PUBLIC LAW 105-33—AUG. 5, 1997 111 STAT. 425 CHAPTER 5—OTHER PAYMENT PROVISIONS SEC. 4451. REDUCTIONS IN PAYMENTS FOR ENROLLEE BAD DEBT. Section 1861(v)(l) (42 U.S.C. 1395x(v)(l)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: "(T) In determining such reasonable costs for hospitals, no reduction in copayments under section 1833(t)(5)(B) shall be treated as a bad debt and the amount of bad debts otherwise treated as allowable costs which are attributable to the deductibles and coinsurance amounts under this title shall be reduced— "(i) for cost reporting periods beginning during fiscal year 1998, by 25 percent of such amount otherwise allowable, "(ii) for cost reporting periods beginning during fiscal year 1999, by 40 percent of such amount otherwise allowable, and "(iii) for cost reporting periods beginning during a subsequent fiscal year, by 45 percent of such amount otherwise allowable.". SEC. 4452. PERMANENT EXTENSION OF HEMOPHILIA PASS-THROUGH PAYMENT. Section 6011(d) of OBRA-1989 (as amended by section 13505 of OBRA-1993) is amended by striking "and shall expire September 42 USC 1395ww 30, 1994." and inserting "and on or before September 30, 1994, note. and on or after October 1, 1997.". SEC. 4453. REDUCTION IN PART A MEDICARE PREMIUM FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC RETIREES. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1818(d) (42 U.S.C. 1395i-2(d)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (2), by striking "paragraph (4)" and inserting "paragraphs (4) and (5)"; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: "(5)(A) The amount of the monthly premium shall be zero in the case of an individual who is a person described in subparagraph (B) for a month, if— "(i) the individual's premium under this section for the month is not (and will not be) paid for, in whole or in part, by a State (under title XIX or otherwise), a political subdivision of a State, or an agency or instrumentality of one or more States or political subdivisions thereof; and "(ii) in each of 84 months before such month, the individual was enrolled in this part under this section and the payment of the individual's premium under this section for the month was not paid for, in whole or in part, by a State (under title XIX or otherwise), a political subdivision of a State, or an agency or instrumentality of one or more States or political subdivisions thereof. "(B) A person described in this subparagraph for a month is a person who establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary that, as of the last day of the previous month— "(i)(I) the person was receiving cash benefits under a qualified State or local government retirement system (as defined in subparagraph (C)) on the basis of the person's employment in one or more positions covered under any such system, and (II) the person would have at least 40 quarters of coverage under title II if remuneration for medicare qualified government employment (as defined in paragraph (1) of section 210(p), -194O-97-15:QL3Part1
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