S.Amdt. 3917

1. Adds SEC. __. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE wherever appropriate

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. __. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--There are appropriated, to be transferred from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, not to exceed $25,000,000 for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, for the purpose of ensuring that individuals have adequate access to impartial advice on and assistance enrolling in the prescription drug program under part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act.

   Inserted: (b) Use of Funds.--Amounts provided under subsection (a) shall be used for the following purposes:

   Inserted: (1) Grants for state health insurance assistance programs.--To provide additional grants to States for State health insurance counseling programs (receiving assistance under section 4360 of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1990) to broaden their capacity to--

   Inserted: (A) provide personal and impartial assistance to individuals seeking to enroll in a prescription drug plan or an MA-PD plan under such prescription drug program;

   Inserted: (B) educate and assist individuals in applying for a low-income subsidy under section 1860D-14 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-114); and

   Inserted: (C) assist individuals in accessing benefits under such a prescription drug plan or such an MA-PD plan once they are enrolled in a plan.

   Inserted: (2) Grants for innovative programs.--To provide grants to eligible States to support innovative programs that provide any of the services described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1).

   Inserted: (3) Promotion.--To widely promote and disseminate information about the existence of, and services provided by, State health insurance counseling programs.

   Inserted: (c) Administration.--

   Inserted: (1) SHIPs.--The amount of a grant under subsection (b)(1) from the total amount made available for such grants shall be based on the number of part D eligible individuals (as defined in section 1860D-1(a)(3)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-101(a)(3))) residing in a rural area (as determined by the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) relative to the total number of such individuals in each State, as estimated by the Administrator.

   Inserted: (2) Innovative programs.--A State is eligible for a grant under subsection (b)(2) if the percentage of part D eligible individuals (as so defined) with creditable prescription drug coverage (as defined in section 1860D-13(b)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-113(b)(4))) in the State is below the national average.

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   Inserted: (d) Availability.--Amounts provided under subsection (a) shall remain available--

   Inserted: (1) for obligation until December 31, 2008; and

   Inserted: (2) for expenditure until December 31, 2010.

   The amendment doesn't say where this goes; the clerk decides.

   Original wording

   At the appropriate place, insert the following:

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As printed