Skip to main content
S 2 107th Congress Senate Health Access to health care Administrative procedure Administrative remedies Advice and consent of the Senate Agriculture and Food Ambulatory care Appropriations Armed Forces and National Security Asthma Bone diseases Capitation (Medical care) Cervical cancer Chronically ill Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Coinsurance Colon cancer Commerce Competition Congress

21st Century Medicare Act

Introduced: July 15, 2002 Introduced by: Grassley, Chuck Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 16, 2002
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 497.
Jul 16, 2002
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6856-6858)
Jul 15, 2002
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Jul 15, 2002
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
21st Century Medicare Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish: (1) a Voluntary Prescription Drug Delivery Program under a new part D; and (2) a Prescription Drug Account in the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish: (1) within the Department of HHS the Medicare Competitive Agency, headed by an Administrator charged with carrying out Medicare parts D and C (Medicare+Choice); and (2) within the Agency an Office of Beneficiary Assistance to carry out functions relating to Medicare beneficiaries. Creates a Medicare Ombudsman in such Office. Establishes within the Medicare Competitive Agency the Medicare Competitive Policy Advisory Board.

Directs the Administrator of the Medicare Competitive Agency to study and report to Congress on the need for rules relating to permitting individuals who are enrolled under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) but are not entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) to buy into the Medicare voluntary prescription drug delivery program.

Amends SSA title XVIII with respect to the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund to require the Board of Trustees of the Trust Fund to submit to Congress a combined report on the operation and status of the Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, including the Prescription Drug Account within such Trust Fund.

Expands the membership and duties of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC).

Directs the Secretary to establish procedures under which each eligible beneficiary shall be entitled to elect to receive enhanced Medicare benefits under a new Medicare part E (Enhanced Medicare Benefits) instead of the benefits under Medicare parts A and B.

Sets forth rules relating to Medicare supplemental insurance (Medigap) policies that provide prescription drug coverage, such as prohibiting the sale, issuance, and renewal of policies that provide prescription drug coverage to part D enrollees.

Amends SSA title XVIII part C to provide for competition under the Medicare+Choice program and part D and E benefits under competitive Medicare+Choice plans.

What's happening now July 16, 2002

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 497.