Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 111 Part 1.djvu/383

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PUBLIC LAW 105-33 —AUG. 5, 1997 111 STAT. 359 (ii) having a legislature which is not scheduled to meet in 1999 in a legislative session in which such legislation may be considered, the date specified in this paragraph is the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first legislative session of the State legislature that begins on or after Jiily 1, 1999. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of such session shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature, (f) CONFORMING BENEFITS TO CHANGES IN TERMINOLOGY FOR 42 USC i395ss HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT COST SHARING. —For purposes note. of apply section 1882 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ss) and regulations referred to in subsection (e), copa)m(ient amounts provided under section 1833(t)(5) of such Act with respect to hospital outpatient department services shall be treated under medicare supplemental policies in the same manner as coinsurance with respect to such services. SEC. 4032. ADDITION OF IHGH DEDUCTIBLE MEDIGAP POLICIES. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1882(p) (42 U.S.C. 1395ss(p)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting "plus the 2 plans described in paragraph (11)(A)" after "exceed 10"; and (2) by adding at the end the following: "(11)(A) For purposes of paragraph (2), the benefit packages described in this subparagraph are as follows: "(i) The benefit package classified as T' under the standards established by such paragraph, except that it has a high deductible feature. "(ii) The benefit package classified as 'J' under the standards established by such paragraph, except that it has a high deductible feature. " (B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), a high deductible feature is one which— "(i) requires the beneficiary of the policy to pay annual out-of-pocket expenses (other than premiums) in the amount specified in subparagraph (C) before the policy begins payment of benefits, and "(ii) covers 100 percent of covered out-of-pocket expenses once such deductible has been satisfied in a year. "(C) The amount specified in this subparagraph— "(i) for 1998 and 1999 is $1,500, and "(ii) for a subsequent year, is the amount specified in this subparagraph for the previous year increased by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (all items; U.S. city average) for the 12-month period ending with August of the preceding year. If any amount determined under clause (ii) is not a multiple of $10, it shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $10.". (b) EFFECTIVE DATE. — 42 USC i395ss (1) IN GENERAL.— The amendments made by subsection note, (a) shall take effect the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) TRANSITION. —The provisions of section 4031(e) shall apply with respect to this section in the same manner as they apply to section 4031.