INSURANCE

Amendments

Health: expand access and reduce costs through creation of small business health plans and modernization of the health insurance marketplace (S. 1955), S4225, S4226, S4230, S4231, S4232, S4234, S4237, S4238, S4239 [9MY], S4262, S4285, S4286, S4294, S4295, S4343, S4344, S4345, S4347, S4356, S4357, S4358, S4361, S4365, S4368, S4369, S4370, S4371, S4372, S4373, S4374, S4375, S4377, S4378 [10MY], S4479, S4480, S4481, S4494, S4497, S4498, S4499, S4500, S4501, S4502 [11MY]

National Flood Insurance Program: restore financial solvency (H.R. 4973), H4555 [26JN], H4598, H4599, H4601, H4602, H4603, H4604, H4605, H4606, H4607, H4608, H4609, H4611, H4612 [27JN]

Veterans: increase maximum coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance programs (S. 1235), S5285 [25MY]

Analyses

HSA Improvement and Expansion Act (S. 3585), S6583 [27JN]

Sustainable Solvency First for Social Security Act (S. 2427), S2318-S2320 [16MR]

Articles and editorials

Compare and Contrast, S4312 [10MY]

Emergency in the Emergency Rooms, E1233 [21JN]

GAO Says Government Pesters Wounded Soldiers Over Debts, S6514 [27JN]

How Federalism Could Spur Bipartisan Action on the Uninsured, S4221-S4224 [9MY]

Iraq War May Add Stress for Past Vets—Trauma Disorder Claims at New High, S6515 [27JN]

Military Fails Some Widows Over Benefits, S6512-S6514 [27JN]

Veterans Angered by File Scandal—VA Has Consistently Scored Poorly on Information Security, S6514 [27JN]

Bills and resolutions

Armed Forces: authorize coverage for anesthesia and other costs related to dental care for children and certain other patients (see H.R. 5050), H1388 [30MR]

———improve colorectal cancer screenings for certain TRICARE beneficiaries (see S. 2915), S4836 [19MY]

———limit increase in the cost of TRICARE health care services for military retirees (see S. 2617), S3378 [7AP]

———prohibit increases in fees for military health care (see H.R. 4949), H972 [14MR]

Aviation: extend aviation war risk insurance program (see H.R. 5197), H1851 [26AP]

Child Care and Development Block Grant Act: require child care providers to provide parents information on whether such providers carry current liability insurance (see H.R. 5694), H4794 [28JN]

Children's Development Commission (Kiddie Mac): establish (see H.R. 5207), H1851 [26AP]

Commission on Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Insurance: establish (see S. 3114), S5227 [25MY] (see H.R. 5587), H3787 [12JN]

Dept. of Energy: ensure equitable provision of pension and medical benefits to contractor employees (see S. 2794), S4469 [11MY] (see H.R. 5362), H2584 [11MY]

Dept. of HHS: change numerical identifier used to identify Medicare beneficiaries (see S. 2312), S1414 [16FE]

Dept. of HUD: insure mortgages for acquisition, construction, or substantial rehabilitation of child care and development facilities (see H.R. 5207), H1851 [26AP]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: authorize approprations for medical care and to improve the security for personal data of veterans (see S. 3531), S6013 [16JN]

———establish an Assistant Sec. for Rural Veterans and improve care provided to veterans living in rural areas (see S. 2433), S2312 [16MR]

Disasters: provide low-cost protection through State natural catastrophe insurance programs, encourage and promote mitigation and prevention for, and recovery and rebuilding from such events, and assist in financial recovery (see S. 3117), S5228 [25MY]

Federal aid programs: authorize grants to carry out projects to provide education on preventing teen pregnancies (see H.R. 5332), H2338 [9MY]

———remove month limitation on period of COBRA continuation coverage (see H.R. 5740), H4915 [29JN]

Federal employees: allow employees of federally-qualified health centers to obtain health coverage (see H.R. 4980), H1128 [16MR]

———increase maximum age up to which an individual may be afforded health coverage as a dependent child (see H.R. 5087), H1452 [4AP]

———use information technology in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program to increase efficiency and reduce costs (see S. 2247), S728 [6FE]

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: implement a system of electronic health records (see H.R. 4859), H564 [2MR]

FEMA: temporarily increase borrowing authority for carrying out the National Flood Insurance Program (see S. 2275), S1071 [10FE] (see H.R. 4656), H23 [31JA]

Financial institutions: provide regulatory relief and improve productivity for insured depository institutions (see S. 2856), S4796 [18MY]

Government regulation: streamline regulation of nonadmitted insurance and reinsurance (see H.R. 5637), H4219 [19JN]

Government regulations: require disclosure of insurance coverage and noncoverage by insurance companies and provide FTC enforcement (see S. 3239), S5230 [25MY]

Health: encourage enactment of compehensive health care reform legislation (see H. Con. Res. 410), H2961 [19MY]

———enhance adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care (see H.R. 4726), H224 [8FE]

———establish national health information exchange network, encourage creation and use of secure and portable electronic health records, and provide tax incentives to promote participation (see S. 3454), S5490 [6JN] (see H.R. 5559), H3641 [8JN]

———improve access to emergency medical services through medical liability reform and additional Medicare payments (see S. 2750), S4051 [4MY]

———improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (see S. 22), S3984 [3MY] (see H.R. 4838), H508 [1MR]

———improve access to oral health services and prevent oral health diseases (see S. Res. 483), S4796 [18MY] (see S. Res. 483), H972 [14MR]

———make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly (see S. 2322), S1461 [17FE]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (see S. 2229), S370 [31JA] (see H.R. 4683), H153 [1FE]

———permit an individual to be treated by a health care practitioner with any method of medical treatment such individual requests (see S. 2618), S3378 [7AP]

———permit health insurance issuers an alternative to guaranteed coverage in the small group market to promote affordable access to portable health insurance (see H.R. 5475), H3226 [24MY]

———prohibit misleading and deceptive advertising or representation in the provision of health care services (see H.R. 5688), H4679 [27JN]

———provide access to telehealth services in the home (see S. 2282), S1175 [14FE]

———provide for community projects that will reduce the number of uninsured individuals (see H.R. 5171), H1741 [25AP]

———provide innovation in health care through State initiatives that expand coverage and access and improve quality and efficiency in the health care system (see S. 2772), S4211 [9MY]

———recognize rising cost of health care and encourage greater patient empowerment, choice, and responsibility in health care decisions (see H. Res. 876), H4189 [16JN]

———require group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans to provide prompt payment for health benefits claims (see S. 2551), S2901 [5AP]

Health care facilities: extend exemption for critical access hospitals under the FHA program for mortgage insurance for hospitals (see H.R. 4912), H866 [9MR]

Housing: modernize the manufactured housing loan insurance program (see H.R. 4804), H389 [16FE]

Medicaid: delay effective date of requirement to provide citizenship or nationality documentation to receive medical assistance (see S. 3590), S6634 [28JN]

———expand access to contraceptive services for low-income women and men (see S. 2916), S4836 [19MY]

———expand the county organized health insuring organizations authorized to enroll Medicaid beneficiaries (see H.R. 5721), H4915 [29JN]

———provide medical assistance for certain men screened and found to have prostate cancer under a federally funded screening program (see H.R. 5686), H4554 [26JN]

———repeal requirement to provide citizenship or nationality documentation to receive medical assistance (see S. 2305), S1413 [16FE] (see H.R. 5023), H1195 [28MR]

Medicare: amend the application of secondary payer rules to workers' compensation settlement agreements and set-asides under such agreements (see H.R. 5309), H2174 [4MY]

———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 S. 3604), S6786 [29JN]

———coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services (see H.R. 5324), H2338 [9MY]

———deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices (see S. 2342), S1579 [1MR]

———eliminate adjustments in payments for imaging services (see H.R. 5238), H1916 [27AP]

———eliminate months from calculation of any late enrollment penalty under the prescription drug program and provide additional funding for State health insurance counseling programs and area agencies on aging (see S. 2810), S4617 [16MY]

———eliminate prescription drug late enrollment penalty (see H.R. 5399), H2704 (see H.R. 5399), H2757 [17MY]

———eliminate the Medicare Advantage Regional Plan Stabilization Fund and extend health status adjustment (see H.R. 5064), H1389 [30MR]

———encourage eligible beneficiaries who have not enrolled in the prescription drug benefit to review available options and determine whether enrolling best meets their prescription drug needs (see H. Res. 802), H2338 [9MY]

———ensure adequate payment amounts for drugs and biologicals (see H.R. 5179), H1741 [25AP]

———establish a hospice care demonstration program and grants programs for cancer palliative care and symptom management programs (see H.R. 5465), H3225 [24MY]

———establish a pilot project to demonstrate the impact of payment for more frequent hemodialysis treatment (see H.R. 5321), H2338 [9MY]

———extend annual, coordinated election period under the prescription drug program and provide for a refund of excess premiums paid (see S. 2811), S4617 [16MY]

———extend annual coordinated election period for prescription drug plans (see H.R. 4715), H223 [8FE]

———extend certain payment methodologies provided for rural health care providers (see H.R. 5118), H1677 [6AP]

———extend eligibility period for ``Welcome to Medicare'' physical examination and eliminate coinsurance for screening mammography and colorectal cancer screening tests (see H.R. 5437), H2961 [19MY]

———extend employer subsidy payment provisions under the prescription drug program to State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (see S. 2344), S1579 [1MR] (see H.R. 4996), H1129 [16MR]

———extend enrollment period for prescription drug benefits and Medicare Advantage plans, negotiate fair prices for prescription drugs, and improve outreach and educational efforts with respect to such benefits (see H.R. 5297), H2173 [4MY]

———extend initial enrollment period for prescription drug benefits, waive penalties for late enrollment, allow prescription drug plan enrollment changes during the first year of enrollment, and limit drug formulary changes (see H.R. 5263), H1979 [2MY]

———extend initial enrollment period for prescription drug benefits, waive penalties for late enrollment, allow prescription drug plan enrollment changes once a year, and limit drug formulary changes (see H.R. 5116), H1677 [6AP]

———extend open enrollment period for prescription drug plans and eliminate penalties for late enrollment in such plans (see H.R. 4938), H867 [9MR]

———extend open enrollment period for prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug plans (see H.R. 4723), H224 [8FE]

———extend open enrollment period for prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug plans without any late enrollment penalty (see H.R. 5387), H2640 [16MY]

———improve access to pharmacies under part D (see S. 2664), S3703 [27AP]

———improve implementation of prescription drug program (see H.R. 4796), H388 [16FE]

———improve payments made by prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug plans to pharmacies for covered drugs (see H.R. 5166), H1679 [6AP]

———improve payments under the clinical laboratory fee schedule (see H.R. 5369), H2585 [11MY]

———limit the penalty for late enrollment in the prescription drug program (see H.R. 5750), H4957 [10JY]

———permanently extend the floor on the work geographic adjustment under the fee schedule for physicians' services (see S. 3516), S5949 [15JN]

———permit beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare or Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans that change their formularies or increase prices to enroll in other plans (see S. 2313), S1414 [16FE]

———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 S. 2601), S3378 [7AP]

———preserve beneficiary access to community cancer care (see S. 2340), S1540 [28FE]

———prohibit removal of covered drugs from prescription drug plan formularies during the plan year (see S. 2255), S864 [8FE] (see H.R. 5102), H1562 [5AP]

———protect and preserve access of beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers (see S. 3500), S5779 [13JN]

———provide a special enrollment period for enrollment under the prescription drug program (see H.R. 5596), H3907 [13JN]

———provide a special enrollment period for enrollment under the prescription drug program and waive the late enrollment penalty for low-income individuals who enroll during such period (see H.R. 5691), H4679 [27JN]

———provide additional funding for State health insurance counseling programs (see H.R. 4737), H224 [8FE]

———provide coverage for cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation services (see H.R. 4824), H508 [1MR]

———provide coverage for lung cancer screening tests for certain high-risk individuals (see H.R. 5514), H3307 (see H.R. 5514), H3360 [25MY]

———provide fair payments for care provided in a hospital emergency department (see S. 3606), S6786 [29JN]

———provide for a budget-neutral two-year moratorium on certain physician payment reductions for imaging services (see H.R. 5704), H4794 [28JN]

———provide for a Medicare Prescription Drug Ombudsman (see H.R. 5433), H2961 [19MY]

———provide for a minimum payment rate by Medicare Advantage organizations for services furnished by critical access hospitals and rural health clinics (see S. 2819), S4695 [17MY]

———provide for a permanent hold harmless provision for sole community hospitals under the prospective payment system for covered outpatient department services (see H.R. 4757), H332 [15FE]

———provide for additional outreach and education and provide a special enrollment period for individuals who qualify for an income-related subsidy under the prescription drug program (see S. 2759), S4155 [8MY]

———provide for counting expenses for nonformulary drugs against the annual out-of-pocket threshold for costs for covered drugs (see H.R. 4928), H867 [9MR]

———provide for same treatment of all individuals who applied for low-income subsidies for enrollment and waiver of late enrollment penalties under the Medicare part D program (see H.R. 5629), H4134 [15JN]

———provide residents of long-term facilities with assistance relative to prescription drug coverage (see S. 2184), S123 [25JA]

———provide special treatment of certain cancer hospitals (see H.R. 5496), H3307 (see H.R. 5496), H3359 [25MY]

———reduce coverage gap in prescription drug coverage through savings resulting from negotiation of prescription drug prices (see S. 2354), S1644 [2MR]

———reform the prescription drug program (see S. 2240), S510 [2FE] (see H.R. 4792), H388 [16FE]

———repeal income-related increase in part B premiums (see H.R. 5147), H1678 [6AP]

———replace the prescription drug benefit with a revised and simplified program for all beneficiaries (see H.R. 4697), H154 [1FE]

———require prescription drug plans to provide enrollee notice of less expensive part D covered drugs that may be substituted for dispensed drugs (see H.R. 4743), H273 [14FE]

———require prompt payment to pharmacies, restrict pharmacy co-branding on prescription drug cards, and provide guidelines for Medication Therapy Management Services programs under prescription drug program (see S. 2563), S3211 [6AP]

———require the sponsor of a prescription drug plan or an organization offering a Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug plan to promptly pay submitted claims (see S. 2723), S4050 [4MY] (see H.R. 5182), H1741 [25AP] (see H.R. 5307), H2174 [4MY]

———restore financial stability to anesthesiology teaching programs for resident physicians (see S. 2990), S4967 [23MY] (see H.R. 5246), H1916 [27AP] (see H.R. 5348), H2502 [10MY]

———simplify and improve the prescription drug program (see S. 2665), S3703 [27AP]

———stabilize amount of part B premium (see S. 2687), S3801 [1MY]

———suspend prescription drug late enrollment penalty (see H.R. 5173), H1741 [25AP] (see H.R. 5336), H2501 [10MY]

———treatment of certain physician pathology services (see S. 3609), S6786 [29JN]

———waive monthly beneficiary premium under prescription drug plan or Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug plan during months in which an enrollee has a gap in coverage (see S. 3647), S7415 [12JY]

———waive waiting period for coverage of individuals disabled with distant stage cancer (see H.R. 5615), H4008 [14JN]

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act: repeal cost containment provisions (see H.R. 5518), H3307 (see H.R. 5518), H3360 [25MY]

Medicare/Medicaid: assure uninterupted access to necessary medicines under the prescription drug benefit (see S. 2238), S446 [1FE] (see H.R. 4685), H153 [1FE]

———dual eligible benefits continuity, off-label uses of certain prescription drugs and biological products, and determinations denying coverage and certain costs incurred by pharmacies (see H.R. 5193), H1741 [25AP]

———eliminate cost-sharing for certain dual eligible populations under the prescription drug benefit (see S. 2234), S446 [1FE] (see H.R. 4722), H224 [8FE]

———eliminate cost-sharing for dual eligible populations under the prescription drug benefit (see S. 2203), S211 [26JA]

———make improvements to payments to Medicare Advantage plans and reinstate protections in Medicaid against excessive out-of-pocket costs, inadequate benefits, and health care coverage loss (see S. 2260), S864 [8FE] (see H.R. 4719), H223 [8FE]

———provide for continuity of coverage of prescription drugs under the prescription drug plans for full-benefit dual eligible individuals (see H.R. 4937), H867 [9MR]

———provide for necessary dual eligible beneficiary protections in order to ensure access to the prescription drug benefit program (see S. 2183), S19 [20JA] (see S. 2183), S123 [25JA] (see H.R. 4660), H23 [31JA]

———reduce cost-sharing for certain dual eligible populations under the prescription drug benefit (see S. 2409), S2122 [14MR]

———reimburse States for costs incurred by covering dual eligible populations under the Medicare prescription drug benefit plan (see S. 2181), S19 [20JA] (see S. 2181), S123 [25JA] (see H.R. 4663, 4665), H23 (see H.R. 4675), H24 [31JA] (see H.R. 4721), H223 [8FE]

Mental health: provide for research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum depression and psychosis (see S. 3529), S5950 [15JN]

National Flood Insurance Program: restore financial solvency (see S. 3589), S6634 [28JN] (see H.R. 4973), H1127 [16MR]

———restore financial solvency (H.R. 4973), consideration (see H. Res. 891), H4554 [26JN]

National Guard: allow members of the Selected Reserve enrolled in the TRICARE program to pay premiums with pre-tax dollars (see S. 3550), S6283 [21JN]

National Life Insurance Awareness Month: support goals and ideals (see S. Res. 448), S3704 [27AP] (see H. Res. 912), H5128 [12JY]

National Professional Medical Coder Day: designate (see S. Res. 509), S5779 [13JN]

National security: improve preparedness for and response to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies (see S. 3042), S5226 [25MY]

Native Americans: improve health care under Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Programs (see S. 3524), S5950 [15JN]

———provide for sale and assignment of loans and underlying security (see H.R. 5780), H5128 [12JY]

Older Americans Act: establish National Long-Term Care Choice Program (see S. 2620), S3378 [7AP]

OPM: administer a national health program to offer Federal employee health benefits plans to individuals who are not Federal employees (see S. 2382), S1834 [7MR] (see S. 2510), S2901 [5AP]

Organ donation: clarify that kidney paired donation and kidney list donations do not involve the transfer of a human organ for valuable consideration (see S. 2306), S1413 [16FE]

Pensions: allow certain existing retirement plans maintained by churches to continue to provide annuities directly to participants rather than through an insurance company (see H.R. 5424), H2832 (see H.R. 5424), H2890 [18MY]

Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission: establish (see S. 3491), S5717 [12JN] (see H.R. 5552), H3496 [7JN]

Small business: certify programs to provide health coverage to uninsured employees (see S. 2588), S3212 [6AP]

———establish a health benefits program (see H.R. 5288), H2173 [4MY]

———establish a small business health insurance information pilot program (see S. 2607), S3378 [7AP]

Social Security: allow States to expand or add coverage of pregnant women under State Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid (see H.R. 5728), H4915 [29JN]

———continuation of benefit payment through the month of the beneficiary's death (see H.R. 5189), H1741 [25AP]

———eliminate time limitation for corrections to wage and self-employment income records relative to old-age, survivors, and disability insurance benefits (see H.R. 4702), H160 [7FE]

———limit service of members of certain trust fund boards of trustees and require the President to consult with Committee on Finance (Senate) prior to nomination of members of such boards (see S. 2752), S4051 [4MY]

———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 H.R. 4760), H332 [15FE]

———provide entitlement to dependents' and survivors' benefits under Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program to permanent partnerships (see H.R. 5152), H1678 [6AP]

———provide for progressive indexing and longevity indexing of old-age insurance benefits for newly retired and aged surviving spouses to ensure future solvency (see S. 2427), S2312 [16MR]

States: issue charters and licenses for sale, solicitation, negotiation, and underwriting, regulate national insurers and agencies, and provide protections to policyholders (see S. 2509), S2901 [5AP]

Taxation: allow a credit for contributions to charities providing assistance for health insurance premiums and drug copayments to transition the uninsured and Medicaid patients into private insurance (see H.R. 5613), H4008 [14JN]

———allow a deduction for health and long-term care insurance costs of individuals not participating in employer-subsidized health plans (see S. 2379), S1833 [7MR]

———allow a refundable credit to subsidize the cost of COBRA continuation coverage for certain individuals (see S. 2270), S979 [9FE]

———allow deduction for high deductible health plan premiums and a credit for certain employment taxes paid relative to such premiums and contributions to health savings accounts (see S. 2494), S2730 [3AP]

———allow self-employed individuals to deduct health insurance costs in computing self-employment taxes (see H.R. 4961), H1059 [15MR]

———creation of protection funds by property and casualty insurance companies for the payment of policyholders' claims arising from future catastrophic events (see S. 3116), S5227 [25MY]

———establish Catastrophe Savings Accounts (see S. 3115), S5227 [25MY] (see H.R. 4836), H508 [1MR]

———establish long-term care trust accounts and allow a refundable tax credit for contributions to such accounts (see S. 2397), S1965 [9MR]

———expand use of health savings accounts for the payment of health insurance premiums for high deductible health plans purchased in the individual market (see S. 2549, 2554), S2901 [5AP] (see H.R. 5586), H3787 [12JN]

———expand use of health savings accounts to include health insurance payments and increase limits for contributions to, and allow rollover of certain unused funds into, health savings accounts (see S. 3488), S5683 [9JN]

———improve and expand availability of health savings accounts (see S. 3585), S6560 [27JN] (see H.R. 5743), H4916 [29JN]

———increase contribution limits for health savings accounts (see S. 2424), S2202 [15MR]

———provide a credit to employers for employee catastrophic health care costs and to health insurance companies for insurer catastrophic health care costs (see S. 2558), S3211 [6AP]

———provide a refundable credit for high deductible health plans for uninsured individuals (see S. 2701), S3984 [3MY]

———provide incentives for supplying health insurance to employees of small employers (see S. 2457), S2415 [27MR]

———provide tax incentives for the payment of premiums for high deductible health plans (see H.R. 5262), H1979 [2MY]

———provide tax incentives to assist in preparing for the financial impact of long-term care needs (see S. 2281), S1175 [14FE]

Veterans: ensure appropriate payment for the cost of long-term care provided to veterans in State homes (see S. 2762), S4155 [8MY] (see H.R. 5671), H4519 [22JN]

———improve health care for rural veterans (see H.R. 5524), H3423 [6JN]

———provide that World War II merchant mariners who were awarded the Mariners Medal are provided the same eligibility for Dept. of Veterans Affairs health care as Purple Heart recipients (see H.R. 5758), H5046 [11JY]

Women: improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of obstetrical and gynecological services (see S. 23), S3984 [3MY]

Cloture motions

Health: expand access and reduce costs through creation of small business health plans and modernization of the health insurance marketplace (S. 1955), S4326 [10MY], S4459 [11MY]

———expand access and reduce costs through creation of small business health plans and modernization of the health insurance marketplace (S. 1955), motion to proceed, S4095 [5MY], S4165 [9MY]

———improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (S. 22), motion to proceed, S4095 [5MY], S4146 [8MY]

Women: improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of obstetrical and gynecological services (S. 23), motion to proceed, S4095 [5MY], S4146 [8MY]

Explanations

Veterans' Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act (S. 1235), S5291-S5294 [25MY], H2976-H2979 [22MY]

Factsheets

Health Partnership Act (S. 2772), S4221 [9MY]

Letters

Comprehensive Entitlement Reform Commission: David P. Sloane, AARP, S2253 [16MR]

Health Care Access for Small Businesses Act: Anthony R. Tersigni, Ascension Health (organization), S4883 [22MY]

———Dennis H. Smith, Upper Peninsula Health Plan, Inc., S4883 [22MY]

———Gerald D. Fitzgerald, Oakwood Healthcare, Inc., S4884 [22MY]

———Marsha J. Casey, Trinity Health (organization), S4883 [22MY]

———Robert A. Ficano, Wayne County, MI, S4883 [22MY]

———Stanley Goldberg, CovertheUninsured.org (Internet site), S4884 [22MY]

Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act: Christine Gregoire, Governor of Washington, S4200 [9MY]

———Christopher F. Koller, S4452 [11MY]

———Cleve L. Killingsworth, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, S4458 [11MY]

———Janet Trautwein, National Association of Health Underwriters, S4313 [10MY]

———Mila Kofman, Georgetown University, S4326 [10MY]

———Peter J. Dunbar, Washington State Medical Association, S4200 [9MY]

National Flood Insurance Program Enhanced Borrowing Authority Act: Representatives Pence and Hensarling, H293 [15FE]

Permit negotiation of fair prices for prescription drugs and use resulting savings for budget deficit reduction: David P. Sloane, AARP, S2020 [13MR]

Prevent shipbuilders under Federal contract from receiving both disaster recovery funding and insurance benefits for hurricane damages: Donald P. Springer, Defense Contract Management Agency, S3865 [2MY]

Repeal Medicaid requirement to provide citizenship or nationality documentation to receive medical assistance: Beth Giesting, Hawaii Primary Care Association, S1425 [16FE]

———Jeffrey B. Caballero, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, S1426 [16FE]

———John McComas, AlohaCare (organization), S1426 [16FE]

———Larisa Casillas, Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network, S1426 [16FE]

———Lynn Kersey, Maternal and Child Health Access (organization), S1425 [16FE]

Repeal requirement to provide citizenship or nationality documentation to receive medical assistance under the Medicaid program: Georges C. Benjamin, American Public Health Association, S1887 [8MR]

———Hilary O. Shelton, NAACP, S1886 [8MR]

———Jeanette Zanipatin, California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative (organization), S1885 [8MR]

———Joseph Villela, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, S1885 [8MR]

———Laurence M. Lavin, National Health Law Program (organization), S1886 [8MR]

———Marian Wright Edelman, Children's Defense Fund (organization), S1886 [8MR]

———Ronald F. Pollack, Families USA (organization), S1886 [8MR]

Rural veterans health care improvement: James D. Randles, Military Order of the Purple Heart, E1025 [6JN]

———John Rowan, Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., E1025 [6JN]

———Steve Robertson, American Legion, E1025 [6JN]

Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act: National Association of Insurance Commissioners, S4312 [10MY]

Social Security reserve fund: David P. Sloane, AARP, S2263 [16MR]

Lists

Organizations oppposed to S. 1955, Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, S4197 [9MY]

Motions

Health: expand access and reduce costs through creation of small business health plans and modernization of the health insurance marketplace (S. 1955), S4095 [5MY], S4286 [10MY]

———improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (S. 22), S4095 [5MY]

Women: improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of obstetrical and gynecological services (S. 23), S4095 [5MY]

Press releases

Christensen Urges Managed Health Care Execs To Help Close Disparities Gap: Congressional Black Caucus, E698 [3MY]

Remarks in House

Armed Forces: improve benefits for members, veterans, and their dependents and survivors (H.R. 2131), H3023 [23MY]

———limit increase in the cost of TRICARE health care services, H2361, H2365 [10MY], H2511, H2513, H2517, H2545 [11MY]

———limit increase in the cost of TRICARE health care services for female military retirees, H1458 [5AP]

Aviation: extend aviation war risk insurance program (H.R. 5197), E609 [26AP]

Budget: allocation of funds, H220 [8FE], H1957-H1963 [2MY]

Bush, President: State of the Union Message, H304 [15FE]

Children's Development Commission (Kiddie Mac): establish (H.R. 5207), E615 [26AP]

Cover the Uninsured Week: observance, H1986, H2082 [3MY], H2106 [4MY], E688 [2MY], E707 [3MY], E721 [4MY], E738, E746 [5MY]

Democratic Party: national agenda, H3772-H3777 [12JN], H3983, H3986, H3988 [14JN], H4181-H4187 [16JN]

Dept. of Agriculture: crop insurance premium reduction program audit funding, H3089, H3090 [23MY]

Dept. of Defense: anniversary of Uniformed Services Family Health Plan, E626 [26AP], E634 [27AP]

Dept. of Energy: ensure equitable provision of pension and medical benefits to contractor employees, H3163 [24MY]

———ensure equitable provision of pension and medical benefits to contractor employees (H.R. 5362), E824 [12MY]

Dept. of Homeland Security: investigate denial of claims by insurance companies for homeowners affected by Hurrican Katrina, shifting liability to the National Flood Insurance Program, H2945 [19MY]

———investigate denial of claims by insurance companies for homeowners affected by Hurricane Katrina, shifting liability to the National Flood Insurance Program, H4502 [22JN], H4567, H4590-H4594, H4602, H4603 [27JN]

Dept. of HUD: insure mortgages for acquisition, construction, or substantial rehabilitation of child care and development facilities (H.R. 5207), E615 [26AP]

Disasters: establish a program to provide reinsurance for State natural catastrophe insurance programs (H.R. 4366), H4593 [27JN]

Diseases: coverage of minimum hospital stays for mastectomies, lumpectomies, and lymph node dissection relative to breast cancer and coverage for secondary consultations (H.R. 1849), H766 [8MR]

Economy: increase in household debt, H3646 [9JN]

Employment: health savings accounts, H259 [14FE], H304 [15FE], H373 [16FE], H457 [1MR], H609, H611, H612 [7MR], H1382 [30MR], H2085 [3MY]

———impact of illegal immigration on U.S. workforce, H3350-H3354 [25MY]

Families USA (organization): study on Medicare prescription drug plans, E1254 [23JN], E1310 [28JN]

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: make available to families of public safety officers killed in the line of duty (H.R. 4424), E882 [19MY]

FEMA: clarify that demolish and rebuild should be a mitigation option available under the regular Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, H4607 [27JN]

———establish a program to educate communities about the update to the flood insurance program rate map, H4604 [27JN]

———temporarily increase borrowing authority for carrying out the National Flood Insurance Program (H.R. 3669), H4590 [27JN]

———temporarily increase borrowing authority for carrying out the National Flood Insurance Program (S. 2275), H290-H293 [15FE]

Financial institutions: provide regulatory relief and improve productivity for insured depository institutions (H.R. 3505), H698, H702-H722 [8MR]

———reform the Federal deposit insurance system, H55, H59 [1FE]

Floods: provide a discount in flood insurance rates for certain low-cost properties in flood hazard zones (H.R. 103), E185 [17FE]

Health: establish national health information exchange network, encourage creation and use of secure and portable electronic health records, and provide tax incentives to promote participation (H.R. 5559), H4014 [15JN]

———expand access and reduce costs through creation of small business health plans and modernization of the health insurance marketplace, H1384 [30MR]

———expand access and reduce costs through creation of small business health plans and modernization of the health insurance marketplace (S. 1955), H2308 [9MY]

———improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (H.R. 5), H609-H611 [7MR], H1384-H1386 [30MR], H1845 [26AP], H2308 [9MY]

———national policy to provide consumer-driven health care and reform insurance procedures, H305 [15FE]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, H299 [15FE], H512 [2MR], H606-H612 [7MR], H794 [9MR], H1382-H1387 [30MR], H1843-H1849 [26AP], H1975-H1977 [2MY], H2308 [9MY], H2763 [18MY], E1233 [21JN]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 4683), H1428 [4AP]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 676), H299 [15FE], H5050 [12JY], E685 [2MY], E707 [3MY], E746 [5MY]

Health care facilities: extend exemption for critical access hospitals under the FHA program for mortgage insurance for hospitals (H.R. 4912), H2194, H2195 [9MY]

Health care professionals: reform the medical malpractice system, H514 [2MR]

Helping the Hurting, Inc.: tribute, E290 [7MR]

Housing: allow all flood insurance coverage to become effective immediately upon purchase or transfer of real property, H4603 [27JN]

Immigration: health care costs related to hospital treatment of illegal immigrants, H4192 [19JN]

Interstate commerce: provide for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage (H.R. 2355), H611 [7MR]

Medicaid: funding, H55 [1FE], H1309, H1313 [29MR], E532 [6AP]

———provide medical assistance for certain men screened and found to have prostate cancer under a federally funded screening program (H.R. 5686), E1275 [26JN]

———reform, H45, H48, H49 [1FE]

Medicare: coverage of marriage and family therapist services and mental health counselor services (H.R. 5324), E764 [10MY]

———deliver a meaningful benefit and lower prescription drug prices (H.R. 752), E825 [12MY], E1254 [23JN], E1310 [28JN]

———encourage eligible beneficiaries who have not enrolled in the prescription drug benefit to review available options and determine whether enrolling best meets their prescription drug needs (H. Res. 802), H2472-H2480 [10MY], E801 [11MY], E825 [12MY], E916 [19MY]

———ensure Medicare providers give accurate and complete information to senior citizens regarding prescription drug coverage, H5095 [12JY]

———extend annual coordinated election period for prescription drug plans and eliminate prescription drug late enrollment penalty, H4965 [11JY]

———extend implementation of prescription drug program, H978, H979 [15MR], H1064, H1065, H1066, H1090-H1092 [16MR], H1133 [28MR], H1203, H1310, H1312 [29MR], H1628 [6AP], H1748 [26AP], H1873 [27AP], H1925 [2MY], H2186, H2187 [9MY], H2345, H2473-H2480 [10MY], H2507, H2559, H2581 [11MY], H2647, H2648 [17MY], E649 [27AP]

———extend initial enrollment period for prescription drug benefits, waive penalties for late enrollment, allow prescription drug plan enrollment changes during the first year, and limit drug formulary changes (H.R. 5263), H2763 [18MY], E825 [12MY]

———extend initial enrollment period for prescription drug benefits and waive penalties for late enrollment (H.R. 4399), H1713 [25AP]

———funding, H48 [1FE], H163 [8FE], H650 [8MR], H1962 [2MY], E135 [14FE]

———impact of budget cuts on senior citizens, H216 [8FE]

———implementation of prescription drug program, H3800 [13JN], H4373 [21JN]

———negotiate for lower prices for prescription drugs, eliminate gap in coverage of prescription drug benefits, and promulgate regulations for the reimportation of prescription drugs, H147, H148 [1FE]

———permit negotiation of fair prices for, and allow the reimportation of, prescription drugs, H4333 [21JN]

———permit negotiation of fair prices for prescription drugs, H4967 [11JY]

———prescription drug benefit coverage, H473 [1MR], H600 [7MR], H794, H795, H848 [9MR], H979 [15MR], H1134, H1135, H1136 [28MR], H1202, H1301-H1307, H1314 [29MR], H1326, H1369 [30MR], H1400, H1401 [4AP], H1455, H1459 [5AP], H1664-H1670 [6AP], H1683, H1684, H1685 [25AP], H1830-H1836 [26AP], H1884 [27AP], H1926 [2MY], H2341, H2344, H2345, H2495-H2499 [10MY], H2644, H2646, H2647 [17MY], H3231 [25MY], H4223 [20JN], H4686, H4687 [28JN], H5032, H5033 [11JY], E303 [8MR]

———prohibit negotiation of prices for prescription drugs, H1883 [27AP]

———provide coverage for cardiac rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation services (H.R. 4824), E240 [1MR]

———provide extended and additional protection to beneficiaries enrolled in prescription drug benefit plans (H.R. 3861), H1987 [3MY]

———reform the prescription drug program, H162 [8FE], H277, H278, H279, H300 [15FE], H436 [28FE], H468, H484 [1MR], H551 [2MR], H1164 [28MR], H1367 [30MR], H1425, H1428 [4AP], H1593 [6AP], H2644 [17MY]

———require the sponsor of a prescription drug plan or an organization offering a Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug plan to promptly pay submitted claims (H.R. 5182), H1953 [2MY]

Medicare/Medicaid: assure uninterupted access to necessary medicines under the prescription drug benefit (H.R. 4685), E55, E57 [1FE]

———make improvements to payments to Medicare Advantage plans and reinstate protections in Medicaid against excessive out-of-pocket costs, inadequate benefits, and health care coverage loss (H.R. 4719), E117 [8FE]

National Flood Insurance Program: end all flood insurance subsidies on nonresidential, vacation, and second homes, H4611, H4612 [27JN]

———extend proof of loss filing deadline and prohibit the denial of claims solely for missing the deadline, H4609 [27JN]

———improve FEMA oversight of claims and insurance company performance, H4608 [27JN]

———issue flood insurance to homeowners now included in a flood zone due to a federally funded flood control project, H4609, H4610 [27JN]

———reform, H2183 [9MY]

———request Corps of Engineers completion of new flood map for the Great Lakes region and prohibit increase in flood evaluations in the upper Great Lakes, H4612-H4614 [27JN]

———require FEMA to participate in State mediation claims, H4566 [27JN]

———require FEMA to revise materials provided to policy holders using plain language and easy to understand terms and concepts, H4607 [27JN]

———require GAO study on potential methods, practices and incentives that would increase the degree to which low-income property owners living in high-risk locations participate, H4606, H4607 [27JN]

———require GAO study on the role eligibility standards for certain properties played in inconsistencies and disparities in coverage, H4605 [27JN]

———require purchasers of certain primary residential homes to pay phased-in actuarial flood insurance at the same rates to which non-primary and non-residential homes are subject, H4601, H4602 [27JN]

———require written notification to property owners affected by a proposed change in flood elevations, H4600 [27JN]

———restore financial solvency (H.R. 4973), H4502 [22JN], H4589-H4617 [27JN], E1299, E1300, E1304 [28JN]

———restore financial solvency (H.R. 4973), amendment process, H4427 [22JN]

———restore financial solvency (H.R. 4973), consideration (H. Res. 891), H4565-H4568 [27JN]

———restore financial solvency (H.R. 4973), corrections in engrossment, H4617 [27JN]

Pensions: allow certain existing retirement plans maintained by churches to continue to provide annuities directly to participants rather than through an insurance company (H.R. 5424), E894 [19MY]

Pharmacies: impact of Medicare prescription drug benefit implementation and of Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement cuts, H240 [14FE], H356 [16FE]

Privacy: prohibit issuance of national security letters to health insurance companies to obtain private medical records, H4765-H4767 [28JN]

Public Health Service Act: provide liability protections for volunteer practitioners at health centers (H.R. 1313), H4361 [21JN]

Public safety officers: ensure that officers who suffer a fatal heart attack or stroke while on duty shall be presumed to have died in the line of duty for purposes of survivor benefits, H4733, H4734 [28JN]

Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission: establish (H.R. 5552), E1057-E1059 [8JN]

Small business: establish a health benefits program (H.R. 5288), H3487 [7JN]

———improve access and choice relative to employee health care (H.R. 525), H1065 [16MR], H2084 [3MY], H2185, H2308 [9MY]

Social Security: elimination of death benefits to widows and widowers, H196 [8FE]

———State Children's Health Insurance Program funding, H1457 [5AP]

Suburban areas: national objectives priority assignments, H2310-H2315 [9MY]

Taxation: allow a deduction for qualified long-term care services in computing adjusted gross income (H.R. 4104), H609 [7MR]

———allow a refundable credit for the purchase of private health insurance, H1383 [30MR]

Terrorism Risk Insurance Act: extend applicability (H.R. 4314), E48 [1FE]

U.S. Health Service: establish (H.R. 3000), E707 [3MY]

Utah: tribute to volunteer dentists and physicians, E48 [1FE]

Veterans: improve health care for rural veterans (H.R. 5524), E1024 [6JN]

———increase maximum coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance programs (S. 1235), H2970-H2982 [22MY], E929 [23MY]

Women: coverage of screening mammography (H.R. 4540), E309 [8MR]

Remarks in Senate

Armed Forces: eliminate increased fees and copayments for retired military health care, S2252 [16MR]

———improve collection of survivors' benefits, S6511 [27JN]

———improve colorectal cancer screenings for certain TRICARE beneficiaries, S6273 [21JN]

———improve colorectal cancer screenings for certain TRICARE beneficiaries (S. 2915), S4839 [19MY]

———limit increase in the cost of TRICARE health care services for military retirees (S. 2617), S3388-S3390 [7AP]

———prevent imposition of excessive TRICARE fees and co-pays on military retirees, S2261 [16MR]

———prohibit increase in copayments for TRICARE prescription drug program, S5740 [13JN], S5837-S5840 [14JN]

———reduce the age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service and improve health care benefits for National Guard members and reservists under TRICARE, S6373-S6375 [22JN]

Brookings Institution: tribute to Hamilton Project initiative emphasizing broad-based economic growth, S3979 [3MY]

Budget: allocation of funds, S3973-S3977 [3MY]

Bush, President: State of the Union Message, S389 [1FE]

Business and industry: ensure that commercial insurers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers (S. 1525), S4136 [8MY]

Children and youth: provide health insurance for uninsured children through repealing certain tax breaks, S433 [1FE]

Commission on Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Insurance: establish (S. 3114), S5235 [25MY], S5332 [26MY], S5770, S5771 [13JN]

Comprehensive Entitlement Reform Commission: establish, S2252, S2253 [16MR]

Cover the Uninsured Week: observance, S4045 [4MY]

Death and dying: protect rights of the incapacitated and improve end-of-life care and decisionmaking, S358 [31JA]

Dept. of Defense: prevent shipbuilders under Federal contract from receiving both disaster recovery funding and insurance benefits for hurricane damages, S3864-S3869 [2MY]

Dept. of Energy: ensure equitable provision of pension and medical benefits to contractor employees (S. 2794), S4477 [11MY]

Dept. of HHS: provide assistance to State and local governments for health care and educational costs related to immigration, S4771-S4774 [18MY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: establish an Assistant Sec. for Rural Veterans and improve care provided to veterans living in rural areas (S. 2433), S2324 [16MR], S6556 [27JN]

Disasters: provide low-cost protection through State natural catastrophe insurance programs, encourage and promote mitigation and prevention for, and recovery and rebuilding from such events, and assist in financial recovery (S. 3117), S5332 [26MY]

Domestic policy: national objectives priority assignments, S3435-S3437 [25AP]

Employment: health savings accounts, S722 [6FE], S1099 [13FE], S4518 [12MY]

Federal employees: use information technology in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program to increase efficiency and reduce costs (S. 2247), S730 [6FE]

FEMA: temporarily increase borrowing authority for carrying out the National Flood Insurance Program (S. 2275), S1075 [10FE], S2388 [16MR]

Financial institutions: provide regulatory relief and improve productivity for insured depository institutions (S. 2856), S5272 [25MY]

———reform Federal deposit insurance system and merge bank and savings association deposit insurance funds (S. 1562), S507 [2FE]

Government regulations: require disclosure of insurance coverage and noncoverage by insurance companies and provide FTC enforcement (S. 3239), S5256, S5257 [25MY]

Health: establish an expedited procedure for congressional consideration of health care reform legislation (S. 934), S4425 [11MY]

———establish national health information exchange network, encourage creation and use of secure and portable electronic health records, and provide tax incentives to promote participation (S. 3454), S5504 [6JN]

———expand access and reduce costs through creation of small business health plans and modernization of the health insurance marketplace (S. 1955), S4241, S4242, S4247-S4327, S4382 [10MY], S4415, S4425-S4430, S4434, S4446-S4462 [11MY], S4518 [12MY]

———expand access and reduce costs through creation of small business health plans and modernization of the health insurance marketplace (S. 1955), motion to proceed, S4095, S4096 [5MY], S4127, S4137, S4140, S4147-S4149 [8MY], S4163-S4185, S4187-S4204 [9MY]

———expand access and reduce costs through creation of small business health plans and modernization of the health insurance marketplace (S. 1955), unanimous-consent agreement, S4390 [11MY]

———expand access and reduce costs through creation of small business health plans and modernization of the health insurance marketplace (S. 1955), unanimous-consent request, S4426, S4427 [11MY]

———improve access to emergency medical services through medical liability reform and additional Medicare payments (S. 2750), S4073 [4MY]

———improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (H.R. 4838), S4036-S4044 [4MY]

———improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (S. 22), S3994 [3MY], S4033, S4078 [4MY], S4093-S4095 [5MY], S4205-S4207 [9MY], S4463, S4464 [11MY], S4518, S4521 [12MY]

———improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (S. 22), motion to proceed, S4095-S4105 [5MY], S4119-S4123, S4125-S4147 [8MY]

———improve the quality and efficiency of health care delivery through improvements in health care information technology, S358 [31JA]

———make the provision of technical services for medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments safer, more accurate, and less costly (S. 2322), S1462 [17FE]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, S6556 [27JN]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (S. 2007), S4453 [11MY]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (S. 2229), S371-S373 [31JA]

———permit an individual to be treated by a health care practitioner with any method of medical treatment such individual requests (S. 2618), S3390 [7AP]

———provide innovation in health care through State initiatives that expand coverage and access and improve quality and efficiency in the health care system (S. 2772), S4215, S4219 [9MY], S4252 [10MY]

———require group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans to provide prompt payment for health benefits claims (S. 2551), S2911 [5AP]

———require small business health plans to comply with the benefits adopted by a majority of States, S4449 [11MY]

———set caps on noneconomic damages in medical liability lawsuits, S4130-S4138 [8MY]

———use of electronic medical records to decrease health care costs and improve patient safety, S4518 [12MY]

Health care facilities: extend exemption for critical access hospitals under the FHA program for mortgage insurance for hospitals (H.R. 4912), S6726 [28JN]

Immigration: require payment of a supplemental application fee by aliens seeking citizenship to assist States with health care and educational costs of noncitizens, S4773, S4774 [18MY]

Malpractice: reform the medical malpractice insurance business, limit frivolous lawsuits, and enhance patient access to medical care, S4036-S4042 [4MY]

Medicaid: delay effective date of requirement to provide citizenship or nationality documentation to receive medical assistance (S. 3590), S6726 [28JN], S6736, S7176 [29JN]

———delay effective date of requirement to provide citizenship or nationality documentation to receive medical assistance (S. 3590), unanimous-consent request, S6737 [29JN]

———funding, S723 [6FE], S2000 [13MR]

———permit States the option to provide coverage for low-income individuals infected with HIV (S. 311), S5486 [6JN]

———provide families of disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage, S723 [6FE]

———repeal requirement to provide citizenship or nationality documentation to receive medical assistance (S. 2305), S1424-S1427 [16FE], S1885 [8MR], S4446 [11MY]

Medicare: eliminate months from calculation of any late enrollment penalty under the prescription drug program and provide additional funding for State health insurance counseling programs and area agencies on aging (S. 2810), S4645 [16MY], S4725 [17MY]

———extend annual, coordinated election period under the prescription drug program and provide for a refund of excess premiums paid (S. 2811), unanimous-consent request, S4579, S4580 [16MY]

———extend implementation of prescription drug program, S2148-S2154, S2177, S2178 [15MR], S4176 [9MY], S4247-S4250, S4256, S4298, S4382 [10MY], S4427-S4430, S4434, S4447, S4451, S4454, S4455 [11MY], S4543 [15MY]

———extend initial enrollment period for prescription drug benefits, waive penalties for late enrollment, allow prescription drug plan enrollment changes during the first year, and limit drug formulary changes, S4568-S4570 [15MY]

———extend initial enrollment period for prescription drug benefits and provide other additional beneficiary protections, S422 [1FE]

———extend open enrollment period for prescription drug plans and eliminate penalties for late enrollment in such plans, S4325 [10MY]

———improve access to pharmacies under part D (S. 2664), S3710 [27AP]

———improve implementation of the prescription drug benefit, S482-S484, S490, S491 [2FE], S1086 [13FE]

———permanently extend the floor on the work geographic adjustment under the fee schedule for physicians' services (S. 3516), S5952 [15JN]

———permit beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare or Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans that change their formularies or increase prices to enroll in other plans (S. 2313), S1526-S1528 [28FE]

———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 (S. 2601), S3382 [7AP]

———permit negotiation of fair prices for, and allow the reimportation of, prescription drugs, S4101 [5MY], S6470 [26JN]

———permit negotiation of fair prices for, and allow the reimportation of, prescription drugs (S. 239), S358 [31JA]

———permit negotiation of fair prices for prescription drugs, S4174, S4175, S4194 [9MY], S4249, S4256, S4298 [10MY]

———permit negotiation of fair prices for prescription drugs and use resulting savings for budget deficit reduction, S2020 [13MR], S2165-S2168, S2178, S2179 [15MR]

———prescription drug benefit coverage, S111 [25JA], S358 [31JA], S857-S859 [8FE], S1055 [10FE], S1493 [27FE], S1514 [28FE], S4190 [9MY]

———preserve beneficiary access to community cancer care (S. 2340), S1547 [28FE]

———prohibit removal of covered drugs from prescription drug plan formularies during the plan year (S. 2255), S865, S866 [8FE]

———protect and preserve access of beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers (S. 3500), S5789-S5794 [13JN], S5868 [14JN]

———provide a prescription drug benefit program which is administered directly through Medicare, S2266 [16MR]

———provide extended and additional protection to beneficiaries enrolled in prescription drug benefit plans (S. 1841), S4123 [8MY], S4324 [10MY], S4543 [15MY]

———provide fair payments for care provided in a hospital emergency department (S. 3606), S6791 [29JN]

———provide for additional outreach and education and provide a special enrollment period for individuals who qualify for an income-related subsidy under the prescription drug program (S. 2759), S4157 [8MY]

———reduce coverage gap in prescription drug coverage through savings resulting from negotiation of prescription drug prices (S. 2354), S1645 [2MR]

———reform the prescription drug program, S1340-S1342 [15FE]

———reform the prescription drug program (S. 2240), S512 [2FE]

———require prompt payment to pharmacies, restrict pharmacy co-branding on prescription drug cards, and provide guidelines for Medication Therapy Management Services programs under prescription drug program (S. 2563), S3220-S3222 [6AP]

———require the sponsor of a prescription drug plan or an organization offering a Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug plan to promptly pay submitted claims (S. 2723), S4454 [11MY]

———simplify and improve the prescription drug program (S. 2665), S3710 [27AP]

———State health insurance assistance programs funding, S4456 [11MY]

———waive monthly beneficiary premium under prescription drug plan or Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug plan during months in which an enrollee has a gap in coverage (S. 3647), S7421 [12JY]

Medicare/Medicaid: eliminate cost-sharing for dual eligible populations under the prescription drug benefit (S. 2203), S230 [26JA]

———funding, S1083-S1086 [13FE], S1137 [14FE]

———provide for necessary dual eligible beneficiary protections in order to ensure access to the prescription drug benefit program, S482-S485, S491 [2FE]

———reduce cost-sharing for certain dual eligible populations under the prescription drug benefit (S. 2409), S2124, S2125 [14MR]

———reimburse States for costs incurred by covering dual eligible populations under the Medicare prescription drug benefit plan (S. 2181), S23-S25 [20JA], S130, S131 [25JA]

Mental health: extend provisions requiring parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits, S2275 [16MR]

———provide for research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum depression and psychosis (S. 3529), S5945, S5966 [15JN]

National Professional Medical Coder Day: designate (S. Res. 509), S5813 [13JN]

Nevada: tribute to State Health Insurance Assistance Program volunteers, S6409 [22JN]

Older Americans Act: establish National Long-Term Care Choice Program (S. 2620), S3390 [7AP]

OPM: administer a national health program to offer Federal employee health benefits plans to individuals who are not Federal employees, S4252, S4254, S4295-S4303, S4306, S4321-S4325 [10MY], S4447, S4451, S4456 [11MY]

———administer a national health program to offer Federal employee health benefits plans to individuals who are not Federal employees (S. 2510), S4181-S4185, S4187-S4189 [9MY], S4446 [11MY], S6596 [28JN]

Organ donation: clarify that kidney paired donation and kidney list donations do not involve the transfer of a human organ for valuable consideration (S. 2306), S1427, S1428 [16FE]

Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission: establish (S. 3491), S5719 [12JN]

Senate: legislative agenda, S3405-S3408 [24AP]

———legislative priorities, S1170 [14FE], S5446-S5449, S5451 [6JN]

Small business: certify programs to provide health coverage to uninsured employees (S. 2588), S4883 [22MY]

———establish a small business health insurance information pilot program (S. 2607), S3383 [7AP]

———improve access and choice relative to employee health care, S4415 [11MY]

———improve access and choice relative to employee health care (S. 406), S4173 [9MY]

Social Security: establish reserve fund, S2263 [16MR]

———limit service of members of certain trust fund boards of trustees and require the President to consult with Committee on Finance (Senate) prior to nomination of members of such boards (S. 2752), S4107 [5MY]

———provide for progressive indexing and longevity indexing of old-age insurance benefits for newly retired and aged surviving spouses to ensure future solvency (S. 2427), S2317 [16MR]

States: extend Federal funding for operation of State high risk health insurance pools (H.R. 4519), S460 [1FE]

Taxation: allow a deduction for health and long-term care insurance costs of individuals not participating in employer-subsidized health plans (S. 2379), S1835 [7MR]

———allow a deduction for premiums for high deductible health plans and a credit for certain employment taxes paid with respect to premiums for such plans and contributions to health savings accounts (S. 2494), S2732 [3AP]

———allow a refundable credit to subsidize the cost of COBRA continuation coverage for certain individuals (S. 2270), S982 [9FE]

———creation of protection funds by property and casualty insurance companies for the payment of policyholders' claims arising from future catastrophic events (S. 3116), S5332 [26MY]

———establish Catastrophe Savings Accounts (S. 3115), S5332 [26MY]

———establish long-term care trust accounts and allow a refundable tax credit for contributions to such accounts (S. 2397), S1967 [9MR]

———expand use of health savings accounts for the payment of health insurance premiums for high deductible health plans purchased in the individual market (S. 2554), S3380 [7AP]

———improve and expand availability of health savings accounts (S. 3585), S6580 [27JN]

———increase contribution limits for health savings accounts (S. 2424), S2206 [15MR]

———provide a refundable credit for high deductible health plans for uninsured individuals (S. 2701), S3986 [3MY]

———provide a refundable credit to small businesses for the costs of qualified health insurance, S2248 [16MR]

———provide incentives for supplying health insurance to employees of small employers (S. 2457), S2417 [27MR]

Veterans: ensure appropriate payment for the cost of long-term care provided to veterans in State homes (S. 2762), S4158 [8MY]

———health care funding, S6511 [27JN]

———increase maximum coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance programs (S. 1235), S5285-S5295 [25MY]

Women: improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of obstetrical and gynecological services (S. 23), S3994 [3MY], S4078 [4MY], S4205-S4207 [9MY], S4318 [10MY], S4463, S4464 [11MY]

———improve access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of obstetrical and gynecological services (S. 23), motion to proceed, S4095, S4098 [5MY], S4119-S4123, S4125-S4127, S4131, S4136, S4138-S4147 [8MY]

Reports filed

Aviation War Risk Insurance Program Extension: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 1102) (S. Rept. 109-223), S2415 [27MR]

Consideration of H.R. 4973, Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 891) (H. Rept. 109-530), H4554 [26JN]

Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (Senate) (S. 2856) (S. Rept. 109-256), S4795 [18MY]

———Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 3505) (H. Rept. 109-356), H387 [16FE]

Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (Senate) (S. 3589) (S. Rept. 109-271), S6634 [28JN]

———Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 4973) (H. Rept. 109-410), H1676 [6AP]

Health Care Choice Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 2355) (H. Rept. 109-378), H387 [16FE]

Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Senate) (S. 1955), S3703 [27AP]

Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Indian Health Care Improvement Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 3524), S5949 [15JN]

———Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 3524) (S. Rept. 109-278), S7415 [12JY]

National Flood Insurance Program Commitment to Policyholders and Reform Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 4320) (H. Rept. 109-370), H153 [1FE]

Rural Health Care Capital Access Act: Committee on Financial Services (House) (H.R. 4912) (H. Rept. 109-424), H1740 [25AP]

Volunteer Pilot Organization Protection Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 1871) (H. Rept. 109-394), H1058 [15MR]

Summaries

Hamilton Project, S3979 [3MY]

Testimonies

Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Coverage: Tobey Schule, S858 [8FE]

Texts of

H. Res. 802, encourage eligible beneficiaries who have not enrolled in the Medicare prescription drug benefit to review available options and determine whether enrolling best meets their prescription drug needs, H2472 [10MY]

H. Res. 891, consideration of H.R. 4973, Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act, H4565 [27JN]

H.R. 3505, Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act, H702-H719 [8MR]

H.R. 4912, Rural Health Care Capital Access Act, H2194 [9MY]

H.R. 4973, Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act, H4595-H4598 [27JN]

S. 1235, Veterans' Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act, S5285-S5291 [25MY], H2970-H2976 [22MY]

S. 1955, Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, S4277-S4285 [10MY]

S. 2181, Medicare State Reimbursement Act, S24 [20JA], S130 [25JA]

S. 2183, Requiring Emergency Pharmaceutical Access for Individual Relief (REPAIR) Act, S25-S27 [20JA], S132-S134 [25JA]

S. 2240, Medicare Part D Reform Act, S512 [2FE]

S. 2275, National Flood Insurance Program Enhanced Borrowing Authority Act, S1075 [10FE], S2388 [16MR], H290 [15FE]

S. 2305, repeal Medicaid requirement to provide citizenship or nationality documentation to receive medical assistance, S1425 [16FE]

S. 2312, Social Security Number Protection Act, S1432 [16FE]

S. 2313, Medicare Drug Honest Pricing Act, S1432 [16FE]

S. 2322, Consumer Assurance of Radiologic Excellence Act, S1463 [17FE]

S. 2354, Medicare Prescription Drug Gap Reduction Act, S1645 [2MR]

S. 2382, Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act, S1840-S1844 [7MR]

S. 2433, Rural Veterans Care Act, S2324-S2326 [16MR]

S. 2457, Small Business Health Insurance Relief Act, S2418-S2422 [27MR]

S. 2494, allow a tax deduction for premiums for high deductible health plans and a credit for certain employment taxes paid with respect to premiums for such plans and contributions to health savings accounts, S2732 [3AP]

S. 2510, Small Employers Health Benefits Program Act, S2905-S2908 [5AP]

S. 2551, Prompt Payment of Health Benefits Claims Act, S2912-S2914 [5AP]

S. 2563, Pharmacist Access and Recognition in Medicare (PhARM) Act, S3220 [6AP]

S. 2607, Small Business Health Education and Awareness Act, S3384 [7AP]

S. 2617, Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act, S3388 [7AP]

S. 2620, Community-Based Choices for Older Americans Act, S3391-S3394 [7AP]

S. 2762, Veterans Long-Term Care Security Act, S4159 [8MY]

S. 2772, Health Partnership Act, S4216-S4219 [9MY]

S. 2810, Medicare Late Enrollment Assistance Act, S4621 [16MY]

S. 2856, Financial Services Regulatory Relief Act, S5272-S5283 [25MY]

S. 3114, Commission on Catastrophic Disaster Risk and Insurance Act, S5233-S5235 [25MY]

S. 3115, Catastrophe Savings Accounts Act, S5235 [25MY]

S. 3116, Policyholder Disaster Protection Act, S5236 [25MY]

S. 3117, Homeowners Protection Act, S5237-S5242 [25MY]

S. 3239, Honesty Is the Best Insurance Policy Act, S5344 [26MY]

S. 3491, Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission Act, S5719-S5721 [12JN]

S. 3500, Rural Hospital and Provider Equity (HoPE) Act, S5790-S5793 [13JN]

S. 3516, Rural Equity Payment Index Reform Extension Act, S5952 [15JN]

S. 3585, HSA Improvement and Expansion Act, S6581-S6583 [27JN]

S. 3606, Save Our Safety Net Act, S6792 [29JN]

S. 3647, Prescription for Fairness Act, S7422 [12JY]

S. Res. 448, support goals and ideals of National Life Insurance Awareness Month, S3721 [27AP]

S. Res. 483, improve access to oral health services and prevent oral health diseases, S4807 [18MY]

S. Res. 509, National Professional Medical Coder Day, S5812 [13JN]