Senate File 355 - Reprinted



                                      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.  A representative of the Iowa association of homes and
  1 25 services for the aging.
  1 26    k.  A representative of the Iowa health care association.
  1 27    l.  A representative of the Iowa state association of
  1 28 counties.
  1 29    m.  A representative of the Iowa council of health care
  1 30 centers.
  1 31    n.  Eight members of the general assembly.
  1 32    2.  a.  The legislative members of the task force shall be
  1 33 appointed by the republican and democratic leaders of the
  1 34 senate, after consultation with the president of the senate,
  1 35 and by the speaker of the house of representatives, after
  2  1 consultation with the majority leader and the minority leader
  2  2 of the house of representatives.  The legislative appointments
  2  3 shall comply with sections 69.16 and 69.16A.
  2  4    b.  Vacancies on the task force shall be filled by the
  2  5 original appointing authority and in the manner of the
  2  6 original appointments.
  2  7    3.  The task force shall elect a chairperson.  A majority
  2  8 of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum.  A
  2  9 majority vote of those members present shall be required for
  2 10 any action of the task force.  The department of human
  2 11 services shall provide staffing for the task force.
  2 12    4.  The task force shall make recommendations regarding all
  2 13 of the following:
  2 14    a.  Issues related to low=income elderly and individuals
  2 15 with disabilities who are enrolled in both Medicaid and
  2 16 Medicare, or "dual eligibles", who will no longer be eligible
  2 17 for coverage of prescription drugs under Medicaid.
  2 18    b.  The extent to which the state will provide benefits to
  2 19 wraparound Medicare Part D benefits.
  2 20    c.  Administration of the subsidy for low=income
  2 21 beneficiaries.
  2 22    d.  General administration of the Medicare Part D program
  2 23 throughout the state.
  2 24    5.  The task force shall submit a report of its findings
  2 25 and recommendations to the oversight committee of the general
  2 26 assembly no later than October 1, 2005.
  2 27    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act, being deemed of
  2 28 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
  2 29 SF 355
  2 30 pf:nh/cc/26