Senate Study Bill 1204
SENATE/HOUSE FILE
BY (PROPOSED DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES BILL)
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 1269DP 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. Four members of the general assembly.
1 15 2. a. The legislative members of the task force shall be
1 16 appointed by the republican and democratic leaders of the
1 17 senate, after consultation with the president of the senate,
1 18 and by the speaker of the house of representatives, after
1 19 consultation with the majority leader and the minority leader
1 20 of the house of representatives. The legislative appointments
1 21 shall comply with sections 69.16 and 69.16A.
1 22 b. Vacancies on the task force shall be filled by the
1 23 original appointing authority and in the manner of the
1 24 original appointments.
1 25 3. The task force shall elect a chairperson. A majority
1 26 of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum. A
1 27 majority vote of those members present shall be required for
1 28 any action of the task force. The department of human
1 29 services shall provide staffing for the task force.
1 30 4. The task force shall make recommendations regarding all
1 31 of the following:
1 32 a. Issues related to low=income elderly and individuals
1 33 with disabilities who are enrolled in both Medicaid and
1 34 Medicare, or "dual eligibles", who will no longer be eligible
1 35 for coverage of prescription drugs under Medicaid.
2 1 b. The extent to which the state will provide benefits to
2 2 wraparound Medicare Part D benefits.
2 3 c. Administration of the subsidy for low=income
2 4 beneficiaries.
2 5 d. General administration of the Medicare Part D program
2 6 throughout the state.
2 7 5. The task force shall submit a report of its findings
2 8 and recommendations to the oversight committee of the general
2 9 assembly no later than March 1, 2005.
2 10 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of
2 11 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
2 12 EXPLANATION
2 13 This bill directs the department of human services to
2 14 convene a task force to determine the most efficient means of
2 15 implementing the Medicare drug benefit established as Medicare
2 16 Part D under the federal Medicare Prescription Drug,
2 17 Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. The task force
2 18 consists of the directors of human services, elder affairs,
2 19 and public health, or the director's designee and four members
2 20 of the general assembly.
2 21 The task force is directed to make recommendations
2 22 regarding:
2 23 1. Issues related to low=income elderly and individuals
2 24 with disabilities who are enrolled in both Medicaid and
2 25 Medicare, or "dual eligibles", who will no longer be eligible
2 26 for coverage of prescription drugs under Medicaid.
2 27 2. The extent to which the state will provide benefits to
2 28 wraparound Medicare Part D benefits.
2 29 3. Administration of the subsidy for low=income
2 30 beneficiaries.
2 31 4. General administration of the Medicare Part D program
2 32 throughout the state.
2 33 The bill directs the task force to submit a report of its
2 34 findings and recommendations to the oversight committee of the
2 35 general assembly no later than March 1, 2005.
3 1 The bill takes effect upon enactment.
3 2 LSB 1269DP 81
3 3 pf/gg/14