S.Amdt. 1729

SA 1729. Mr. BAUCUS (for himself and Mr. Tester) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1390, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 213, between lines 14 and 15, insert the following:

SEC. 706. NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS REGARDING OPTIONS FOR ENROLLMENT UNDER MEDICARE PART B.

Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

“SEC. 1111. NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS REGARDING OPTIONS FOR ENROLLMENT UNDER MEDICARE PART B.

“(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish procedures for identifying individuals described in subsection (b). The Secretary of Defense shall immediately notify individuals identified under the preceding sentence that they are no longer eligible for health care benefits under the TRICARE program under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, and of any options available for enrollment of the individual under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395j et seq.). Such notification shall include a written form which the individual may sign and return to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The signed written form of an individual shall be deemed sufficient evidence of the eligibility of the individual for any such options available for such individuals as a result of their being an individual described in subsection (b). The Secretary of Defense shall consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to accurately identify and notify individuals described in subsection (b) under this subsection.

“(b) Individuals Described.--An individual described in this subsection is an individual who is a covered beneficiary (as defined in section 1072(5) of title 10, United States Code) at the time the individual is entitled to part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act under section 226(b) or section 226A of such Act (42 U.S.C. 426(b) and 426-1) and who is eligible to enroll but who has elected not to enroll (or to be deemed enrolled) during the individual's initial enrollment period under part B of such title.”.