S.Amdt. 2354

SA 2354. Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself, Mrs. Stabenow, Mr. Harkin, Mrs. Clinton, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Kohl, and Mr. Dorgan) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1932, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 202(a) of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006 (H. Con. Res. 95); which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 368, between line 5 and 6, insert the following:

SEC. 6116. PROTECTION FOR MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES WHO ENROLL IN THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT DURING 2006.

(a) In General.--Section 1851(e)(3)(B) (42 U.S.C. 1395w-21(e)(3)(B)) is amended--

(1) in clause (iii), by striking “May 15, 2006” and inserting “December 31, 2006”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new sentence:

“An individual making an election during the period beginning on November 15, 2006, and ending on December 15, 2006, shall specify whether the election is to be effective with respect to 2006 or with respect to 2007 (or both).”.

(b) Extending Open Enrollment Period for 2006.--

(1) In general.--Section 1851(e) (42 U.S.C. 1395w-21(e)) is amended--

(A) in paragraph (2)(B)--

(i) in the heading, by striking “FOR FIRST 6 MONTHS”;

(ii) in clause (i)--

(I) by striking “the first 6 months of 2006” and inserting “2006”; and

(II) by striking “the first 6 months during 2006” and inserting “2006”;

(iii) in clause (ii), by inserting “(other than during 2006)” after “paragraph (3)”; and

(iv) in clause (iii), by striking “2006” and inserting “2007”; and

(B) in paragraph (4), by striking “2006” and inserting “2007” each place it appears.

(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 1860D-1(b)(1)(B)(iii) (42 U.S.C. 1395w-101(b)(1)(B)(iii)) is amended by striking “subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (2)” and inserting “paragraph (2)(C)”.

(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-173).