Medicare Premium Fairness Act

The Medicare Premium Fairness Act was passed by the House but is stalled in the Senate. The Act was designed to prevent CSRS employees enrolled in Medicare Part B from paying a higher premium in 2010 even though they are not enrolled in Social Security.

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3631

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 

September 25, 2009

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

AN ACT

To amend title XVIII to provide for the application of a consistent Medicare part B premium for all Medicare beneficiaries in a budget neutral manner for 2010.

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 `Medicare Premium Fairness Act’.

SEC. 2. MEDICARE PART B PREMIUM FOR 2010.

(a) Premium Computation- Section 1839 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395r) is amended–

(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

`(5) The monthly premium under this subsection for 2010 shall be the monthly premium under this subsection for 2009.’; and

(2) in subsection (i)(3)(A), by adding after and below clause (ii) the following:

`In applying clause (ii) for 2010, the monthly actuarial rate described in such clause shall be such monthly actuarial rate for 2009.’.

(b) Offset From Medicare Improvement Fund- Section 1898(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395iii(b)) is amended–

(1) in paragraph (1)–

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting the following: `, reduced by the sum of–

`(i) the amount transferred under paragraph (5); and

`(ii) $567,000,000;’;

(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); and

(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new subparagraph:

`(B) fiscal year 2015, the amount specified in subparagraph (A)(ii); and’; and

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

`(5) TRANSFER AND OFFSET- There are hereby transferred from amounts in the general fund of the Treasury to the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund an amount equivalent, as estimated by the Chief Actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to the aggregate reduction in premiums payable under part B that result from the application of paragraph (5) of section 1839(a) and the last sentence of section 1839(i)(3)(A).’.

Passed the House of Representatives September 24, 2009.

Attest:

LORRAINE C. MILLER,

Clerk.