OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

QI Program Supplemental Funding Act of 2008

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 27, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Senior Citizens Unemployed and Low-Income Entitlements and the Safety Net Health Insurance


QI PROGRAM SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING ACT OF 2008 -- (House of Representatives - September 27, 2008)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I support S. 3560, the ``QI Supplemental Funding Act of 2008''. The Qualified Individuals Program (QI) is a program within Medicaid that helps low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities pay their Medicare Part B premium. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 extended the funding for the QI program through December 2009.

Projections, however, regarding the amount of funding necessary to ensure continuation of this program through next year were incorrect. Without Congressional action to add an additional $45 million to the QI program, seniors and individuals with disabilities who have an income as low as $12,500 will be in jeopardy of losing this needed assistance.

The cost of this provision is fully offset with a provision that requires States to improve their Medicaid eligibility determinations by using the Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) interstate match. PARIS helps States share information regarding public assistance programs, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps, and Medicaid, to identify individuals or families who may be receiving benefit payments in more than one State.

Similarly, S. 3560 includes a clarification to ensure that the Medicaid Integrity Program created in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, to operate as intended. The Medicaid Integrity Program performs audits and educates providers, Federal and State employees, and others on payment integrity and quality of care initiatives. The provision would allow for Federal reimbursement of state employees for these program integrity initiatives.

Finally, this package includes a provision which states that any antibiotic that was the subject of an application submitted to the Food and Drug Administration, but was not approved, can get the three-year and/or five-year ``Hatch/Waxman exclusivity'' or a patent term extension.

I urge all my colleagues in the House to vote in favor of S. 3560.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward