Senate File 112 - Introduced
SENATE FILE
BY BOLKCOM
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the creation of a task force to provide for
2 the implementation of Medicare Part D, providing an
3 appropriation, and providing an effective date.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
5 TLSB 1468XS 81
6 pf/gg/14
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. TASK FORCE == MEDICARE PART D IMPLEMENTATION.
1 2 1. The department of human services shall convene a task
1 3 force to determine the most efficient means of implementing
1 4 the Medicare drug benefit established as Medicare Part D under
1 5 the federal Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and
1 6 Modernization Act of 2003. The task force shall consist of
1 7 all of the following voting members:
1 8 a. The director of human services, or the director's
1 9 designee.
1 10 b. The director of the department of elder affairs, or the
1 11 director's designee.
1 12 c. The director of public health, or the director's
1 13 designee.
1 14 d. Two members of the general public who represent older
1 15 Iowans, appointed by the governor.
1 16 e. Four members of the general assembly.
1 17 2. a. The legislative members of the task force shall be
1 18 appointed by the co=presidents of the senate, in accordance
1 19 with Senate Resolution 1, adopted during the 2005 Legislative
1 20 Session, after consultation with the republican and democratic
1 21 floor leaders of the senate, and by the speaker of the house
1 22 of representatives, after consultation with the majority
1 23 leader and the minority leader of the house of
1 24 representatives. The legislative appointments shall comply
1 25 with sections 69.16 and 69.16A.
1 26 b. Vacancies on the task force shall be filled by the
1 27 original appointing authority and in the manner of the
1 28 original appointments.
1 29 3. The task force shall elect a chairperson. A majority
1 30 of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum. A
1 31 majority vote of those members present shall be required for
1 32 any action of the task force. The department of human
1 33 services shall provide staffing for the task force.
1 34 4. The task force shall make recommendations regarding all
1 35 of the following:
2 1 a. Issues related to low=income elderly and individuals
2 2 with disabilities who are enrolled in both Medicaid and
2 3 Medicare, or "dual eligibles", who will no longer be eligible
2 4 for coverage of prescription drugs under Medicaid.
2 5 b. The extent to which the state will provide benefits to
2 6 wraparound Medicare Part D benefits.
2 7 c. Administration of the subsidy for low=income
2 8 beneficiaries.
2 9 d. General administration of the Medicare Part D program
2 10 throughout the state.
2 11 5. The task force shall submit a report of its findings
2 12 and recommendations to the government oversight committees of
2 13 the general assembly no later than March 1, 2005.
2 14 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION == MEDICARE PART D ADMINISTRATION.
2 15 There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to
2 16 the department of human services for the fiscal period
2 17 beginning March 1, 2005, and ending June 30, 2006, the
2 18 following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, for
2 19 state administration of the prescription drug program
2 20 established as Medicare Part D of the federal Medicare
2 21 Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003,
2 22 including performance of eligibility determinations for the
2 23 low=income subsidy under the program and including for not
2 24 more than the following full=time equivalent positions:
2 25 .................................................. $ 5,500,000
2 26 ............................................... FTEs 170.00
2 27 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of
2 28 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
2 29 EXPLANATION
2 30 This bill directs the department of human services to
2 31 convene a task force to determine the most efficient means of
2 32 implementing the Medicare drug benefit established as Medicare
2 33 Part D under the federal Medicare Prescription Drug,
2 34 Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. The task force
2 35 consists of the directors of human services, elder affairs,
3 1 and public health, or the director's designee, two members of
3 2 the general public who represent older Iowans, and four
3 3 members of the general assembly.
3 4 The task force is directed to make recommendations
3 5 regarding:
3 6 1. Issues related to low=income elderly and individuals
3 7 with disabilities who are enrolled in both Medicaid and
3 8 Medicare, or "dual eligibles", who will no longer be eligible
3 9 for coverage of prescription drugs under Medicaid.
3 10 2. The extent to which the state will provide benefits to
3 11 wraparound Medicare Part D benefits.
3 12 3. Administration of the subsidy for low=income
3 13 beneficiaries.
3 14 4. General administration of the Medicare Part D program
3 15 throughout the state.
3 16 The bill directs the task force to submit a report of its
3 17 findings and recommendations to the government oversight
3 18 committees of the general assembly no later than March 1,
3 19 2005.
3 20 The bill also appropriates $5.5 million from the general
3 21 fund of the state to the department of human services for the
3 22 fiscal period beginning March 1, 2005, and ending June 30,
3 23 2006, to be used for state administration of the Medicare Part
3 24 D program, including performance of eligibility determinations
3 25 for the low=income subsidy under the program, and for employee
3 26 positions.
3 27 The bill takes effect upon enactment.
3 28 LSB 1468XS 81
3 29 pf:rj/gg/14.1