SOCIAL SECURITY

Analyses

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

Appointments

Social Security Advisory Board, H14 [31JA]

Articles and editorials

Emergency in the Emergency Rooms, E1233 [21JN]

Evacuee Study Finds Declining Health, E673 [2MY]

Great Revulsion, E679 [2MY]

High Cost of Drug Caps, S7425 [12JY]

Leading the Way on Healthcare, S6556 [27JN]

U.S. Budget Cuts Worry Hospitals, E135 [14FE]

Bills and resolutions

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

———exclude benefits of adopted disabled adult children from determinations of the family maximum (see H.R. 5183), H1741 [25AP]

———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]

Children and youth: improve outcomes for children in families affected by methamphetamine abuse and addiction and reauthorize the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program (see S. 3525), S5950 [15JN]

———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]

Crime: reduce risk of identity theft by limiting use of Social Security numbers on certain Government-issued identification cards and Government documents (see H.R. 5636), H4189 [16JN]

———restrict public display on the Internet of the last 4 digits of Social Security account numbers by State and local governments (see S. 3514), S5874 [14JN]

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

———establish an Office of Health Information Technology (see H.R. 4832), H508 [1MR]

———require the incorporation of counterfeit-resistant technologies into the packaging of prescription drugs (see S. 2668), S3703 [27AP] (see H.R. 4829), H508 [1MR]

Employment: prevent acceptance of drivers license for employment eligibility verification if the issuing State uses taxpayer identification numbers other than Social Security numbers in application process (see H.R. 5506), H3307 (see H.R. 5506), H3360 [25MY]

Families and domestic relations: provide grants to promote responsible fatherhood and strengthen low-income families (see S. 3607), S6786 [29JN]

Federal employees: authorize payments under Federal retirement systems to trusts set up for disabled dependents (see S. 2801), S4553 [15MY]

Go Direct Month: designate (see S. Res. 363), S446 [1FE]

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

———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]

Immigration: establish procedures for issuance of ``no match'' letters to employers by the SSA and notification of the Dept. of Homeland Security regarding such letters (see H.R. 5507), H3307 (see H.R. 5507), H3360 [25MY]

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]

———increase Federal medical assistance percentage for the District of Columbia (see H.R. 5508), H3307 (see H.R. 5508), H3360 [25MY]

———permit States to obtain reimbursement for care or services provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act in a private mental health facility (see H.R. 5400), H2704 (see H.R. 5400), H2757 [17MY]

———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]

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

———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 Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to assess and report on health care quality in hospitals (see S. 2359), S1644 [2MR]

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

———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 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]

———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]

———increase per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments to hospitals (see S. 2289), S1353 [15FE]

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

———make publicly available on the official Medicare Internet site payment rates for frequently reimbursed hospital inpatient procedures, hospital outpatient procedures, and physicians' services (see S. 2606), S3378 [7AP]

———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]

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

———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 certain treatment of ownership of oxygen equipment (see H.R. 5513), H3307 (see H.R. 5513), H3360 [25MY]

———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]

National Commission on Entitlement Solvency: establish (see S. 3507), S5874 [14JN]

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

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

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

Presidential appointments: 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]

Privacy: eliminate requirement that States collect Social Security numbers from applicants for recreational licenses (see S. 2249), S769 [7FE]

———notify individuals of improper use of their Social Security account numbers (see H.R. 5409), H2705 (see H.R. 5409), H2757 [17MY]

Public welfare programs: eliminate separate work participation rate for 2-parent families under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 2286), S1175 [14FE]

———reauthorize the safe and stable families program (see H.R. 5640), H4327 [20JN]

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

Senior citizens: 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]

States: 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]

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]

Trust funds: 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]

Letters

Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act: Ian Allison and Henry Van Gemert, Just Compensation Committee, E114 [8FE]

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

Deficit Reduction Act: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, H39 [1FE]

Democratic Party national agenda: several Senators, S6594 [28JN]

Dept. of HHS appeal of Cookeville v. Thompson decision on Medicare disproportionate share hosital payments: Tennessee congressional delegation, E391 [16MR]

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

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]

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

Messages

State of the Union: President Bush, S366-S370 [31JA]

Press releases

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

Remarks in House

Armed Forces: prohibit funding for placement of Social Security numbers on identification cards issued to members, retired members, or dependents, H4293 [20JN]

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

Budget: allocation of funds, H162, H199 [8FE]-H382 [16FE], H513-H558, H560 [2MR], H650 [8MR], H1957-H1963 [2MY]

———deficit, H3483 [7JN]

Bush, President: evaluation of administration, H512 [2MR], H760 [8MR], H859, H860 [9MR], H1673 [6AP], H1968 [2MY], E678 [2MY]

———State of the Union Message, H139, H145 [1FE], H304 [15FE]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: provide for product specific reimbursement for separate immune globulins and recognize infusion of immune globulins as a biologic response modifier, E52 [1FE]

Death and dying: elimination of death benefits to widows and widowers, H196 [8FE]

Democratic Party: national agenda, H481 [1MR], H1369-H1374 [30MR], H1841 [26AP], H3136 [23MY], H4181-H4187 [16JN], H4390-H4394 [21JN], H4507-H4510 [22JN], H4947, H4948, H4953, H4954 [10JY], H5030-H5036 [11JY]-H5118 [12JY]

Dept. of HHS: encourage dissemination, security, confidentiality, and usefulness of health information technology (H.R. 4157), H2311 [9MY]

Diseases: increase minority awareness of kidney disease, E553 [7AP]

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

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

Health: declining health of Hurricane Katrina evacuees, E673 [2MY]

———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]

Immigration: enforce employment restrictions on unauthorized aliens through the use of improved Social Security cards and an Employment Eligibility Database (H.R. 98), H4969 [11JY]

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

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

———increase Federal medical assistance percentage for the District of Columbia (H.R. 5508), E990 [26MY]

———permit States to provide early and periodic screening diagnostic and treatment services to children through benchmark benefits coverage, H54 [1FE]

———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]

———State funding for disproportionate share hospitals, H60 [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]

———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]

———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]

———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]

———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]

Merchant marine industry: provide a monthly monetary benefit to certain individuals who served in the U.S. merchant marine during World War II (H.R. 23), E113 [8FE]

Michigan: tribute to partnership between Macomb County Clerk's Office and Mount Clemens Regional Social Security Office, E1325 [29JN]

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

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]

Public welfare programs: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program work requirements, H54 [1FE]

Republican Party: national agenda, H306-H312 [15FE], H602, H618-H621 [7MR], H1066 [16MR], H1200 [29MR], H1543-H1549 [5AP], H1629, H1674 [6AP], H1733 [25AP], H1838-H1842 [26AP], H2489, H2491 [10MY], H3134, H3135 [23MY], H4332, H4394, H4396 [21JN], H4540 [26JN], H4799 [29JN]

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

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

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

Trust funds: budget treatment, H550 [2MR], H1174 [28MR], H1957 [2MY]

Remarks in Senate

Appropriations: transfer funds from the Disaster Relief Fund to SSA for necessary expenses and losses related to Hurricane Katrina, S4015 [4MY]

Benefits: 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]

Budget: allocation of funds, S734-S736 [7FE], S1057, S1060-S1064 [10FE], S3973-S3977 [3MY], S6602-S6604, S6606-S6609 [28JN]

———require a two-thirds vote for all non-defense, non-trust fund discretionary funding which exceeds previous fiscal year, S2259 [16MR]

Bush, President: State of the Union Message, S279-S281, S308, S309 [30JA]

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

Committee on Finance (Senate): provide reconcilation instructions to reduce mandatory spending, S2257, S2258 [16MR]

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

Democratic Party: national agenda, S4242 [10MY], S6592-S6599 [28JN]

Dept. of Defense: report on feasibility of omitting Social Security numbers from military identification cards to reduce risk of identity theft, S6391 [22JN]

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]

Families and domestic relations: provide grants to promote responsible fatherhood and strengthen low-income families (S. 3607), S6793 [29JN]

Go Direct Month: designate (S. Res. 363), S459 [1FE]

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

———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]

Immigration: adjust status of certain foreign agricultural workers, reform H-2A worker program, provide a stable, legal agricultural workforce, and extend basic legal protections and better working conditions to more workers, S2523-S2525 [29MR], S2549 [30MR]

———exclude work done by illegal aliens with fradulent identification prior to change of immigration status from calculation of benefits, S4739-S4747 [18MY]

———require resident aliens to pay back taxes under the earned income tax credit program for credits received while the aliens' status was illegal, S5160-S5163, S5189 [25MY]

———restrict guest worker program in areas with high unemployment rates, ensure guest workers receive the prevailing wage, and extend basic legal protections and better working conditions to more workers, S3178 [6AP], S4674, S4675 [17MY]

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]

———establish a Hospital Quality Report Card Initiative to assess and report on health care quality in hospitals (S. 2359), S1651 [2MR], S4139 [8MY]

———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]

———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]

———increase per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments to hospitals (S. 2289), S1359 [15FE]

———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 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]

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

———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]

Pharmaceuticals: permit commercial importation of prescription drugs from Canada, S1514 [28FE]

Privacy: eliminate requirement that States collect Social Security numbers from applicants for recreational licenses (S. 2249), S770 [7FE]

Public welfare programs: eliminate separate work participation rate for 2-parent families under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (S. 2286), S1179 [14FE]

Reform, S7293 [11JY]

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

Senate: legislative priorities, S1170 [14FE], S5446-S5449, S5451, S5465, S5467-S5470 [6JN]

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

Trust funds: budget treatment, S3976 [3MY], S7303 [11JY]

Reports filed

Child and Family Services Improvement Act: Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 5640) (H. Rept. 109-555), H5127 [12JY]

Improving Outcomes for Children Affected by Meth Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 3525), S5949 [15JN]

———Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 3525) (S. Rept. 109-269), S6457 [23JN]

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]

Statements

Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act: Senator Craig, E113 [8FE]

Permit States To Provide Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening Diagnostic and Treatment Services to Children Through Benchmark Benefits Coverage: Mark B. McClellan, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, H54 [1FE]

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]

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

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

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

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. 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]

S. Res. 363, Go Direct Month, S453, S459 [1FE]