SENIOR CITIZENS

Amendments

Older Americans Act: authorizing appropriations (H.R. 5293), E886 [19MY]

Analyses

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

Appointments

Social Security Advisory Board, H14 [31JA]

Articles and editorials

High Cost of Drug Caps, S7425 [12JY]

Leading the Way on Healthcare, S6556 [27JN]

Open the Door To Curing Alzheimer's—Why This Research Must Become an Urgent Priority, E1372 [11JY]

Bills and resolutions

Crime: ensure adequate public-private infrastructure and resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation (see H.R. 4993), H1128 [16MR]

———increase the maximum penalty for telemarketing fraud targeting senior citizens (see H.R. 4987), H1128 [16MR]

———prevent abuse and exploitation of older individuals (see H.R. 5722), H4915 [29JN]

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

———expand and intensify research programs concerning elder falls (see H.R. 5608), H4008 [14JN]

Dept. of the Treasury: provide for the continued payment of railroad retirement annuities (see H.R. 5074), H1451 [4AP]

Dept. of Transportation: establish demonstration project to develop national network of economically sustainable and qualified transportation providers for senior citizens and blind individuals (see S. 2311), S1414 [16FE]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: publish a strategic plan for long-term care (see H.R. 5774), H5128 [12JY]

Education: give preference, when making grants for multidisciplinary centers of gerontology and gerontology centers of special emphasis, to centers located at institutions of higher education in urban areas (see H.R. 5277), H1980 [2MY]

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

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

———provide funding and incentives for caregiver support and long-term care assistance (see S. 2244), S510 [2FE]

Health care facilities: provide loans and grants for fire sprinkler retrofitting in nursing facilities (see S. 3489), S5684 [9JN]

Languages: facilitate interaction between students and older individuals with limited English proficiency (see H.R. 5648), H4327 [20JN]

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]

———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]

———enhance disproportionate share hospital treatment for sole community hospitals (see S. 3624), S6787 [29JN]

———exempt complex rehabilitation and assistive technology products from competitive acquisition program (see H.R. 4994), H1128 [16MR]

———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 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 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 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]

———include costs incurred by certain agencies, health centers, or drug assistance programs toward the out-of-pocket treshold of the prescription drug program (see S. 3650), S7415 [12JY]

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

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

———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 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]

———reimbursement for services provided to eligible veterans by certain Dept. of Veterans Affairs facilities (see H.R. 4992), H1128 [16MR]

———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 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]

———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]

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]

———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]

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

Older Americans Act: authorizing appropriations (see S. 3570), S6560 [27JN] (see H.R. 5293), H2173 [4MY]

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

———include a grant program to support life-long learning programs (see H.R. 5276), H1980 [2MY]

Quality of life: improve (see H.R. 5211), H1852 [26AP]

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

———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]

———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]

———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. 5210), H1852 [26AP]

———require trust funds be held in trust for beneficiaries, ensure assets are not diverted, and authorize investment in securities that are not limited to those guaranteed by the U.S. (see H.R. 4965), H1059 [15MR]

Taxation: 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]

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

———increase access to pension plans and other retirement savings vehicles (see S. 2431), S2312 [16MR]

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

Tribute (see H. Res. 874), H4189 [16JN]

Volunteer workers: establish the Silver Scholarship program to provide transferable educational awards to older individuals who have performed certain volunteer services (see H.R. 5275), H1980 [2MY]

Letters

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

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

Remarks in House

Broward County, FL: tribute to Area Agency on Aging Dr. Nan S. Hutchinson Broward Senior Hall of Fame electees, E936 [23MY]

Budget: allocation of funds, H615, H616 [7MR], H1957-H1963 [2MY]

Bureau of Customs and Border Patrol: confiscation and destruction of reimported prescription drugs from Canada, H299 [15FE], H3289 [25MY]

Children and youth: provide Federal support and assistance to children living with guardians and kinship caregivers (H.R. 3380), E306 [8MR], E579 [25AP]

Christianson, Howard A.: Stillaguamish Senior Center Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, H3233 [25MY]

Cover the Uninsured Week: observance, H2106 [4MY], E707 [3MY]

Crime: ensure adequate public-private infrastructure and resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, H4355 [21JN]

Dallas, TX: tribute to Southwest Housing and Villas of Remond volunteers, E583 [25AP]

Denver Harbor Senior Citizens, Inc.: anniversary, E793 [10MY]

Dept. of Agriculture: Commodity Supplemental Food Program funding, H227 [14FE]

Dept. of HUD: elderly and disabled housing programs funding, H3859 [13JN]

———ensure availability of tenant-based housing for the elderly, H3860 [13JN]

Dept. of Justice: Safe Return Program for Alzheimer's patients funding, H4639, H4640 [27JN]

———give preference, when making grants for multidisciplinary centers of gerontology and gerontology centers of special emphasis, to centers located at institutions of higher education in urban areas (H.R. 5277), H2764 [18MY]

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

FDA: provide for Alzheimer's disease research and demonstration grants, E1372 [11JY]

Gaden, Nancy: Jamestown, NY, Team Spirit Award recipient, E589 [25AP]

Health: 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], 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]

Interfaith Older Adult Programs (organization): anniversary, E449 [29MR]

Languages: facilitate interaction between students and older individuals with limited English proficiency (H.R. 5648), E1225 [21JN]

Lexington, MO: 4-Life Project (organization) recipient of the Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph Bishop John J. Sullivan Award, E820 [12MY]

Luzerne County, PA: anniversary of Commission on Economic Opportunity, E698 [3MY]

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]

———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]

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

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

———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]

———phaseout overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans, H50 [1FE]

———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]

———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]

———reimbursement for services provided to eligible veterans by certain Dept. of Veterans Affairs facilities (H.R. 4992), H1983 [3MY]

———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]

Mental health: provide mental health screening and treatment services, integration of mental health services and mental health treatment outreach teams, H4354 [21JN]

National Eye Donor Month: observance, E227 [28FE]

National Senior Center Week: observance, E855 [17MY]

Older Americans Act: authorizing appropriations for nutrition services (H.R. 1792), H4356 [21JN]

———authorizing appropriations (H.R. 5293), H4334, H4340-H4357 [21JN], E1285 [27JN], E1298 [28JN]

———provide a non-binding formula for calculating annual increases in fuel costs for senior citizen programs, H4355 [21JN]

Onondaga County, NY: tribute to Onondaga County Dept. of Aging participation in Medicare Part D enrollment, E1103 [9JN]

Pensions: protect accrued benefits of participants during conversions of pension plans to cash balance plans, H1615-H1621 [6AP]

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

Prestonburg, KY: tribute to SSA office, E625 [26AP]

Republican Party: national agenda, H602 [7MR], H4540 [26JN]

Social Security: budget treatment of trust funds, H550 [2MR], H1174 [28MR], H1957 [2MY]

———elimination of death benefits to widows and widowers, H196 [8FE]

———privatization proposals, H337 [16FE], H618 [7MR], H1309 [29MR], H3773 [12JN], H4014 [15JN], H4185 [16JN], H4201 [19JN], H4225 [20JN], H5013 [11JY]

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

———rates, H1609-H1615 [6AP]

Tribute (H. Res. 874), E1171 [16JN]

Volunteer workers: establish the Silver Scholarship program to provide transferable educational awards to older individuals who have performed certain volunteer services, H4356 [21JN]

———establish the Silver Scholarship program to provide transferable educational awards to older individuals who have performed certain volunteer services (H.R. 5275), E1298 [28JN]

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: observance, E1159 [15JN]

Zilwaukee, MI: tribute to Lions Club, E820 [12MY]

Remarks in Senate

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

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

Crime: ensure adequate public-private infrastructure and resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation (S. 2010), S5946 [15JN]

Dept. of HHS: Geriatric Education Centers funding, S2184 [15MR]

Dept. of Homeland Security: prevent Bureau of Customs and Border Protection seizure of imported prescription drugs for personal use, S7295-S7302, S7304, S7305 [11JY]

Diseases: improve and secure an adequate supply of influenza vaccine (S. 1828), S5629-S5631 [8JN]

Drugs: delay implementation of voluntary prescription drug benefit program, extend Medicare prescription drug discount card and transitional assistance programs, and Medicaid coverage of prescription drugs, S404 [1FE]

Health: 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]

———provide funding and incentives for caregiver support and long-term care assistance (S. 2244), S513 [2FE]

Health care facilities: provide loans and grants for fire sprinkler retrofitting in nursing facilities (S. 3489), S5684 [9JN]

Medicaid: funding, S723 [6FE]

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

———include costs incurred by certain agencies, health centers, or drug assistance programs toward the out-of-pocket treshold of the prescription drug program (S. 3650), S7424 [12JY]

———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 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]

———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 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]

———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]

Older Americans Act: authorizing appropriations (S. 3570), S6561-S6577 [27JN]

———establish National Long-Term Care Choice Program (S. 2620), S3390 [7AP]

Senate: legislative priorities, S5626 [8JN]

Social Security: budget treatment of trust funds, S3976 [3MY], S7303 [11JY]

———establish reserve fund, S2263 [16MR]

———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]

———reform, S7293 [11JY]

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 tax-free distributions from individual retirement accounts for charitable contributions, S1096 [13FE]

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

———increase access to pension plans and other retirement savings vehicles (S. 2431), S2323 [16MR]

Trust Fund Administration: establish to invest certain Federal trust fund revenues in non-Federal Government debt instrument index funds (S. 1730), S2114 [14MR], S3976 [3MY]

Westside Center for Independent Living: anniversary, S1536 [28FE]

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: observance, S5946 [15JN]

Reports filed

Clarify Tax Treatment of Self-Employment for Purposes of the Limitation on State Taxation of Retirement Income: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 4019) (H. Rept. 109-542), H4914 [29JN]

FAA Relaxation of Maximum Age Requirements for Certain Pilots: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 65) (S. Rept. 109-225), S2602 [30MR]

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]

Senior Independence Act: Committee on Education and the Workforce (House) (H.R. 5293) (H. Rept. 109-493), H3641 [8JN]

Statements

Senior Independence Act: Representative Kucinich, E886 [19MY]

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.R. 5293, Senior Independence Act, H4340-H4352 [21JN]

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

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

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

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

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

S. 3489, Nursing Home Fire Safety Act, S5684 [9JN]

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

S. 3570, Older Americans Act reauthorization, S6562-S6575 [27JN]

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

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

S. 3650, Helping Fill the Medicare Rx Gap Act, S7425 [12JY]