Senate File 355 - Introduced
SENATE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES
(SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1204)
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 and providing an
3 effective date.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
5 TLSB 1269SV 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. A representative of the area agencies on aging.
1 15 e. A representative of the AARP.
1 16 f. A representative of the governor's developmental
1 17 disabilities council.
1 18 g. A representative of the insurance division of the
1 19 department of commerce.
1 20 h. A representative of the national alliance for the
1 21 mentally ill Iowa.
1 22 i. A representative of the United States social security
1 23 administration.
1 24 j. Eight members of the general assembly.
1 25 2. a. The legislative members of the task force shall be
1 26 appointed by the republican and democratic leaders of the
1 27 senate, after consultation with the president of the senate,
1 28 and by the speaker of the house of representatives, after
1 29 consultation with the majority leader and the minority leader
1 30 of the house of representatives. The legislative appointments
1 31 shall comply with sections 69.16 and 69.16A.
1 32 b. Vacancies on the task force shall be filled by the
1 33 original appointing authority and in the manner of the
1 34 original appointments.
1 35 3. The task force shall elect a chairperson. A majority
2 1 of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum. A
2 2 majority vote of those members present shall be required for
2 3 any action of the task force. The department of human
2 4 services shall provide staffing for the task force.
2 5 4. The task force shall make recommendations regarding all
2 6 of the following:
2 7 a. Issues related to low=income elderly and individuals
2 8 with disabilities who are enrolled in both Medicaid and
2 9 Medicare, or "dual eligibles", who will no longer be eligible
2 10 for coverage of prescription drugs under Medicaid.
2 11 b. The extent to which the state will provide benefits to
2 12 wraparound Medicare Part D benefits.
2 13 c. Administration of the subsidy for low=income
2 14 beneficiaries.
2 15 d. General administration of the Medicare Part D program
2 16 throughout the state.
2 17 5. The task force shall submit a report of its findings
2 18 and recommendations to the oversight committee of the general
2 19 assembly no later than October 1, 2005.
2 20 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of
2 21 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
2 22 EXPLANATION
2 23 This bill directs the department of human services to
2 24 convene a task force to determine the most efficient means of
2 25 implementing the Medicare drug benefit established as Medicare
2 26 Part D under the federal Medicare Prescription Drug,
2 27 Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. The task force
2 28 consists of the directors of human services, elder affairs,
2 29 and public health, or the director's designee; a
2 30 representative of each of the area agencies on aging, AARP,
2 31 the governor's developmental disabilities council, the
2 32 insurance division, the national alliance for the mentally ill
2 33 of Iowa, and the United States social security administration;
2 34 and eight members of the general assembly.
2 35 The task force is directed to make recommendations
3 1 regarding:
3 2 1. Issues related to low=income elderly and individuals
3 3 with disabilities who are enrolled in both Medicaid and
3 4 Medicare, or "dual eligibles", who will no longer be eligible
3 5 for coverage of prescription drugs under Medicaid.
3 6 2. The extent to which the state will provide benefits to
3 7 wraparound Medicare Part D benefits.
3 8 3. Administration of the subsidy for low=income
3 9 beneficiaries.
3 10 4. General administration of the Medicare Part D program
3 11 throughout the state.
3 12 The bill directs the task force to submit a report of its
3 13 findings and recommendations to the oversight committee of the
3 14 general assembly no later than October 1, 2005.
3 15 The bill takes effect upon enactment.
3 16 LSB 1269SV 81
3 17 pf:nh/gg/14