To make improvements in the MedicareAdvantage benchmark determinations.

1. Adds SEC. ____. IMPROVEMENTS IN MEDICAREADVANTAGE BENCHMARK DETERMINATIONS at the end of subtitle A of title II

   Adds a section

   In S. 1 · Reported to Senate

   (b) MedicareAdvantage MSA Plans.--Notwithstanding any provision of this title, the Secretary shall apply the payment and other rules that apply with respect to an MSA plan described in section 1851(a)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-21(a)(2)(B)) as if this title had not been enacted.

   Inserted: SEC. ____. IMPROVEMENTS IN MEDICAREADVANTAGE BENCHMARK DETERMINATIONS.

   Inserted: (a) Revision of National Average Used in Calculation of Blend.--Section 1853(c)(4)(B)(i)(II) (42 U.S.C. 1395w-23(c)(4)(B)(i)(II)), as amended by section 203, is amended by inserting "who are enrolled in a MedicareAdvantage plan" after "the average number of medicare beneficiaries".

   Inserted: (b) Change in Budget Neutrality.--Section 1853(c) (42 U.S.C. 1395w-23(c)), as amended by section 203, is amended--

   Inserted: (1) in paragraph (1)(A)--

   Inserted: (A) in clause (ii), by striking the comma at the end and inserting a period; and

   Inserted: (B) by striking the flush matter following clause (ii); and

   Inserted: (2) by striking paragraph (5).

   Inserted: (c) Inclusion of Costs of DOD and VA Military Facility Services to Medicare-eligible Beneficiaries in Calculation of Medicare+Choice Payment Rates.--

   Inserted: (1) For purposes of calculating medicare+choice payment rates.--Section 1853(c)(3) (42 U.S.C. 1395w-23(c)(3)), as amended by section 203, is amended--

   Inserted: (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking "subparagraph (B)" and inserting "subparagraphs (B) and (E)"; and

   Inserted: (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

   Inserted: "(E) Inclusion of costs of dod and va military facility services to medicare-eligible beneficiaries.--In determining the area-specific Medicare+Choice capitation rate under subparagraph (A) for a year (beginning with 2006), the annual per capita rate of payment for 1997 determined under section 1876(a)(1)(C) shall be adjusted to include in the rate the Secretary's estimate, on a per capita basis, of the amount of additional payments that would have been made in the area involved under this title if individuals entitled to benefits under this title had not received services from facilities of the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs.".

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   Inserted: (2) For purposes of calculating local fee-for-service rates.--Section 1853(d)(5) (42 U.S.C. 1395w-23(d)(5)), as amended by section 203, is amended--

   Inserted: (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking "subparagraph (B)" and inserting "subparagraphs (B) and (C)"; and

   Inserted: (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

   Inserted: "(C) Inclusion of costs of dod and va military facility services to medicare-eligible beneficiaries.--In determining the local fee-for-service rate under subparagraph (A) for a year (beginning with 2006), the annual per capita rate of payment for 1997 determined under section 1876(a)(1)(C) shall be adjusted to include in the rate the Secretary's estimate, on a per capita basis, of the amount of additional payments that would have been made in the area involved under this title if individuals entitled to benefits under this title had not received services from facilities of the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs.".

   Inserted: (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on and after January 1, 2006.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle A of title II, add the following:

Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.

As printed