117 STAT. 2150
42 USC 1395w–101 note.
Reports. 42 USC 1395w–101 note.
42 USC 1395w–101 note.
42 USC 1395x note, 426, 1395i–4; 45 USC 231f.
VerDate 11-MAY-2000
13:59 Aug 30, 2004
PUBLIC LAW 108–173—DEC. 8, 2003
part C in the same manner it applies with respect to parts A and B, except that any reference with respect to a Trust Fund in relation to an experiment or demonstration project relating to prescription drug coverage under this part shall be deemed a reference to the Medicare Prescription Drug Account within the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.’’. (b) SUBMISSION OF LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL.—Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a legislative proposal providing for such technical and conforming amendments in the law as are required by the provisions of this title and title II. (c) STUDY ON TRANSITIONING PART B PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE.—Not later than January 1, 2005, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that makes recommendations regarding methods for providing benefits under subpart 1 of part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act for outpatient prescription drugs for which benefits are provided under part B of such title. (d) REPORT ON PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT.—Not later than March 1, 2005, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the progress that has been made in implementing the prescription drug benefit under this title. The Secretary shall include in the report specific steps that have been taken, and that need to be taken, to ensure a timely start of the program on January 1, 2006. The report shall include recommendations regarding an appropriate transition from the program under section 1860D–31 of the Social Security Act to prescription drug benefits under subpart 1 of part D of title XVIII of such Act. (e) ADDITIONAL CONFORMING CHANGES.— (1) CONFORMING REFERENCES TO PREVIOUS PART D.—Any reference in law (in effect before the date of the enactment of this Act) to part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act is deemed a reference to part E of such title (as in effect after such date). (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT PERMITTING WAIVER OF COSTSHARING.—Section 1128B(b)(3) (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7b(b)(3)) is amended— (A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subparagraph (E); (B) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ‘‘(G) the waiver or reduction by pharmacies (including pharmacies of the Indian Health Service, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations) of any costsharing imposed under part D of title XVIII, if the conditions described in clauses (i) through (iii) of section 1128A(i)(6)(A) are met with respect to the waiver or reduction (except that, in the case of such a waiver or reduction on behalf of a subsidy eligible individual (as defined in section 1860D–14(a)(3)), section 1128A(i)(6)(A) shall be applied without regard to clauses (ii) and (iii) of that section).’’. (3) MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG ACCOUNT.— (A) Section 201(g) (42 U.S.C. 401(g)) is amended— (i) in paragraph (1)(B)(i)(V), by inserting ‘‘(and, of such portion, the portion of such costs which should
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