To provide stop gap coverage for low-income Seniors and disabled individuals who may lose benefits or suffer a gap in coverage due to the implementation of the Medicare part D prescription drug benefit.

SA 2220. Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 3010, making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 153, between lines 17 and 18, insert the following:

In addition, for making payments to States for the provision of coverage for prescription drugs under State Medicaid plans (notwithstanding section 1935(d)(1) of the Social Security Act) or under separate drug assistance programs to individuals who have attained age 65 or are disabled, and whose income does not exceed 150 percent of the national poverty level or who are eligible for medical assistance under the State Medicaid plan under a “medically needy” or other “spend down” eligibility category, including such individuals who are eligible for benefits under titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act, receiving assistance under a State drug assistance program, or receiving coverage under an AIDS Drug Assistance Program, to ensure that such individuals do not lose coverage for prescription drugs or suffer a gap in such coverage due to the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit under part D of title XVIII of such Act, and for making payments to providers of items and services under the State Medicaid plan, including pharmacists, community health centers, rural health clinics, hospitals, critical access hospitals, and physicians, for reimbursement of uncompensated costs associated with the provision of medically necessary drugs for such individuals, $2,000,000,000: Provided, That a State shall not receive such payments unless the State notifies the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, not later than December 31, 2005, of the State's plan for the provision of such coverage: Provided further, That a State shall not receive such payments unless the State notifies such individuals and providers of the availability of such coverage: Provided further, That the entire amount is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of H. Con. Res. 95 (109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006.