Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 113 Part 3.djvu/376

 113 STAT. 1894 PUBLIC LAW 106-170—DEC. 17, 1999 (1) the extent to which higher health care costs for individuals with disabilities at higher income levels deter employment or progress in employment; (2) whether such individuals have health insurcince coverage or could benefit from the State option established under such amendments to provide a medicaid Duy-in; and (3) how the States are exercising such option, including— (A) how such States sire exercising the flexibility afforded them with regeird to income disregards; (B) what income and premiimi levels have been set; (C) the degree to which States are subsidizing premiums above the dollar simount specified in section 1916(g)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396o(g)(2)); and (D) the extent to which there exists any crowd-out effect. 42 USC 1396a (d) EFFECTIVE DATE. —The amendments made by this section note. apply to medical assistance for items and services furnished on or after October 1, 2000. SEC. 202. EXTENDING MEDICARE COVERAGE FOR OASDI DISABILITY BENEFIT RECIPIENTS. (a) IN GENERAL. — The next to last sentence of section 226(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 426) is amended by striking "24" and inserting "78". 42 USC 426 note. (b) EFFECTIVE DATE. —The amendment made by subsection (a) shall be effective on and after October 1, 2000. 42 USC 426 note. (c) GAO REPORT. —Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller Grenergd of the United States shall submit a report to the Congress that— (1) examines the effectiveness and cost of the amendment made by subsection (a); (2) examines the necessity and effectiveness of providing continuation of medicare coverage under section 226(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 426(b)) to individuals whose annual income exceeds the contribution and benefit base (as determined under section 230 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 430)); (3) examines the viability of providing the continuation of medicare coverage under such section 226(b) based on a sliding scale premium for individuals whose annual income exceeds such contribution and benefit base; (4) examines the viability of providing the continuation of medicare coverage under such section 226(b) based on a premiiun buy-in by the beneficiary's employer in Keu of coverage under private hemth insurance; (5) examines the interrelation between the use of the continuation of medicare coverage under such section 226(b) and the use of private health insurance coverage by individuals diuing the extended period; and (6) recommends such legislative or administrative changes relating to the continuation of medic£U"e coverage for recipients of social security disability benefits as the Comptroller General determines are appropriate. 42 USC SEC. 203. GRANTS TO DEVELOP AND ESTABLISH STATE INFRASTRUC- 1320b-22. TURES TO SUPPORT WORKING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—

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