[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 118, 108th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

118 STAT. 3467

Public Law 108-448
108th Congress

An Act


 
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to extend medicare cost-
sharing for the medicare part B premium for qualifying individuals
through September 2005. NOTE: Dec. 8, 2004 -  [S. 2618]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF MEDICARE COST-SHARING FOR THE MEDICARE
PART B PREMIUM FOR QUALIFYING
INDIVIDUALS.

(a) In General.--Section 1902(a)(10)(E)(iv) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(E)(iv)) is amended by striking ``2004'' and
inserting ``2005''.
(b) Total Amount Available for Allocation.--Section 1933(g) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396u-3(g)) is amended to read as
follows:
``(g) Special Rules.--
``(1) In general.--With respect to each period described in
paragraph (2), a State shall select qualifying individuals,
subject to paragraph (3), and provide such individuals with
assistance, in accordance with the provisions of this section as
in effect with respect to calendar year 2003, except that for
such purpose--
``(A) references in the preceding subsections of
this section to a year, whether fiscal or calendar,
shall be deemed to be references to such period; and
``(B) the total allocation amount under subsection
(c) for such period shall be the amount described in
paragraph (2) for that period.
``(2) Periods and total allocation amounts described.--For
purposes of this subsection--
``(A) for the period that begins on January 1, 2004,
and ends on September 30, 2004, the total allocation
amount is $300,000,000;
``(B) for the period that begins on October 1, 2004,
and ends on December 31, 2004, the total allocation
amount is $100,000,000; and
``(C) for the period that begins on January 1, 2005,
and ends on September 30, 2005, the total allocation
amount is $300,000,000.
``(3) Rules for periods that begin after january 1.--For any
specific period described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2),
the following applies:
``(A) The specific period shall be treated as a
continuation of the immediately preceding period in that
calendar

[[Page 3468]]
118 STAT. 3468

year for purposes of applying subsection (b)(2) and
qualifying individuals who received assistance in the
last month of such immediately preceding period shall be
deemed to be selected for the specific period (without
the need to complete an application for assistance for
such period).
``(B) The limit to be applied under subsection
(b)(3) for the specific period shall be the same as the
limit applied under such subsection for the immediately
preceding period.
``(C) The ratio to be applied under subsection
(c)(2) for the specific period shall be the same as the
ratio applied under such subsection for the immediately
preceding period.''.

Approved December 8, 2004.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2618:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 150 (2004):
Nov. 16, considered and passed Senate.
Nov. 19, considered and passed House.