S.Amdt. 2879

SA 2879. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 2786 proposed by Mr. Reid (for himself, Mr. Baucus, Mr.
Dodd, and Mr. Harkin) to the bill H.R. 3590, to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the first-time homebuyers credit in the
case of members of the Armed Forces and certain other Federal
employees, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:

On page 974, between lines 9 and 10, insert the following:

SEC. 3316. HHS STUDIES AND REPORTS ON MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES
AND DUAL ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING CARE IN
HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS.

(a) Study and Report on Dual Eligibles.--Not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall conduct a study and submit to Congress a report that--
(1) analyzes whether dual eligible individuals (as
described under subsection (c)(1)) have income levels,
prescription drug requirements, and types and levels of
disability that are comparable to dual eligible individuals
for whom cost-sharing is eliminated under section 1860D-
14(a)(1)(D)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-
114(a)(1)(D)(i)), as amended by section 3309;
(2) determines whether dual eligible individuals have
adequate access to prescription medication; and
(3) provides recommendations to address any deficiencies in
regard to access to prescription drugs by dual eligible
individuals, including an analysis regarding elimination of
cost sharing for all such individuals under the prescription
drug program under part D of title XVIII of the Social
Security Act.
(b) Study and Report on SSI Low-Income Medicaid
Beneficiaries.--Not later than 12 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a study
and submit to Congress a report that--
(1) determines whether benefits provided to SSI Medicaid
beneficiaries (as described under subsection (c)(2)) under
the supplemental security income program are sufficient to
cover expenses for room and board that are incurred by such
beneficiaries;
(2) analyzes the process used for determining the amount of
benefits provided to SSI Medicaid beneficiaries under the
supplemental security income program, including whether such
amounts--
(A) adequately reflect expenses for room and board that are
incurred by such beneficiaries; and
(B) are sufficient to meet the needs of beneficiaries who
are disabled; and
(3) identifies methods to provide additional support for
SSI Medicaid beneficiaries in covering their expenses for
room and board, including benefits provided under Housing and
Urban Development programs and other housing assistance
programs, the supplemental nutrition assistance program
established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), and other methods as determined
appropriate by the Secretary.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Dual eligible individual.--The term ``dual eligible
individual'' means an individual who is--
(A) entitled to benefits under part A of title XVIII of the
Social Security Act or enrolled for benefits under part B of
such title;
(B) entitled to medical assistance under a State plan under
title XIX of such Act;
(C) not an institutionalized individual or couple (as
defined in section 1902(q)(1)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
1396a(q)(1)(B))); and
(D) receiving home and community-based services under a
State Medicaid plan (or a waiver of such plan) under title
XIX of the Social Security Act.
(2) SSI medicaid beneficiary.--The term ``SSI Medicaid
beneficiary'' means an individual who--
(A) is eligible for medical assistance under a State plan
or waiver under title XIX of the Social Security Act and is
enrolled in such plan or waiver;
(B) receives benefits under the supplemental security
income program under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1381 et seq.); and
(C) receives home and community-based services (including
such services provided in an assisted living facility).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.

____________________