SOCIAL SECURITY

Addresses

State of the Union: President Bush, H472-H476 [28JA]

Amendments

Appropriations: making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), S4378, S4415 [19MY], S4496, S4504, S4505, S4506, S4527 [20MY], S4627, S4664, S4700, S4701, S4702, S4703 [21MY], S4810, S4815, S4823, S4831 [22MY], S6170 [25JN], S6298, S6299 [26JN], H3905, H3912, H3917, H3920 [15MY], H5622, H5646 [19JN]

———making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), consideration of Senate amendment (H. Res. 1197), H3901 [15MY]

Health: provide affordable, guaranteed private health coverage (S. 334), S3410 [24AP]

Medicare/Medicaid: extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (S. 3101), S5634, S5635 [12JN]

Articles and editorials

Escaping the Budget Impasse, H1595 [12MR]

Health Care System I Want Is in France, H2534 [22AP]

Let's Work To Avoid Long-Term Care Crisis, E44 [17JA]

Lifespan Shorter in Parts of U.S.—Obesity, Smoking Cited; State Not Immune to Trend, H2533 [22AP]

United States' Triple-A Credit Rating `Under Threat', H1399 [6MR], H1596 [12MR]

Who Really Pays for Health Care?—The Myth of Shared Responsibility, S3075 [16AP]

Bills and resolutions

Appropriations: making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), consideration (H. Res. 1284)—same-day consideration (see H. Res. 1281), H5579 [18JN]

———making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), consideration of Senate amendment (see H. Res. 1197), H3884 [14MY]

———making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), consideration of Senate amendments (see H. Res. 1284), H5729 [19JN]

Benefits: allow choice of benefit payment method relative to computation rule application to workers attaining age 65 in or after 1982 (see S. 17), S10742 [20NO]

———authorize waivers of certain waiting periods for benefits based on disability in cases in which such waiting period would cause undue hardship to terminally ill beneficiaries (see S. 2570), S445 [29JA] (see H.R. 5510), H1183 [28FE] (see H.R. 5812), H2355 [15AP]

———increase maximum level of fees authorized to be charged by representatives relative to claims of entitlement to past-due benefits and require cost-of-living adjustments to such fees (see H.R. 7285), H10844 [19NO]

———provide monthly benefits for certain uninsured children living without parents (see H.R. 6607), H7164 [24JY]

Business and industry: evaluate and extend the basic pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation and ensure protection of Social Security beneficiaries (see H.R. 6633), H7306 [29JY]

Children and youth: allow certain youths who became inmates of public institutions to re-enroll in Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program upon release (see H.R. 6621), H7164 [24JY]

———assist foster children in developing or maintaining connections to family, community, support, health care, and school (see H.R. 6307), H5728 [19JN]

———prohibit preexisting condition exclusions for children in group health plans and health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets (see S. 3115), S5524 [11JN]

———provide grants for school-based mentoring programs of at-risk teenage girls to prevent and reduce teen pregnancy and provide student loan forgiveness for mentors participating in such programs (see H.R. 5810), H2355 [15AP]

Dept. of HHS: encourage dissemination, security, confidentiality, and usefulness of health information technology (see H.R. 5885), H2758 [24AP]

———establish a drug discount program for individuals without prescription drug coverage (see H.R. 6619), H7164 [24JY]

———require removal of Social Security account numbers from Medicare identification cards and communications provided to beneficiaries (see S. 3512), S8948 [17SE]

———Social Services Block Grant Program funding (see H.R. 5133), H456 [23JA]

Disabled: ensure certain disability determinations on the basis of SSA hearings are made on a timely basis and monitor number of disability determinations under reconsideration (see H.R. 6485), H6472 [14JY]

———establish a sliding disability benefit scale for individuals with waxing and waning diseases and conditions and ensure income while working is more than work income or benefits (see H.R. 6457), H6405 [10JY]

———increase the level of earnings under which no individual who is blind is determined to have demonstrated an ability to engage in substantial gainful activity for purposes of determining disability (see S. 2559), S329 [25JA]

———revise medical criteria for evaluating disability in a person with Huntington's disease and waive Medicare waiting period for individuals disabled by Huntington's disease (see H.R. 6259), H5407 [12JN]

Economy: improve and expand the Social Security system as the social safety net to meet the needs of the current economy and labor market and improve skills of the U.S. workforce (see H. Con. Res. 420), H8477 [18SE]

———reform health care, Social Security, tax code for individuals and small businesses, and the budget process (see H.R. 6110), H4453 [21MY]

Employment: exempt certain employment as a member of a local governing board from coverage (see H.R. 6603), H7163 [24JY]

———prevent unauthorized earnings from being credited toward certain pension benefits, improve provisions governing totalization agreements, and prevent unauthorized employment (see H.R. 5515), H1183 [28FE]

———treat certain domestically controlled foreign persons performing services under contract with the U.S. Government as American employers for purposes of certain employment taxes and benefits (see S. 2775), S2133 [13MR] (see H.R. 5602), H1700 [13MR]

Families and domestic relations: extend adoption incentives program, authorize States to establish a relative guardianship program, and promote adoption of children with special needs (see S. 3038), S4487 [20MY]

———prohibit States from charging child support recipients for the collection of child support (see S. 3706), S10659 [19NO] (see H.R. 7280), H10844 [19NO]

———support former foster care youth, recognize organizations and individuals that assist former foster care youth, and review foster care youth transition programs (see H. Res. 1208), H4151 [19MY]

Federal aid programs: establish a trust fund with proceeds from Internet gambling taxes to provide opportunities to individuals who are, or were, in foster care and individuals in declining sectors of the economy (see H.R. 6501), H6576 [15JY]

———remove inmate limitations on Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, and State Children's Health Insurance Program benefits for persons in custody pending disposition of charges (see H.R. 5698), H2010 [3AP]

Federal-State relations: nullify effectiveness of a guidance letter proposing rules relative to the Federal-State financial partnerships under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see H.R. 5998), H3402 [8MY]

Financial institutions: prohibit use of funds to promote direct deposit of benefits until adequate safeguards are established to prevent the attachment and garnishment of such benefits (see S. 2850), S2977 [14AP]

Go Direct Month: designate (see S. Res. 443), S658 [5FE]

Health: encourage use of certified health information technology by providers in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (see H.R. 7191), H10300 [27SE]

———ensure a sufficient supply of vaccines (see H.R. 4991), H294 [16JA]

———ensure access to affordable and quality health care without exacerbating the Federal budget or contributing to market inflation while providing greater choices for consumers (see H. Res. 1228), H4831 [22MY]

———establish a comprehensive plan to prevent, treat, and reduce obesity and promote healthy nutritional choices (see S. 3584), S9492 [25SE] (see H.R. 7179), H10299 [27SE]

———increase number of primary care physicians and improve patient access to primary care services (see H.R. 7192), H10300 [27SE]

———national policy to increase Federal commitment prioritizing disease prevention and public health (see H. Res. 1381), H7307 [29JY]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (see S. 3072), S4793 [22MY] (see H.R. 5348), H869 [12FE] (see H.R. 6444), H6341 [9JY] (see H.R. 6699), H7784 [31JY] (see H.R. 7166), H10131 [26SE]

———provide for sex education and substance abuse treatment and prevention (see H.R. 6906), H8127 [15SE]

Health Care Comparative Effectiveness Research Institute: establish (see S. 3408, 3408), S7905 [31JY]

Health care professionals: provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, or medical supplies for which payment is made under certain programs (see H.R. 5605), H1700 [13MR]

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. 5732), H2069 [8AP]

———prevent unauthorized earnings of illegal immigrants from being credited toward certain pension benefits (see S. 3346), S7573 [28JY]

———require States to help alien children in the child welfare system apply for all forms of immigration relief (see H.R. 6649), H7307 [29JY]

Lawyers and attorneys: provide for direct payment of attorney fees and costs to attorney representing prevailing party in certain Social Security Disability Insurance and SSI claims (see H.R. 5833), H2485 [17AP]

Medicaid: clarify authority of States to use funds as the non-Federal share of expenditures for certain regional medical centers (see H.R. 5657), H1821 [31MR]

———disapprove rule on optional State plan case management services (see S.J. Res. 30), S2133 [13MR] (see H.J. Res. 78), H1701 [13MR]

———establish a disproportionate share hospital (DSH) redistribution pool from unexpended allotments to increase allotments for low DSH States and to provide grants for certain health access networks (see H.R. 5721), H2069 [8AP]

———establish a State plan option to provide an all-inclusive program of care for children medically fragile or with one or more chronic conditions that impedes their ability to function (see S. 3631), S9657 [26SE] (see H.R. 7130), H10130 [26SE]

———extend certain moratoria and impose additional moratoria on certain regulations (see H.R. 5613), H1700 [13MR]

———extend the MinnesotaCare Medicaid demonstration project (see S. 3467), S8275 [10SE] (see H.R. 6848), H7955 [9SE]

———impose moratorium on implementation of a regulation related to the outpatient clinic and hospital facility services definition and upper payment limit (see H.R. 7219), H10641 [29SE]

———improve rehabilitation services and case management and targeted case management services (see S. 3611), S9657 [26SE]

———improve the State plan amendment option for providing home and community-based services (see S. 3327), S7278 [24JY] (see H.R. 7212), H10331 [28SE]

———include all public clinics for the distribution of pediatric vaccines (see H.R. 4990), H294 [16JA]

———permit States to exclude earned income in determining eligibility for medical assistance for individuals with extremely high prescription drug costs (see H.R. 5748), H2150 [9AP]

———provide a temporary increase of the Federal medical assistance percentage (see S. 2620), S815 [8FE] (see H.R. 5268), H811 [7FE]

———provide additional funds for the Qualifying Individual (QI) program (see S. 3549), S9281 [23SE] (see S. 3560), S9415 [24SE] (see H.R. 7077), H9972 [25SE]

———provide an option for States to cover a children's program of all-inclusive coordinated care (ChiPACC) (see H.R. 6931), H8396 [17SE]

———provide coverage of drugs prescribed for certain NIH research study child participants (see S. 2629), S970 [13FE] (see H.R. 5468), H994 [14FE]

———require asset verification through access to information held by financial institutions to reduce fraud and abuse (see S. 2845), S2945 [10AP] (see H.R. 5757), H2223 [10AP]

———require State plans to continue to cover non-emergency transportation to medically necessary services (see H.R. 7122), H10130 [26SE]

———require States to provide hair prostheses for individuals diagnosed with alopecia areata (see H.R. 5936), H2947 [30AP]

———strengthen State and local government efforts to investigate and prosecute fraud and abuse (see H.R. 6769), H7787 [31JY]

———temporarily delay application of proposed changes to payment rules for case management and targeted case management services (see S. 2578), S492 [30JA] (see H.R. 5173), H555 [29JA]

Medicare: allow early access to benefits for individuals aged 55 to 65 and allow tax credits for payment of premiums for such benefits (see S. 3710), S10742 [20NO]

———amend special needs plans and the alignment of Medicare and Medicaid for dually eligible individuals (see H.R. 6365), H6088 [25JN]

———apply an alternative payment amount for certain graduate medical education programs established to train residents displaced by natural disasters (see S. 3117), S5524 [11JN] (see H.R. 6466), H6406 [10JY]

———apply exceptions process for tiered formulary drugs to specialty tier drugs and limit cost-sharing for specialty tier drugs (see H.R. 6684), H7784 [31JY]

———clarify use of private contracts by beneficiaries for professional services and allow individuals to opt out of certain benefits (see H.R. 7148), H10131 [26SE]

———continue ability of hospitals to supply a needed workforce of nurses and allied health professionals by preserving funding for hospital operated nursing and allied health education programs (see S. 3468), S8275 [10SE] (see H.R. 5174), H555 [29JA]

———coverage of clinical pharmacist practitioner services under part B (see H.R. 5780), H2224 [10AP]

———coverage of individuals receiving a heart transplant (see H.R. 6196), H5043 [5JN]

———delay and reform the competitive acquisition program for purchase of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (see S. 3144), S5697 [17JN] (see H.R. 6252), H5406 [12JN]

———delay phase out of the hospice budget neutrality adjustment factor (see S. 3484), S8479 [12SE] (see H.R. 6873), H8048 [11SE]

———eliminate disparities in breast cancer treatment through development of a uniform set of treatment performance measures for a quality reporting system and value-based purchasing system (see H.R. 5901), H2758 [24AP]

———enhance beneficiary protections under parts C and D (see S. 2687), S1467 [3MR] (see H.R. 6359), H6009 [24JN]

———ensure all physicians are permitted to perform face-to-face examinations and prescribe durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (see H.R. 6119), H4453 [21MY]

———ensure more timely access to home health services for beneficiaries (see H.R. 6826), H7808 [1AU]

———ensure that home health agencies assign the most appropriate skilled service to make the initial assessment visit for home health services for beneficiaries requiring rehabilitation therapy (see H.R. 5704), H2011 [3AP]

———enter into negotiated rulemaking to modernize Part B fee schedule for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests (see H.R. 6761), H7787 [31JY]

———establish a floor for payment for mammography (see H.R. 5711), H2011 [3AP]

———establish a hospice care demonstration program and grants programs for cancer palliative care and symptom management programs (see S. 2790), S2231 [31MR]

———establish budget neutral demonstration projects to study and improve the quality and cost effectiveness of cancer care services provided to beneficiaries (see H.R. 6725), H7786 [31JY]

———establish Independence at Home Chronic Care Coordination Demonstration Project (see S. 3613), S9657 [26SE] (see H.R. 7114), H10129 [26SE]

———exempt complex rehabilitation and assistive technology products from competitive acquisition program (see S. 2931), S3507 [29AP]

———exempt from critical access hospital inpatient bed limitation the number of beds provided for certain veterans (see H.R. 6557), H6733 [21JY]

———exempt negative pressure wound therapy pumps and related supplies and accessories from the competitive acquisition program until the clinical comparability of such products can be validated (see S. 3091), S5204 [5JN] (see H.R. 4935), H23 [15JA]

———expand coverage of paramedic intercept services (see H.R. 6082), H4064 [16MY]

———expand development of quality measures for inpatient hospital services and implement a performance-based payment methodology for such services (see H.R. 7067), H9972 [25SE]

———expand Rural Hospital Flexibility Program to increase the delivery of mental health services to veterans (see S. 3095), S5204 [5JN]

———extend and revise incentive payments for physician scarcity areas (see H.R. 6386), H6174 [26JN]

———extend Federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens (see H.R. 6394), H6174 [26JN]

———extend physician payment rates (see H.R. 6129), H4829 [22MY]

———improve access of beneficiaries to immune globulins (see S. 2990), S3891 [7MY]

———improve access to, and increase utilization of, bone mass measurement benefits (see S. 2702), S1521 [4MR]

———improve access to health care for beneficiaries in rural areas (see S. 2786), S2133 [13MR]

———improve fairness and reduce regional inequities in reimbursement payments to providers (see S. 2962), S3698 [1MY]

———improve provision of telehealth services (see S. 2812), S2435 [3AP] (see H.R. 6163), H4830 [22MY]

———improve the provision of items and services to beneficiaries in rural areas (see H.R. 5953), H3018 [1MY]

———include vision restoration therapy devices and associated software used to treat impaired visual function due to acquired brain injury within the definition of durable medical equipment (see H.R. 6241), H5327 [11JN]

———increase civil and criminal penalties for acts involving fraud and abuse and amount of surety bond required for suppliers of durable medical equipment (see S. 2603), S784 [7FE]

———increase payments for physicians' services (see H.R. 5445), H993 [14FE]

———increase per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments to hospitals (see S. 2781), S2133 [13MR]

———increase the per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments (see H.R. 5426), H942 [13FE]

———limit increases in Medicare Advantage payment rates until parity is achieved with fee-for-service programs (see H.R. 7197), H10330 [28SE]

———limit prescription drug program premium increases to no more than Social Security cost-of-living adjustment and require Dept. of HHS to negotiate lower prescription drug prices (see H.R. 5317), H812 [7FE]

———modify designation of accreditation organizations for orthotics and prosthetics, apply accreditation and licensure requirements to such devices, and modify payment methodology for such devices (see H.R. 6878), H8048 [11SE]

———modify physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce (see S. 2729), S1703 [6MR] (see H.R. 5545), H1416 [6MR]

———permit physical therapy services to be furnished to individuals under the care of a dentist (see H.R. 5590), H1538 [11MR]

———preserve access to physicians' services (see S. 2785), S2133 [13MR] (see H.R. 6091), H4320 [20MY]

———preserve access to urban Medicare-dependent hospitals (see H.R. 7105), H9973 [25SE]

———provide a temporary moratorium on enforcement of the cap amount on payments for hospice care (see S. 2727), S1703 [6MR] (see H.R. 5542), H1416 [6MR]

———provide comprehensive cancer patient treatment education and conduct research to improve cancer symptom management (see H.R. 5585), H1538 [11MR]

———provide coverage for consultations regarding orders for life sustaining treatment and provide grants for development and expansion of programs for such orders (see H.R. 7181), H10299 [27SE]

———provide coverage for the shingles vaccine (see H.R. 5877), H2657 [23AP]

———provide coverage of federally recommended vaccines (see H.R. 4992), H294 [16JA]

———provide coverage of remote patient management services for chronic health care conditions (see H.R. 5765), H2223 [10AP]

———provide coverage of services of qualified respiratory therapists performed under the general supervision of a physician (see S. 2704), S1596 [5MR]

———provide for a disclosure requirement for physicians referring for imaging services (see S. 3343), S7526 [26JY] (see H.R. 6821), H7808 [1AU]

———provide for a geographic adjustment for cap on hospice care payments and require hospice programs to report comprehensive data on hospice care (see H.R. 6158), H4830 [22MY]

———provide for a Medicare Advantage benchmark adjustment for certain local areas with VA medical centers and for certain contiguous areas (see S. 2545), S207 [23JA] (see H.R. 5125), H455 [23JA]

———provide for consolidated coverage of home infusion drug therapy (see S. 3505), S8947 [17SE]

———provide for payment of home health services on a reasonable cost basis (see S. 3265), S6722 [15JY]

———provide payments for unscheduled physician telephone consultation services when such payments are cost and quality effective (see H.R. 6380), H6173 [26JN]

———provide temporary improvements to inpatient hospital payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals and use the non-wage adjusted PPS rate under the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program (see S. 3300), S7030 [22JY] (see H.R. 6912), H8275 [16SE]

———reduce fraud (see S. 3164), S5832 [19JN]

———reduce inequitable disparities in physician payments in rural areas and revise the practice expense geographic adjustment (see S. 3318), S7148 [23JY]

———reduce variation in Medicare Advantage payment rates among counties within the same State within certain very large metropolitan areas (see H.R. 6174), H4877 [3JN]

———remove cap on disproportionate share adjustment percentages for certain rural hospitals (see S. 2853), S2977 [14AP]

———replace the prescription drug benefit with a revised and simplified program for all beneficiaries (see H.R. 6800), H7807 [1AU]

———require continued application of budget neutrality on a national basis in calculation of the urban hospital wage floor (see S. 3582), S9492 [25SE] (see H.R. 6966), H8476 [18SE]

———respond to a funding warning by introducing principles of value-based health care and reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (see S. 2662), S1121 [25FE] (see H.R. 5480), H1031 [25FE]

———revise timeframe for recognition of certain designations in certifying rural health clinics (see S. 3367), S7780 [30JY]

———stabilize and modernize the provision of partial hospitalization services (see S. 3116), S5524 [11JN]

———waive Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act requirements relative to action on legislation in response to a funding warning (see H. Res. 1368), H7057 [23JY]

Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act: eliminate certain inappropriate changes in law made to the Medicare Advantage program (see H.R. 6819), H7807 [1AU]

Medicare/Medicaid: amend qualifications of the director of food services of a skilled nursing facility (see H.R. 7139), H10130 [26SE]

———extend expiring provisions (see S. 3236), S6504 [9JY]

———extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (see S. 3101), S5366 [6JN] (see H.R. 6212), H5110 [9JN] (see H.R. 6331), H5796 [20JN]

———improve transparency of information on nursing and skilled nursing facilities and clarify and improve enforcement of requirements on such facilities (see S. 2641), S1054 [14FE] (see H.R. 5799), H2354 [15AP] (see H.R. 7128), H10130 [26SE]

———preserve access to health care (see S. 3656), S10176 [30SE] (see H.R. 7241), H10699 [2OC]

———prevent reduction in physician fee schedule, advance value based purchasing, electronic health records, and electronic prescribing, and maintain and improve access to care in rural areas (see S. 3118), S5524 [11JN]

———promote use of advance directives (see H.R. 5702), H2011 [3AP]

———reduce cost-sharing for certain dual eligible populations under the prescription drug benefit (see H.R. 5604), H1700 [13MR]

National Save for Retirement Week: designate (see S. Res. 601), S6158 [25JN]

———support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 1294), H5864 [23JN]

Native Americans: improve health care under Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Programs (see S. 2532), S93 [22JA]

Poverty: provide for an improved method to measure poverty to enable a better assessment of the effects of certain programs (see S. 3636), S9658 [26SE] (see H.R. 6941), H8475 [18SE]

Privacy: issue uniform standards for the truncation of account numbers to protect from fraud or identity theft and prohibit the display on the Internet of such account numbers (see S. 2915), S3401 [24AP]

———limit the misuse of Social Security numbers and establish criminal penalties for such misuse (see H.R. 5234), H621 [6FE]

———prohibit the display of account numbers on Medicare cards (see S. 2908), S3401 [24AP] (see H.R. 6399), H6174 [26JN] (see H.R. 6600), H7163 [24JY]

———protect seniors from identity theft and strengthen our national security by providing for the issuance of a secure Social Security card (see H.R. 5405), H942 [13FE]

Public housing: train and employ residents in home-based health services in order to provide Medicaid-covered home-based health services to elderly and disabled residents (see H.R. 6033), H3776 [13MY]

Public welfare programs: connect and support relative caregivers, improve outcomes for children in foster care, provide for tribal foster care and adoption access, and improve incentives for adoption (see H.R. 6893), H8127 [15SE]

———ensure State support and retention of foster parents and award grants to improve foster care, kinship care, and adoptive parents (see S. 3492), S8855 [16SE]

———expand educational opportunities for recipients of benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 3417), S7905 [31JY]

———extend and expand the number of States qualifying for supplemental grants under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 2820), S2435 [3AP]

———provide emergency assistance for families receiving aid under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program and for low-income working families (see S. 2968), S3699 [1MY]

———require States to implement a drug testing program for and recipients of assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 3361), S7629 [29JY]

———require States to implement a drug testing program for applicants and recipients of assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (see S. 3540), S9280 [23SE]

Senior citizens: improve employability (see S. 2933), S3507 [29AP]

———protect seniors from elder abuse by improving prosecution, law enforcement, and assistance to victims (see H.R. 5352), H869 [12FE]

———provide grants to eligible entities to provide services to improve financial literacy among older individuals (see S. 3053), S4792 [22MY]

Social Services Block Grant: increase funding to provide gasoline subsidies to certain low-income individuals (see H.R. 6561), H6824 [22JY]

SSA: reestablish experiment and demonstration project authority regarding the Social Security Disability Insurance Program (see H.R. 6745), H7786 [31JY]

———require the President to transmit the annual budget without revisions to Congress (see H.R. 5110), H455 [23JA]

State Child Health Insurance Program: expand coverage through employer buy-ins, regional State arrangements, and State initiatives to expand coverage and access (see H.R. 7129), H10130 [26SE]

State Children's Health Insurance Program: disapprove final rule imposing crowd-out strategies on States that expand income eligibility level for children (see S.J. Res. 44), S6937 [17JY]

———expand coverage options through premium assistance (see H.R. 6963), H8476 [18SE]

———extend funding (H.R. 3584) (see H.R. 6788), H7806 [1AU]

———reauthorize and limit income eligibility expansions under that program until the lowest income eligible individuals are enrolled (see S. 2936), S3507 [29AP]

———report on access to primary care and efforts to avoid displacement of private coverage and urge use of surveys to measure physician access (see H.R. 6506), H6673 [16JY]

States: place a general eligibility ceiling of the poverty level on gross income for eligibility for benefits under Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (see H.R. 5961), H3050 [5MY]

———preserve access to Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program during an economic downturn (see S. 2819), S2435 [3AP]

Strengthen and permanently preserve (see S. 2765), S2132 [13MR]

Taxation: allow a continuous levy on payments to Medicaid providers and suppliers (see S. 2843), S2945 [10AP] (see H.R. 5764), H2223 [10AP]

———impose a tax on the amount of wages in excess of the Social Security contribution and benefit base (see H.R. 5779), H2224 [10AP]

———include senior citizens and disabled veterans in the provision of recovery rebates to individuals (see H.R. 5316), H812 [7FE]

———provide for an inflation adjustment of base amounts used to determine amount of Social Security benefits included in gross income (see H.R. 6677), H7628 [30JY]

———provide recovery rebates to certain individuals receiving Social Security benefits (see H.R. 5172), H555 [29JA]

———provide recovery rebates to certain pension recipients (see H.R. 6609), H7164 [24JY]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits (see H.R. 6242), H5327 [11JN]

———repeal withholding of income and Social Security taxes (see H.R. 5175), H555 [29JA]

Tobacco products: promote tobacco use cessation under Medicare, Medicaid, and the maternal and child health program (see S. 3206), S6285 [26JN] (see H.R. 6393), H6174 [26JN]

Veterans: address waiting period for dual VA-SSA disability designees by rating service-connected disabled veterans as totally disabled, thus classifying them as disabled for SSA (see S. 2872), S3080 [16AP]

Cloture motions

Appropriations: making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), S4475 [20MY]

Medicare/Medicaid: extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (H.R. 6331), motion to proceed, S6224, S6231 [26JN], S6489 [9JY]

———extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (S. 3101), motion to proceed, S5431 [10JN], S5564 [12JN]

Explanations

Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Other Domestic Needs, and Imposing Certain Iraq Policy Restrictions (H.R. 2642): House Amendment 1 to Senate Amendment, H3953-H4011 [15MY]

———House Amendment 2 to Senate Amendment, H4012 [15MY]

———House Amendment 3 to Senate Amendment, H4012-H4036 [15MY]

———House Amendment to Senate Amendment, H5671-H5699 [19JN]

———Senate Amendment to House Amendment 1, S4302-S4318 [19MY]

———Senate Amendment to House Amendment 2, S4318-S4337 [19MY], S6239-S6262 [26JN]

———Senate Amendment to House Amendment 3, S4337-S4372 [19MY]

Letters

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services directive to States relative to coverage of children under the State Children's Health Insurance Program: several health care organizations, S5687 [17JN]

Evaluate and extend the basic pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation and ensure protection of Social Security beneficiaries: Barbara B. Kennelly, National Committee To Preserve Social Security and Medicare, H7593 [30JY]

———David P. Sloane, AARP, H7592 [30JY]

Federal medical assistance percentage increase: Charlie Crist, Governor of Florida, H10055 [26SE]

Fostering Connections to Success Act: Candy Hill, Catholic Charities USA (organization), H5931 [24JN]

———Karen Rousey, Baby Fold (organization), H5931 [24JN]

———Lisa M. Carr and Lisa Hassenstab, Lutheran Services in America (organization), H5930 [24JN]

———Nathan Monell and Misty Stenslie, Foster Care Alumni of America (organization), H5928 [24JN]

Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act: Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators, H8316 [17SE]

———Ruth Kagi, National Conference of State Legislatures, H8316 [17SE]

———several organizations, H8315 [17SE]

Healthy Americans Act: Peter R. Orszag, CBO and Edward K. Kleinbard, Committee on Taxation (Joint), S3660 [1MY]

Increase per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments to hospitals under the Medicare program: Coalition for Direct Graduate Medical Education Fairness, S2158 [13MR]

———Douglas Strong, University of Michigan Health System, S2157 [13MR]

———Mark Cummings, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, S2157 [13MR]

———Peter B. Ajluni, American Osteopathic Association, S2158 [13MR]

Limit Medicare exception to prohibition on physician referrals for certain physician-owned hospitals: Rick Pollack, American Hospital Association, H1270 [5MR]

Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act: Peter R. Orszag, CBO, S5562 [12JN]

Medicare Telehealth Improvement Act: David A. Kakmia, Michigan Association of Community Mental Health Boards, S2439 [3AP]

———Jonathan D. Linkous, American Telemedicine Association, S2438 [3AP]

———Linda Rosenberg, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, S2438 [3AP]

———several organizations, S2438 [3AP]

Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission Act: Representative Wolf, E2319 [20NO]

Waive Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act requirements relative to action on legislation in response to a funding warning: Barbara B. Kennelly, National Committee To Preserve Social Security and Medicare, H7125 [24JY]

Lists

Organizations supporting H.R. 6307, Fostering Connections to Success Act, H5930 [24JN]

Organizations supporting H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, S6142 [25JN], S6229 [26JN]

Memorandums

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Implementation of Certain Medicaid Regulations: Elicia Herz, Congressional Research Service, S2104-S2107 [13MR]

Messages

Budget of the U.S. Government for Fiscal Year 2009: President Bush, H563 [6FE]

Social Security Agreement With Poland: President Bush, H6649 [16JY]

State of the Union: President Bush, S390-S394 [28JA]

U.S.-Czech Republic Social Security Agreement: President Bush, S3889 [7MY], H3181 [7MY]

U.S.-Denmark Social Security Agreement: President Bush, S1383 [28FE], H1186 [3MR]

Veto of H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act: President Bush, S6705 [15JY], H6520 [15JY]

Motions

Appropriations: making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), S4460, S4475 [20MY], S4742 [22MY], S6238 [26JN], H3912 [15MY], H5646 [19JN]

Press releases

Medicare and Medical Liability Reform: Health Coalition on Liability and Access, H7127 [24JY]

Medicare Trigger Ignores Real Problem-Skyrocketing Health Care Costs: AARP, H7125 [24JY]

Remarks in House

Appropriations: making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), consideration (H. Res. 1284)—same-day consideration (H. Res. 1281), H5592 [19JN]

———making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), Senate amendment, H3755 [13MY], H3782, H3870-H3872 [14MY], H3890, H3905-H4046, H4047, H4048, H4051 [15MY], H4285 [20MY], H4327, H4328, H4444 [21MY], H4836 [3JN], E953, E954, E956 [16MY], E963 [19MY], E987, E989 [21MY]

———making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), Senate amendments, H5584, H5622-H5705 [19JN], H6015 [25JN], E1293 [19JN], E1301, E1305, E1307 [20JN], E1388 [26JN]

———making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), consideration of Senate amendment (H. Res. 1197), H3891-H3903 [15MY], H5115, H5117 [10JN]

———making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), consideration of Senate amendments (H. Res. 1284), H5611-H5621 [19JN]

Budget: allocation of funds, H604-H617 [6FE], H1059-H1065 [26FE], H1321 [5MR], H2428-H2434, H2436 [16AP], H3864-H3870 [14MY], H5466-H5470 [17JN], E125 [6FE], E208 [15FE]

———comply with pay-as-you-go requirement, H3934, H3935 [15MY]

———deficit, H2212 [10AP]

Business and industry: evaluate and extend the basic pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation and ensure protection of Social Security beneficiaries (H.R. 6633), H7588-H7596 [30JY]

Children and youth: assist foster children in developing or maintaining connections to family, community, support, health care, and school (H.R. 6307), H5921-H5932 [24JN], E1377 [26JN], E1494 [17JY], E1774 [11SE]

Congress: accomplishments of the 110th Congress, H435 [23JA]

Dept. of State: advise Congress on totalization agreements negotiations with Mexico, H1068 [26FE], H1216 [4MR]

Disabled: ensure certain disability determinations on the basis of SSA hearings are made on a timely basis and monitor number of disability determinations under reconsideration (H.R. 6485), E1451 [14JY]

———establish a sliding disability benefit scale for individuals with waxing and waning diseases and conditions and ensure income while working is more than work income or benefits (H.R. 6457), E1429 [10JY]

Economy: reform health care, Social Security, tax code for individuals and small businesses, and the budget process (H.R. 6110), H4329 [21MY]

Employment: prevent unauthorized earnings from being credited toward certain pension benefits, improve provisions governing totalization agreements, and prevent unauthorized employment (H.R. 5515), H1344 [6MR], H2168 [10AP], H4979 [5JN], E268 [28FE]

———treat certain domestically controlled foreign persons performing services under contract with the U.S. Government as American employers for purposes of certain employment taxes and benefits, H4170 [20MY]

Families and domestic relations: support former foster care youth, recognize organizations and individuals that assist former foster care youth, and review foster care youth transition programs (H. Res. 1208), H4173-H4175 [20MY], E1083 [23MY]

Federal aid programs: ensure that individuals receiving disability insurance obtain enough additional Federal assistance to subsist, H6546 [15JY]

———remove inmate limitations on Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, and State Children's Health Insurance Program benefits for persons in custody pending disposition of charges (H.R. 5698), E507 [4AP]

Health: abstinence education program funding, E2072 [27SE]

———combine coverage of children and pregnant woman under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program into a new All Healthy Children Program (H.R. 1688), H2045 [8AP]

———extend provisions under Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S. 2499), H395, H398, H400, H401, H404, H405 [23JA]

———improve quality and efficiency in the health care system, E44 [17JA]

———national policy to increase Federal commitment prioritizing disease prevention and public health (H. Res. 1381), H7171 [29JY], H8686-H8688 [23SE]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, H10-H16 [15JA], H561, H597-H603 [6FE], H627 [7FE], H974-H977 [14FE], H2003-H2009 [3AP], H2140-H2145 [9AP], H2533 [22AP], H2767 [29AP], H3191 [8MY], H4455 [22MY], H4868-H4874 [3JN], H5025-H5029 [5JN], H6346 [10JY], H6550 [15JY], H7961, H8000, H8001 [10SE], H8463-H8467 [18SE], E1097 [23MY], E2019 [26SE]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 5348), H2538-H2543 [22AP]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (H.R. 676), H3002-H3006 [1MY], H5181-H5186 [10JN], H7132 [24JY], H10688 [2OC], E546 [8AP]

———provide affordable, guaranteed private health coverage, H8105 [15SE]

———provide health care liability reform, H7130 [24JY]

Immigration: enforce employment restrictions on unauthorized aliens through the use of improved Social Security cards and an Employment Eligibility Database (H.R. 98), E1644 [1AU]

———prohibit granting of Social Security benefits to certain undocumented individuals, H1068 [26FE]

———require States to help alien children in the child welfare system apply for all forms of immigration relief (H.R. 6649), E1603 [30JY]

———tribute to immigrants, E1328 [24JN]

Income: repeal Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions (H.R. 82), E800 [1MY]

———repeal the windfall elimination provision and protect the retirement of public servants (H.R. 2772), E800 [1MY]

Insurance: ensure that every child in the U.S. has access to affordable, quality health insurance coverage (H.R. 1535), H1829 [1AP]

Iraq: impact of financial costs of war on U.S. domestic priorities, H1593 [12MR], H2952 [1MY]

Medicaid: establish a disproportionate share hospital (DSH) redistribution pool from unexpended allotments to increase allotments for low DSH States and to provide grants for certain health access networks (H.R. 5721), E544 [8AP]

———extend certain moratoria and impose additional moratoria on certain regulations, H4043 [15MY]

———extend certain moratoria and impose additional moratoria on certain regulations (H.R. 5613), H2502-H2508 [22AP], H2558 [23AP], E691, E693, E696, E698, E703, E706, E709 [23AP], E730 [24AP], E744 [25AP], E985 [21MY]

———graduate medical education program funding, E699 [23AP]

———impose moratorium on implementation of a regulation related to the outpatient clinic and hospital facility services definition and upper payment limit (H.R. 7219), E2231 [3OC]

———increase price transparency of hospital information and provide for additional research on consumer information on charges and out-of-pocket costs (H.R. 1666), H602 [6FE]

———provide a temporary increase of the Federal medical assistance percentage, H10053, H10055 [26SE]

———provide a temporary increase of the Federal medical assistance percentage (H.R. 5268), E185 [13FE]

———provide additional funds for the Qualifying Individual (QI) program (S. 3560), H10170-H10176 [27SE]

———provide an option for States to cover a children's program of all-inclusive coordinated care (ChiPACC) (H.R. 6931), E1824 [17SE]

———provide funding to States to enable them to increase the wages paid to targeted direct support professionals in providing services to individuals with disabilities (H.R. 1279), H8024 [11SE], E1741 [9SE], E1771, E1777 [11SE], E2104 [28SE]

———restore disproportionate share hospital (DHS) payments to Hawaii and Tennessee, H5914 [24JN]

Medicare: bundle reimbursement payments to providers for end-stage renal disease services, H5907 [24JN]

———delay and reform the competitive acquisition program for purchase of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (H.R. 6252), E1220 [12JN]

———delay phase out of the hospice budget neutrality adjustment factor (H.R. 6873), E1774 [11SE]

———eliminate disparities in breast cancer treatment through development of a uniform set of treatment performance measures for a quality reporting system and value-based purchasing system (H.R. 5901), E726 [24AP]

———ensure that home health agencies assign the most appropriate skilled service to make the initial assessment visit for home health services for beneficiaries requiring rehabilitation therapy (H.R. 5704), E492 [3AP]

———establish Independence at Home Chronic Care Coordination Demonstration Project (H.R. 7114), E2071 [27SE]

———establish new, separate fee schedule areas for physicians' services in States with multiple fee schedule areas to improve physician geographic payment accuracy, H5914 [24JN]

———extend physician payment rates (H.R. 6129), H4868-H4874 [3JN]

———funding, H1653 [13MR]

———increase the per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments (H.R. 5426), E187 [13FE]

———limit exception to prohibition on physician referrals for certain physician-owned hospitals, H1262, H1264, H1267, H1269, H1270, H1298, H1299, H1302, H1303, H1305, H1306 [5MR], H5707 [19JN]

———Medicare Advantage funding, H5908 [24JN]

———modify physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce, H15 [15JA]

———modify physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce (H.R. 5545), H2008 [3AP]

———permit physical therapy services to be furnished to individuals under the care of a dentist (H.R. 5590), E351 [11MR]

———phase-out waiting period for coverage of disabled individuals and waive waiting period for people with life-threatening illnesses (H.R. 154), E878 [8MY]

———protect and preserve access of beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers, H5914 [24JN], H6202 [8JY]

———provide coverage for consultations regarding orders for life sustaining treatment and provide grants for development and expansion of programs for such orders (H.R. 7181), E2136 [28SE]

———provide coverage for the shingles vaccine (H.R. 5877), E708 [23AP]

———provide for a disclosure requirement for physicians referring for imaging services (H.R. 6821), E1692 [1AU]

———reform physician payment and modernize quality improvement organization (QIO) program, H598, H599, H602 [6FE]

———reform the prescription drug program, H601 [6FE]

———replace the prescription drug benefit with a revised and simplified program for all beneficiaries (H.R. 6800), H10688 [2OC], E1695 [1AU]

———require physician utilization of electronic prescription drug program, H6015 [25JN]

———require physician utilization of electronic prescription drug program (S. 2408), H599 [6FE]

———require public reporting of health care-associated infections data and establish pilot program for incentives to hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to eliminate the rate of occurrence (H.R. 1174), H946 [14FE], H6092 [26JN], H8105 [15SE]

———respond to a funding warning by introducing principles of value-based health care and reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (H.R. 5480), H1210-H1212 [4MR], E228 [25FE]

———waive Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act requirements relative to action on legislation in response to a funding warning (H. Res. 1368), H7122-H7134 [24JY]

Medicare/Medicaid: extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (H.R. 6212), H5181 [10JN], H7132 [24JY]

———extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (H.R. 6331), H5876-H5916 [24JN], H6013, H6015 [25JN], H6092, H6150 [26JN], H6235, H6237 [9JY], H6479 [15JY], H7127 [24JY], H10171 [27SE], E1346, E1352, E1354 [25JN], E1401 [8JY], E1417, E1419 [9JY], E1473, E1477 [16JY], E1490 [17JY]

———extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (H.R. 6331), veto, H6494, H6521-H6531 [15JY], E1480 [16JY]

———improve transparency of information on nursing and skilled nursing facilities and clarify and improve enforcement of requirements on such facilities (H.R. 7128), E2100 [28SE]

National Save for Retirement Week: support goals and ideals (H. Res. 1294), H5932-H5934 [24JN], H6121 [26JN]

Privacy: prohibit the display of account numbers on Medicare cards (H.R. 6600), H10200-H10202 [27SE], H10631 [29SE]

———protect seniors from identity theft and strengthen our national security by providing for the issuance of a secure Social Security card (H.R. 5405), H926 [13FE], E179 [13FE]

Public welfare programs: allow funds provided to States under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program to be used for alternative-to-abortion services (H.R. 4852), H387 [22JA]

———connect and support relative caregivers, improve outcomes for children in foster care, provide for tribal foster care and adoption access, and improve incentives for adoption (H.R. 6893), H8304-H8319, H8320 [17SE], E1820 [17SE], E2047 [27SE], E2230 [3OC]

Reform, H1893 [2AP]

Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission: establish (H.R. 3654), H1399 [6MR], H1576, H1595 [12MR], H1706 [14MR], H1829, H1832 [1AP], H1976 [3AP], H2075 [9AP], H2212 [10AP], H4998 [5JN], H6237 [9JY], H10787 [3OC], E615 [15AP], E2319 [20NO], E2368 [10DE]

Senior citizens: protect seniors from elder abuse by improving prosecution, law enforcement, and assistance to victims (H.R. 5352), H8519-H8522 [22SE], E2036 [27SE]

Social Services Block Grant: increase funding to provide gasoline subsidies to certain low-income individuals (H.R. 6561), H7333 [30JY]

SSI: eliminate the unfair and disadvantageous treatment of cash military compensation other than basic pay, H4170 [20MY]

State Children's Health Insurance Program: extend and improve, H2249 [14AP], H6495 [15JY]

———extend and improve (H.R. 3963), H6332 [9JY]

———extend and improve (H.R. 3963): veto, H378 [22JA]

———extend and improve (H.R. 3963), veto, H267 [16JA], H391, H392, H394, H395-H407, H434, H436, H439, H440 [23JA], H2865 [30AP], E83, E84 [28JA]

———reauthorize (H.R. 3864), H396 [23JA]

States: extend and improve children's health insurance program and improve beneficiary protections under Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (H.R. 3162), H7127 [24JY]

Taxation: include senior citizens and disabled veterans in the provision of recovery rebates to individuals, H791 [7FE]

Trust funds: budget treatment, H1061 [26FE]

Remarks in Senate

Appropriations: making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), House amendment, S4292-S4294 [19MY], S4426, S4427, S4444-S4469, S4471, S4473, S4475 [20MY], S4560-S4564, S4578-S4587, S4613 [21MY], S4709-S4742, S4756, S4767 [22MY], S6949 [21JY]

———making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), House amendment—unanimous-consent agreement, S4705 [21MY]

———making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), House amendments, S6103, S6142, S6143 [25JN], S6234-S6269 [26JN]

———making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), unanimous-consent agreement, S6223 [26JN]

Benefits: authorize waivers of certain waiting periods for benefits based on disability in cases in which such waiting period would cause undue hardship to terminally ill beneficiaries (S. 2570), S448 [29JA]

———privatization proposals, S2972 [14AP], S8928 [17SE]

———protect cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) (S. 2501), S598 [4FE]

Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action: establish (S. 2063), S461, S462 [30JA], S5579 [12JN]

Budget: allocation of funds, S594-S596 [4FE], S620-S622, S629-S631 [5FE], S1409-S1411 [29FE], S1459 [3MR], S1492-S1495, S1509 [4MR], S1550, S1553, S1554, S1563, S1566, S1591 [5MR], S5578 [12JN]

———allocation of funds to programs serving rural areas, S1016 [14FE]

———establish a comprehensive plan to control spending, reduce the deficit, and regain control of the Federal budget process, S1846, S1847 [11MR]

———provide for points of order to protect Social Security, require disclosure of gross Federal debt, stregthen integrity of reconciliation process, and prohibit net increase in deficits, S4263 [15MY]

———require a balanced budget without Social Security taxes, S1858 [11MR]

Bush, President: evaluation of economic policies, S1566 [5MR], S2098, S2103 [13MR], S4592, S4597 [21MY], S9358 [24SE]

———State of the Union Message, S407, S414 [29JA]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: implement Medicaid regulations issued relative to graduate medical education, intergovernmental transfers, school-based services, rehabilitation, and targarted case management, S2104-S2109 [13MR]

Children and youth: expand Federal benefit eligibility for children in foster care who have attained a certain age (S. 1512), S4174 [14MY]

———provide disadvantaged children with dental services, S1116 [25FE], S5010 [4JN]

Crime: provide increased civil and criminal penalties for acts involving fraud and abuse under the Medicare system, S1026 [14FE]

Democratic Party: national agenda, S1492-S1495, S1509 [4MR], S6344-S6346 [7JY], S6614 [14JY]

Dept. of HHS: Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Program funding, S1970-S1972 [12MR]

———require removal of Social Security account numbers from Medicare identification cards and communications provided to beneficiaries (S. 3512), S8954 [17SE]

Disabled: increase the level of earnings under which no individual who is blind is determined to have demonstrated an ability to engage in substantial gainful activity for purposes of determining disability (S. 2559), S330 [25JA]

Drugs: increase in prices for prescription drugs, S7440 [25JY]

Employment: treat certain domestically controlled foreign persons performing services under contract with the U.S. Government as American employers for purposes of certain employment taxes and benefits, S4773 [22MY]

———treat certain domestically controlled foreign persons performing services under contract with the U.S. Government as American employers for purposes of certain employment taxes and benefits (S. 2775), S2155 [13MR]

Families and domestic relations: extend adoption incentives program, authorize States to establish a relative guardianship program, and promote adoption of children with special needs (S. 3038), S9262 [23SE]

———prohibit States from charging child support recipients for the collection of child support (S. 3706), S10670 [19NO]

Go Direct Month: designate (S. Res. 443), S671 [5FE]

Health: establish a comprehensive plan to prevent, treat, and reduce obesity and promote healthy nutritional choices (S. 3584), S9498 [25SE]

———extend provisions under Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, S1981-S1983 [12MR]

———national policy to provide health care, control costs, and enhance the quality of the health care system, S2811 [9AP]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures, S530-S532 [31JA], S628 [5FE], S1220, S1221, S1261-S1264 [27FE], S2328 [2AP], S2792-S2794 [9AP], S3074 [16AP], S3116 [17AP], S3378-S3380 [24AP], S4757 [22MY], S5585 [12JN], S5729 [18JN], S6860 [16JY], S6911-S6914 [17JY], S9011 [18SE], S10636 [19NO], S10698-S10700 [20NO]

———national policy to provide health care and reform insurance procedures (S. 1783), S1158 [26FE], S2426 [3AP], S3417-S3420 [28AP], S9636 [26SE]

———provide affordable, guaranteed private health coverage (S. 334), S1043 [14FE], S3660-S3662 [1MY], S4301 [19MY], S5506-S5509 [11JN], S6347, S6348 [7JY], S6431 [8JY], S6902 [17JY], S7996-S7998 [1AU], S9373-S9378 [24SE], S9479 [25SE]

Health Care Comparative Effectiveness Research Institute: establish (S. 3408), S7960-S7968 [31JY]

Health care professionals: provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, or medical supplies for which payment is made under certain programs, S7890 [31JY]

———provide for transparency in the relationship between physicians and manufacturers of drugs, devices, or medical supplies for which payment is made under certain programs (S. 2029), S2319 [2AP], S5029 [4JN], S5956 [23JN], S8165 [9SE], S10467 [2OC], S10641 [19NO]

Indian Health Service: limit charges for contract health services provided by Medicare providers, S37-S39 [22JA]

Iraq: impact of financial costs of war on U.S. domestic priorities, S3649 [1MY]

Law enforcement: prevent fraudulent use of account numbers by allowing the sharing of Social Security data among U.S. agencies for identity theft prevention and immigration enforcement purposes (S. 699), S10628 [19NO]

Medicaid: extend certain moratoria and impose additional moratoria on certain regulations, S4721-S4725, S4729-S4732 [22MY]

———extend certain moratoria and impose additional moratoria on certain regulations (H.R. 5613), S3051 [16AP], S3412 [24AP], S3415 [28AP], S3478 [29AP]

———extend certain moratoria and impose additional moratoria on certain regulations (H.R. 5613), unanimous-consent request, S3495 [29AP]

———improve the State plan amendment option for providing home and community-based services (S. 3327), S7291-S7299 [24JY]

———provide additional funds for the Qualifying Individual (QI) program (S. 3560), S9459 [25SE], S9638 [26SE]

———provide coverage of drugs prescribed for certain NIH research study child participants (S. 2629), S975-S977 [13FE]

———restore disproportionate share hospital (DHS) payments to Hawaii and Tennessee, S6228 [26JN], S6482 [9JY], S6709 [15JY]

———temporarily delay application of proposed changes to payment rules for case management and targeted case management services, S1005, S1008-S1010, S1041 [14FE]

Medicare: delay and reform the competitive acquisition program for purchase of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies, S6481 [9JY]

———delay and reform the competitive acquisition program for purchase of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (S. 3144), S5699-S5703 [17JN]

———delay phase out of the hospice budget neutrality adjustment factor (S. 3484), S8480 [12SE]

———enhance beneficiary protections under parts C and D (S. 2687), S5555 [12JN]

———ensure competitive pricing among Medicare Advantage plans, S4780 [22MY]

———establish a hospice care demonstration program and grants programs for cancer palliative care and symptom management programs (S. 2790), S2234 [31MR]

———establish Independence at Home Chronic Care Coordination Demonstration Project (S. 3613), S9676 [26SE]

———execution of durable power of attorney to give doctors the authority to make appropriate end-of-life medical decisions, S3379 [24AP]

———exempt complex rehabilitation and assistive technology products from competitive acquisition program (S. 2931), S3510 [29AP]

———expand part B income test provisions to the part D prescription drug benefit requiring wealthy beneficiaries to pay a greater share of the premium, S1972 [12MR], S2055 [13MR], S5547 [12JN]

———expand Rural Hospital Flexibility Program to increase the delivery of mental health services to veterans (S. 3095), S5215 [5JN]

———extend eligibility period for ``Welcome to Medicare'' physical examination and provide for the coverage and waiver of cost-sharing for preventive services, S5557 [12JN]

———impact of physician reimbursement rates on TRICARE program, S6476 [9JY]

———implementation of Competitive Acquisition Program, S10618 [19NO]

———improve access of beneficiaries to immune globulins (S. 2990), S3900 [7MY]

———improve access to health care for beneficiaries in rural areas (S. 2786), S2159 [13MR]

———improve fairness and reduce regional inequities in reimbursement payments to providers, S6311 [27JN]

———improve patient access to, and utilization of, the colorectal cancer screening benefit, S5557 [12JN]

———improve provision of telehealth services (S. 2812), S2437-S2439 [3AP]

———increase civil and criminal penalties for acts involving fraud and abuse and amount of surety bond required for suppliers of durable medical equipment (S. 2603), S1221 [27FE]

———increase per resident payment floor for direct graduate medical education payments to hospitals (S. 2781), S2157, S2159 [13MR]

———modify physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce (S. 2729), S1706 [6MR], S5550 [12JN], S6424 [8JY]

———modify physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce (S. 2729), unanimous-consent request, S6479 [9JY]

———preserve access to physicians' services (S. 2785), S5515 [11JN]

———protect and preserve access of beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers, S5569 [12JN]

———protect and preserve access of beneficiaries in rural areas to health care providers (S. 1605), S5561 [12JN]

———protect beneficiaries' access to home health services, S6485, S6486 [9JY]

———provide a temporary moratorium on enforcement of the cap amount on payments for hospice care (S. 2727), S1676 [6MR]

———provide coverage of federally recommended vaccines (S. 2464), S5708 [18JN]

———provide for a disclosure requirement for physicians referring for imaging services (S. 3343), S7531 [26JY]

———provide for consolidated coverage of home infusion drug therapy (S. 3505), S8951 [17SE]

———provide incentives to physicians for writing electronic prescriptions, S1949 [12MR], S2050, S2094 [13MR]

———provide temporary improvements to inpatient hospital payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals and use the non-wage adjusted PPS rate under the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program (S. 3300), S7075 [22JY]

———reduce fraud (S. 3164), S5836 [19JN]

———reduce inequitable disparities in physician payments in rural areas and revise the practice expense geographic adjustment (S. 3318), S7156 [23JY]

———reform, S2211 [31MR]

———reform Medicare Advantage Program, S6478 [9JY]

———require physician utilization of electronic prescription drug program, S5512, S5516 [11JN]

———respond to a funding warning by introducing principles of value-based health care and reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system (S. 2662), S1127 [25FE]

———revise timeframe for recognition of certain designations in certifying rural health clinics, S9478 [25SE]

———revise timeframe for recognition of certain designations in certifying rural health clinics (S. 3367), S7785 [30JY]

———withhold payment for treatment of certain preventable medical injuries developed during hospital admission, S9355 [24SE]

Medicare/Medicaid: establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund for the expansion of background check pilot program for nursing facility and other long-term care facility employees, S1991 [12MR], S2061 [13MR]

———extend expiring provisions (S. 3236), S6510 [9JY], S6583 [11JY]

———extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (H.R. 6331), S6004, S6006 [24JN], S6097, S6142, S6143 [25JN], S6212 [26JN], S6713 [15JY]

———extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (H.R. 6331), motion to proceed, S6183, S6200-S6202, S6219, S6220, S6222, S6225-S6231 [26JN], S6310, S6311 [27JN], S6349 [7JY], S6378, S6379, S6420-S6424 [8JY], S6476-S6490, S6494 [9JY]

———extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (H.R. 6331), unanimous-consent agreement, S6223 [26JN]

———extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (H.R. 6331), unanimous-consent request, S6232-S6234 [26JN]

———extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (H.R. 6331), veto, S6698, S6702, S6705-S6710 [15JY]

———extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (S. 3101), S5376 [6JN], S5377 [9JN], S6320 [27JN]

———extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (S. 3101), motion to proceed, S5467, S5506-S5509, S5512, S5514-S5516, S5530 [11JN], S5539, S5546-S5551, S5553-S5564, S5576-S5578 [12JN]

———extend expiring provisions to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (S. 3101), unanimous-consent request, S5431 [10JN], S5710 [18JN], S5794 [19JN]

———extend provisions to improve access to preventive and mental health services, enhance low-income benefit programs, and maintain access to care in rural areas (H.R. 6331), unanimous-consent agreement, S6451 [9JY]

———improve transparency of information on nursing and skilled nursing facilities and clarify and improve enforcement of requirements on such facilities (S. 2641), S1058, S1059 [14FE], S7145 [23JY]

———preserve access to health care (S. 3656), S10456-S10458 [2OC]

———preserve access to health care (S. 3656), unanimous-consent request, S10623-S10625 [19NO]

———prevent physician fee schedule reduction, advance value based purchasing, electronic health records, and electronic prescribing, maintain and improve care access in rural areas (S. 3118), unanimous-consent request, S5710 [18JN], S6420-S6424 [8JY]

———prevent reduction in physician fee schedule, advance value based purchasing, electronic health records, and electronic prescribing, and maintain and improve access to care in rural areas (S. 3118), S5526, S5530 [11JN], S5535, S5546-S5548, S5550, S5554, S5560, S5562, S5569, S5577 [12JN]

———require background checks for nursing facility and other long-term care facility employees (S. 1577), S10466 [2OC]

National Save for Retirement Week: designate (S. Res. 601), unanimous-consent agreement, S9164 [18SE]

Privacy: issue uniform standards for the truncation of account numbers on Medicare identification cards to protect from fraud or identity theft and prohibit the display on the Internet of such account numbers, S6430 [8JY]

Public welfare programs: connect and support relative caregivers, improve outcomes for children in foster care, provide for tribal foster care and adoption access, and improve incentives for adoption (H.R. 6893), S9218 [22SE], S9482 [25SE]

———ensure State support and retention of foster parents and award grants to improve foster care, kinship care, and adoptive parents (S. 3492), S10302 [1OC]

———extend and expand the number of States qualifying for supplemental grants under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, S6228 [26JN]

———extend and expand the number of States qualifying for supplemental grants under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (S. 2820), S2448, S2449 [3AP]

Reform, S1229-S1232 [27FE], S2211 [31MR]

———establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund, S2057 [13MR]

Republican Party: national agenda, S21, S22 [22JA], S6583-S6585 [11JY]

Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission: establish (S. 304), S1592 [5MR], S3073 [16AP], S5579 [12JN]

Senior citizens: ensure adequate public-private infrastructure and resolve to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in, and prosecute elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation (S. 1070), S4430-S4432 [20MY]

———improve employability (S. 2933), S3510 [29AP]

———provide grants to eligible entities to provide services to improve financial literacy among older individuals (S. 3053), S4796 [22MY]

State Children's Health Insurance Program: codify the unborn child rule allowing States to provide prenatal care to unborn children and their mothers, S1989 [12MR], S2082, S2084 [13MR]

———disapprove final rule imposing crowd-out strategies on States that expand income eligibility level for children (S.J. Res. 44), S6942-S6944 [17JY]

———extend and improve, S3462 [29AP]

———extend and improve (H.R. 3963), veto, S197 [23JA]

———facilitate coverage of pregnant women, S2082 [13MR]

States: allow voluntary development of qualifying best practices for health care and provide differential rates of payment favoring treatment consistent with such practices under Medicare and Medicaid (S. 1471), S759 [7FE]

———combat waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program, S1989 [12MR]

———extend and improve children's health insurance program and improve beneficiary protections under Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program, S1849-S1851, S1854 [11MR]

———preserve access to Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program during an economic downturn (S. 2819), S2445 [3AP], S6265 [26JN]

Taxation: include senior citizens and disabled veterans in the provision of recovery rebates to individuals, S509, S511, S532-S535 [31JA], S580-S585, S589, S593, S596 [4FE], S616, S619, S627, S631, S633, S635 [5FE], S679-S681, S716-S725 [6FE], S755, S767-S769, S771, S772 [7FE]

———rates, S5731 [18JN], S8356-S8361 [11SE], S8474 [12SE]

———repeal tax increase on Social Security benefits, S1857 [11MR], S1932, S1939 [12MR], S2045, S2046 [13MR]

Tobacco products: promote tobacco use cessation under Medicare, Medicaid, and the maternal and child health program (S. 3206), S6290 [26JN]

Veterans: provide health care benefits to veterans with a service-connected disability at non-Dept. of Veterans Affairs medical facilities that receive payments under Medicare or TRICARE program (S. 815), S9381 [24SE]

Reports filed

Consideration of Senate Amendment to H.R. 2642, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Domestic Needs, and Iraq Policy Restrictions: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 1197) (H. Rept. 110-636), H3884 [14MY]

Consideration of Senate Amendments to H.R. 2642, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Domestic Needs, and Iraq Policy Restrictions: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 1284) (H. Rept. 110-720), H5728 [19JN]

Elder Abuse Victims Act: Committee on the Judiciary (House) (H.R. 5352) (H. Rept. 110-864), H8577 [22SE]

Elder Justice Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 1070) (S. Rept. 110-470), S9025 [18SE]

Improved Adoption Incentives and Relative Guardianship Support Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 3038) (S. Rept. 110-467), S8853 [16SE]

Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Indian Health Care Improvement Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 2532) (S. Rept. 110-255), S93 [22JA]

Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 1577) (S. Rept. 110-474), S9203 [22SE]

Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 5613) (H. Rept. 110-600), H2551 [22AP]

Same-Day Consideration of H. Res. 1284, Consideration of H.R. 2642, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 1281) (H. Rept. 110-719), H5579 [18JN]

Waive Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act Requirements Relative to Action on Legislation in Response to a Medicare Funding Warning: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 1368) (H. Rept. 110-769), H7057 [23JY]

Rulings of the Chair

Appropriations: making emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions (H.R. 2642), S4475 [20MY], S4742 [22MY], H3934 [15MY]

Statements

Handicapped Americans: Bob Dole, James B. Pearson, Norris H. Cotton, Roman L. Hruska, and Charles McC. Mathias, Jr., S2963-S2968 [14AP]

Summaries

Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Acquisition Reform Act (H.R. 6252), E1221 [12JN]

Medicare Rural Health Access Improvement Act, S2161-S2163 [13MR]

Texts of

H. Res. 1197, consideration of Senate amendment to H.R. 2642, emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions, H3891 [15MY]

H. Res. 1208, support former foster care youth, recognize organizations and individuals that assist former foster care youth, and review foster care youth transition programs, H4173 [20MY]

H. Res. 1281, same-day consideration of H. Res. 1284, consideration of H.R. 2642, emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions, H5592 [19JN]

H. Res. 1284, consideration of Senate amendments to H.R. 2642, emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions, H5611 [19JN]

H. Res. 1294, support goals and ideals of National Save for Retirement Week, H5932 [24JN]

H. Res. 1368, waive Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act requirements relative to action on legislation in response to a Medicare funding warning, H7122 [24JY]

H. Res. 1381, national policy to increase Federal commitment prioritizing disease prevention and public health, H8686 [23SE]

H.R. 2642, emergency supplemental appropriations for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other domestic needs, and imposing certain Iraq policy restrictions, S4444-S4460 [20MY]

H.R. 5352, Elder Abuse Victims Act, H8519-H8521 [22SE]

H.R. 5613, Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act, H2502-H2504 [22AP]

H.R. 6307, Fostering Connections to Success Act, H5921-H5927 [24JN]

H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, H5876-H5904 [24JN]

H.R. 6600, Medicare Identity Theft Prevention Act, H10200 [27SE]

H.R. 6633, evaluate and extend the basic pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation and ensure protection of Social Security beneficiaries, H7588 [30JY]

H.R. 6893, Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, H8304-H8313 [17SE]

S. 2559, Blind Persons Earnings Fairness Act, S331 [25JA]

S. 2629, Medicaid coverage of drugs prescribed for certain NIH research study child participants, S976 [13FE]

S. 2775, Fair Share Act, S2155 [13MR]

S. 2790, Comprehensive Cancer Care Improvement Act, S2234-S2236 [31MR]

S. 2819, Economic Recovery in Health Care Act, S2446-S2448 [3AP]

S. 2933, Incentives for Older Workers Act, S3511 [29AP]

S. 2990, Medicare IVIG Access Act, S3901 [7MY]

S. 3053, provide grants to eligible entities to provide services to improve financial literacy among older individuals, S4796 [22MY]

S. 3095, Relief for Rural Veterans in Crisis Act, S5216 [5JN]

S. 3144, Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Acquisition Reform Act, S5699-S5702 [17JN]

S. 3206, Medicare, Medicaid, and MCH Tobacco Cessation Promotion Act, S6291 [26JN]

S. 3236, Medicare and Medicaid Extension Act, S6506-S6509 [9JY]

S. 3318, Medicare Physician Payment Equity Act, S7157 [23JY]

S. 3327, Empowered at Home Act, S7292-S7298 [24JY]

S. 3367, revise timeframe for recognition of certain designations in certifying rural health clinics, S7786 [30JY]

S. 3408, Comparative Effectiveness Research Act, S7961-S7966 [31JY]

S. 3512, Social Security Number Protection Act, S8955 [17SE]

S. 3560, QI Program Supplemental Funding Act, S9460 [25SE], H10170 [27SE]

S. 3584, Obesity Prevention, Treatment, and Research Act, S9499-S9502 [25SE]

S. 3613, Independence at Home Act, S9676-S9680 [26SE]

S. Res. 443, Go Direct Month, S662, S671 [5FE]

S. Res. 601, National Save for Retirement Week, S6169 [25JN], S9165 [18SE]

S.J. Res. 30, disapprove Medicaid rule on optional State plan case management services, S2163 [13MR]

S.J. Res. 44, disapprove final rule imposing crowd-out strategies on States that expand income eligibility level for children under the State Children's Health Insurance Program, S6943 [17JY]

Tributes

Jones, Stephanie Tubbs, H8314 [17SE]