Ensure Prescription Drug Coverage Act of 2005

Ensure Prescription Drug Coverage Act of 2005 - Amends part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to lengthen through June 30, 2007, the initial enrollment period for the Medicare prescription drug program.

Extends through December 31, 2007, the period during which a discount card eligible individual may enroll in an endorsed discount card program..

[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3940 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3940

To extend implementation of the Medicare prescription drug program, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 29, 2005

    Mr. Price of Georgia (for himself and Mr. Kline) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
  Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To extend implementation of the Medicare prescription drug program, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ensure Prescription Drug Coverage 
Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Lengthening the Initial Enrollment Period.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1860D-1(b)(2)(A) of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-101(b)(2)(A)) is amended by 
        inserting before the period at the end the following: ``, 
        except that such period shall continue through June 30, 2007''.
            (2) Conforming amendments to medicareadvantage program.--
        Section 1851(e) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-21(e)) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``2005'', 
                ``2006'', and ``2007'' and inserting ``2007'', 
                ``2008'', and ``2009'', respectively, each place each 
                appears;
                    (B) in paragraph (3)(B)--
                            (i) in clause (ii), by striking ``and 
                        2005'' and inserting ``2005, 2006, and 2007'';
                            (ii) in clause (iii), by striking ``2005'' 
                        and ``2006'' and inserting ``2007'' and 
                        ``2008'', respectively, each place each 
                        appears; and
                            (iii) in clause (iv), by striking ``2007'' 
                        and inserting ``2009''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``2006'' and 
                inserting ``2008'' each place it appears.
    (b) Continuation of Medicare Drug Discount Card and Transitional 
Assistance Program.--Section 1860D-31 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1305w-141) 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2)(C), by striking ``December 31, 
        2005'' and ``January 1, 2006'' and inserting ``December 31, 
        2007'' and ``January 1, 2008'', respectively, each place each 
        appears;
            (2) in subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii), by striking ``January 1, 
        2006'' and inserting ``January 1, 2008'';
            (3) in subsection (c)(1)(C)(ii)--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``2005'' in the 
                heading and inserting ``2007'';
                    (B) by inserting ``, 2005, or 2006'' after 
                ``2004''; and
                    (C) by striking ``for 2005'' and inserting ``for 
                the subsequent year'';
            (4) in subsection (c)(2)(A), by striking ``for either 2004 
        or 2005'' and inserting ``for any year'' and by striking the 
        second sentence;
            (5) in subsection (g)(2)(A)--
                    (A) in clause (ii), by inserting ``2006, or 2007,'' 
                after ``2005,'';
                    (B) by striking ``for 2004'' and inserting ``for 
                the previous year''; and
                    (C) by striking ``during 2004'' and inserting 
                ``during such previous year'';
            (6) in subsection (g)(2)(B)(ii)(II)--
                    (A) by inserting ``2006, or 2007,'' after 
                ``2005,''; and
                    (B) by striking ``February 15, 2005'' and inserting 
                ``February 15 of that year''; and
            (7) in subsection (g)(2)(D), by striking ``2005'' and 
        inserting ``2007, or after the effective date of enrollment for 
        benefits under section 1860D-1''.
    (c) Conforming Extension of Medigap Program.--Section 1882(v)(1) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ss(v)(1)) is amended by striking ``2006'' and 
inserting ``2008'' each place it appears.
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