24OC]

———make a technical correction in the definition of outpatient speech-language pathology services (S. 657), S3010 [17MR]

———make improvements in payments to hospitals (S. 1002), S4946-S4950 [11MY]

———make improvements to payments to ambulance providers in rural areas (S. 1108), S5852 [24MY]

———negotiate for lower prices for prescription drugs (S. 813), S3747 [15AP]

———permit beneficiaries to use identification numbers other than Social Security numbers to deter identity theft, S11784, S11785 [25OC]

———permit direct payment for clinical social worker services provided to residents of skilled nursing facilities (S. 1148), S6042 [26MY]

———permit negotiation of fair prices for, and allow the reimportation of, prescription drugs, S2821-S2825 [16MR], S2921, S2953 [17MR]

———permit negotiation of fair prices for, and allow the reimportation of, prescription drugs (S. 239), S745-S747 [1FE], S877 [2FE], S1152 [9FE], S1252, S1253 [10FE], S1321 [14FE], S1597 [17FE]

———permit the Indian Health Service, an Indian tribe, or a tribal or Indian organization to pay premiums for eligible beneficiaries (S. 1239), S6488 [14JN], S7608 [29JN]

———phase-out waiting period for coverage of disabled individuals and waive waiting period for people with life-threatening illnesses (S. 1217), S6320 [9JN]

———prescription drug discount card program implementation, S132-S134 [24JA]

———preserve access to appeals before administrative law judges (S. 1335), S7634 [29JN]

———prohibit health care providers from charging membership or extraneous fees as a prerequisite to service to a patient (S. 2080), S13453 [12DE]

———prohibit the telemarketing of prescription drug and Advantage plans to beneficiaries (S. 1798), S10747 [29SE], S10793 [30SE]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (S. 351), S1279 [10FE]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (S. 71), S247 [24JA]

———protect patients by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work by certain service providers (S. 71), star print, S1218 [9FE]

———provide a minimum update for physicians' services (S. 1081), S5537, S5538 [19MY]

———provide a minimum update for physicians' services (S. 1574), S9495 [29JY]

———provide access to audiologists (S. 277), S982 [3FE], S8294 [14JY]

———provide beneficiaries access to information on the quality of care provided by skilled nursing facilities and provide incentives for such facilities to improve the quality of care (S. 708), S3214 [5AP]

———provide coverage of remote patient management services for chronic health care conditions (S. 2022), S12955 [16NO]

———provide extended and additional protection to beneficiaries enrolled in prescription drug benefit plans, S13119, S13128, S13129 [17NO]

———provide extended and additional protection to beneficiaries enrolled in prescription drug benefit plans (S. 1841), S11231 [6OC], S12726 [14NO], S12826-S12828 [15NO]

———provide extended and additional protection to beneficiaries enrolled in prescription drug benefit plans (S. 1841), unanimous-consent request, S12828 [15NO]

———provide extended and additional protections to certain beneficiaries (S. 2168), S14329 [21DE]

———provide for negotiation of fair prices for prescription drugs, S12282-S12284 [2NO], S12324, S12325, S12346 [3NO]

———provide for negotiation of fair prices for prescription drugs (S. 123), S315 [24JA]

———provide for negotiation of fair prices for prescription drugs (S. 445), S1658 [17FE], S13342 [18NO]

———provide incentives for provision of high quality care (S. 1356), S7848-S7850 [30JN], S9108 [27JY]

———reduce part B premium through elimination of certain overpayments to Medicare Advantage organizations (S. 1589), S9509 [29JY]

———reduce work hours and increase supervision of resident-physicians to ensure the safety of both patients and resident-physicians (S. 1297), S7301 [23JN]

———reform, S11757 [24OC]

———reform and provide prescription drug coverage, S16 [4JA]

———reimbursement for certain midwife services (S. 911), S4399 [27AP]

———remove restrictions on clinical psychologists or social workers providing services in outpatient rehabilitation facilities (S. 70), S246 [24JA]

———repeal Medicare Advantage Regional Plan Stabilization Fund (S. 124), S316 [24JA]

———repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps, S14159, S14160 [20DE]

———repeal outpatient rehabilitation therapy caps (S. 438), S1654 [17FE]

———repeal part B premium increase, S12121, S12122, S12146 [1NO], S12302, S12303 [3NO]

———require certification prior to beneficiary enrollment in a prescription drug plan, S12313 [3NO]

———require that prescription drug plans or Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug plans with initial coverage limits obtain signed certification prior to enrolling benficiaries (S. 2026), S12958 [16NO]

———stabilize amount of part B premium (S. 222), S672 [31JA]

———stabilize amount of part B premium (S. 1900), S11667 [20OC]

———temporarily increase payment rates for home health services in rural areas (S. 300), S1053 [7FE]

Medicare/Medicaid: assist pharmacies in facilitating enrollment of dual eligible populations under the prescription drug benefit (S. 2173), S14334 [21DE]

———ensure that pharmacies receiving reimbursements fill all valid prescriptions without unnecessary delay or interference (S. 778), S3564 [13AP]

———improve implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit for individuals who are both Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, S12202-S12207 [2NO], S12309 [3NO]

———improve implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit for individuals who are both Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries (S. 1822), S11139 [5OC], S11853-S11855 [26OC]

———provide coverage for end-of-life planning consultations and raise awareness about and assist in preparation of advance directives on end-of-life decisionmaking (S. 347), S1275 [10FE]

———provide coverage for end-of-life planning consultations and raise awareness about and assist in preparation of advance directives on end-of-life decisionmaking (S. 570), S2385, S2404 [9MR], S2500 [10MR]

Merchant marine industry: provide a monthly monetary benefit to certain individuals who served in the U.S. merchant marine during World War II (S. 1272), S6831 [20JN], S14315 [21DE]

National Advisory Council on Medical Rehabilitation: establish (S. 1405), S8318 [14JY]

Pensions: computation system for benefits relative to spouses' and surviving spouses' Government pensions (S. 1799), S10748 [29SE]

———dedicate surpluses to personal accounts that can only be used to pay Social Security benefits (S. 1302), S7303 [23JN], S12832 [15NO]

Privacy: limit the misuse of Social Security numbers and establish criminal penalties for such misuse (S. 29), S216 [24JA]

———require consent of an individual prior to the sale and marketing of personally identifiable information (S. 116), S289-S291 [24JA]

Public Health Service Act: increase affordability of inpatient drugs for Medicaid and safety net hospitals (S. 1840), S11230 [6OC]

Public welfare programs: allow State receipt of credit towards the work requirements under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program for certain disabled recipients (S. 456), S1676-S1679 [17FE]

———ensure fair treatment and due process protections for enhanced data collection and reporting requirements under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (S. 1385), S8139 [12JY]

———permit States to create a program that allows individuals to obtain post-secondary or vocational education under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (S. 458), S1719 [18FE]

Reform, S96 [20JA], S119 [24JA], S617, S618, S619, S624-S626 [31JA], S1106 [8FE], S1154-S1156 [9FE], S1219-S1223, S1254 [10FE], S1314-S1316 [14FE], S1439-S1444, S1454-S1457 [16FE], S1583-S1590 [17FE], S1815 [1MR], S1915 [2MR], S1960 [3MR], S2059-S2061 [4MR], S2232 [8MR], S2305 [9MR], S2510 [11MR], S2589, S2611, S2623 [14MR], S2662-S2665, S2667, S2668, S2676-S2678, S2685-S2693, S2711 [15MR], S3228-S3235 [5AP], S3352 [7AP], S3444 [12AP], S4447, S4488 [28AP], S5051 [12MY], S6146 [7JN], S7402 [27JN], S7544 [29JN]

Republican Party: national agenda, S109 [24JA], S3353 [7AP], S4226 [26AP]

Senate: accomplishments of the 108th Congress, S13-S15 [4JA]

———legislative priorities, S114 [24JA], S376 [25JA], S6278 [9JN], S6716 [16JN], S10396-S10398 [26SE], S10923 [4OC]

Senior citizens: ensure adequate public-private infrastructure and resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation (S. 2010), S12847-S12849 [15NO]

SSI: extend for refugees, asylees, and certain other humanitarian immigrants (S. 453), S1672 [17FE]

States: allow States to expand or add coverage of pregnant women under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (S. 740), S3359-S3361 [7AP]

———ensure health insurance coverage for every child under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (S. 114), S287 [24JA]

———provide grants to promote innovative outreach and enrollment under Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 1049), S5302-S5305 [17MY]

Strengthen and permanently preserve (S. 540), S2164-S2166 [7MR]

Taxation: provide for employer retirement savings accounts (S. 547), S2246 [8MR]

———provide for retirement savings accounts (S. 546), S2246 [8MR]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits, S2914-S2916, S2932, S2933 [17MR]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (S. 774), S3562 [13AP]

Trust funds: budget treatment, S2676, S2685, S2686 [15MR], S4509, S4510 [28AP]

———restore solvency before allowing new tax cuts or mandatory spending unless paid for or approved by a supermajority, S2668-S2676, S2680-S2683, S2692 [15MR]

Women: promote economic security and safety of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victims (S. 1796), S10737 [29SE], S11123 [5OC], S11817 [25OC], S14173 [20DE]

Reports

Budget Conference Agreement Contains Substantial Cuts Aimed at Low-Income Families and Individuals: Edwin Park, Sharon Parrott, and Robert Greenstein, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, S14022 [19DE]

Reports filed

Request That President Bush Provide Certain Information Relative to a Claim Made That There Is Not a Social Security Trust: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H. Res. 170) (H. Rept. 109-58), H2645 [27AP]

Statements

Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act: Senator Craig, S1710 [18FE]

Bush Administration Budget Proposal: Congressional Black Caucus, H386 [8FE]

Deficit Reduction Act Provisions Relative to Medicaid Benefits: Mark B. McClellan, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, S14117 [20DE], S14211 [21DE]

Medicaid Drug Rebate Program Extension to Enrollees of Managed Care Organizations: American Public Human Services Association, S9508 [29JY]

Social Security Reform: Representative DeLauro, E938-E940 [11MY]

Summaries

Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act (S. 359), S1711 [18FE]

Committee on Finance (Senate) Contribution to Budget Reconciliation Legislation, S12070-S12073 [31OC]

Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (Class) Act (S. 1951), S12239 [2NO]

Health Insurance Reform Principles: Senator Enzi, S7806 [30JN]

Improving Long-Term Care Choices Act (S. 1602), S9521 [29JY]

Medicaid Health Plan Rebate Act (S. 1585), S9507 [29JY]

Medicare Beneficiary Assistance Improvement Act (S. 1808), S10803 [30SE]

Medicare Early Access Act (H.R. 2072), E862 [4MY]

MediKids Health Insurance Act (H.R. 3055), E1339 [24JN]

Tables

Federal Medical Assistance Percentage reduction, S10381 [22SE]

Testimonies

United States National Health Insurance Act: Carol McMann, E1164 [8JN]

Texts of

H. Res. 261, tribute to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services demonstration project to assess quality of care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, H8683 [6OC]

H.R. 4579, extend provisions requiring parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits, H12125 [17DE]

S. 18, Meeting Our Responsibility to Medicare Beneficiaries Act, S207 [24JA]

S. 29, Social Security Number Misuse Prevention Act, S217-S221 [24JA]

S. 61, Equity for Clinical Social Workers Act, S242 [24JA]

S. 66, Nursing School Clinics Act, S245 [24JA]

S. 68, Native Hawaiian Medicaid Coverage Act, S246 [24JA]

S. 70, Autonomy for Psychologists and Social Workers Act, S247 [24JA]

S. 71, Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act, S247 [24JA]

S. 116, Privacy Act, S291-S300 [24JA]

S. 123, Efficiency in Government Health Care Spending Act, S315 [24JA]

S. 124, repeal Medicare Advantage Regional Plan Stabilization Fund, S316 [24JA]

S. 143, Taste of Our Own Medicine Act, S363 [24JA]

S. 173, Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Transplant Patients Act, S580 [26JA]

S. 274, Social Security Right To Know Act, S981 [3FE]

S. 311, Early Treatment for HIV Act, S1122 [8FE]

S. 345, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act, S1273 [10FE]

S. 347, Advance Directives Improvement and Education Act, S1275-S1277 [10FE]

S. 401, Medicaid Community-Based Attendant Services and Supports Act, S1536-S1539 [16FE]

S. 411, MediFair Act, S1556 [16FE]

S. 445, Medicare Prescription Drug Price Reduction Act, S1659 [17FE]

S. 456, Pathways to Independence Act, S1678 [17FE]

S. 528, Money Follows the Person Act, S2041-S2044 [3MR]

S. 540, Saving Social Security Act, S2166-S2170 [7MR]

S. 546, Retirement Savings Account Act, S2247-S2250 [8MR]

S. 547, provide for employer retirement savings accounts, S2250-S2252 [8MR]

S. 566, Medicare Dual Eligible Prescription Drug Coverage Act, S2271 [8MR]

S. 570, Advance Directives Education Act, S2386 [9MR]

S. 740, Start Healthy, Stay Healthy Act, S3361 [7AP]

S. 764, Preserving Access to Affordable Drugs Act, S3487 [12AP]

S. 784, Seniors Mental Health Access Improvement Act, S3657 [14AP]

S. 813, negotiate for lower prices for Medicare prescription drugs, S3747 [15AP]

S. 866, Public Servant Retirement Protection Act, S4110-S4112 [21AP]

S. 873, Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act, S4114 [21AP]

S. 1001, Medicare Hospice Demonstration Act, S4944-S4946 [11MY]

S. 1007, Medicaid Formula Fairness Act, S4957 [11MY]

S. 1012, Patients' Bill of Rights Act, S5075-S5099 [12MY]

S. 1049, Covering Kids Act, S5303 [17MY]

S. 1148, Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act, S6043 [26MY]

S. 1199, Prompt Disability Payment to Mesothelioma Victims Act, S6234 [8JN]

S. 1217, Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act, S6322 [9JN]

S. 1227, Health Information Technology Act, S6414-S6417 [13JN]

S. 1239, American Indian Elderly and Disabled Access to Health Care Act, S6488 [14JN]

S. 1272, Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act, S6831 [20JN]

S. 1286, Health Care Accountability Act, S7073 [22JN]

S. 1297, Patient and Physician Safety and Protection Act, S7301 [23JN]

S. 1302, Stop the Raid on Social Security Act, S7303-S7308 [23JN]

S. 1303, MediKids Health Insurance Act, S7308-S7312 [23JN]

S. 1385, Fair Treatment and Due Process Protection Act, S8140-S8142 [12JY]

S. 1403, Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act, S8318 [14JY]

S. 1405, Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act, S8319 [14JY]

S. 1515, Medicaid Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants Access Act, S9186 [27JY]

S. 1563, Advancing Better Coverage and Care (ABCs) for Children's Health Act, S9478-S9480 [29JY]

S. 1574, Affordable Access to Medicare Providers Act, S9495 [29JY]

S. 1585, Medicaid Health Plan Rebate Act, S9508 [29JY]

S. 1587, permit qualifying States to use unspent State Children's Health Insurance Program allotments for Medicaid expenditures, S9509 [29JY]

S. 1589, Affordability in Medicare Premiums Act, S9510 [29JY]

S. 1637, Katrina Emergency Relief Act, S9838-S9844 [8SE]

S. 1679, Working to Enhance Courts for At-Risk and Endangered Kids Act, S9933-S9939 [12SE]

S. 1778, Medicare Cost-Sharing and Welfare Extension Act, S10696 [29SE]

S. 1796, Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) Act, S10738-S10746 [29SE]

S. 1798, Medicare Do Not Call Act, S10747 [29SE]

S. 1799, Government Pension Offset Reform Act, S10748 [29SE]

S. 1808, Medicare Beneficiary Assistance Improvement Act, S10803-S10805 [30SE]

S. 1841, Medicare Informed Choice Act, S11231 [6OC]

S. 1894, Fair Access Foster Care Act, S11597 [19OC], H9982 [8NO]

S. 1900, Keep the Promise of Medicare Act, S11667 [20OC]

S. 2022, Remote Monitoring Access Act, S12955 [16NO]

S. 2026, Medicare Prescription Drug Gap Disclosure Act, S12959 [16NO]

S. 2051, extend eligibility for certain Federal benefits to citizens of the Freely Associated States, S13182 [17NO]

S. 2071, Community and Rural Medical Residency Preservation Act, S13377 [18NO]

S. 2074, Medicaid Indian Health Act, S13384 [18NO]

S. 2080, Equal Access to Medicare Act, S13453 [12DE]

S. 2137, All Kids Healthy Insurance Coverage Act, S13802-S13804 [16DE]

S. Con. Res. 30, national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, S4597 [28AP]

S. Con. Res. 50, Medicare anniversary, S9544 [29JY]

S. Con. Res. 65, recognize importance of Medicaid prospective payment system for federally qualified health centers, S13184 [17NO]

S. Res. 302, impact of Medicaid budget reconciliation legislation on the health and well-being of children, S12689 [10NO]

S.J. Res. 2, constitutional amendment to require balanced budget and protect Social Security surpluses, S366 [24JA]

Transcripts

Reform: ``Doonesbury'' (comic strip), Gary Trudeau, H1869 [12AP]