Number: 115-7
Date: February 9, 2018
President Signs H.R. 1892,
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018
On February 9, 2018, the President signed into law H.R. 1892, “The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.” This Bill, introduced on April 4, 2017 by Representative John Larson (D-CT), became Public Law 115-123. The Senate voted to approve the amended bill by a vote of 71-28, and the House voted to approve the amended bill by a vote of 240-186 on February 9, 2018.
H.R. 1892, as passed, includes the following provisions of interest to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Income-Related Premium Adjustment for Medicare Parts B and D
- Modifies the table in section 1839(i) of the Social Security Act to add a new range and applicable percentage for the income related monthly adjustment amount as follows1:
If the modified adjusted gross income is: |
The applicable percentage is: |
More than $85,000 but not more than $107,000 |
35 percent |
More than $107,000 but not more than $133,500 |
50 percent |
More than $133,500 but not more than $160,000 |
65 percent |
More than $160,000 but less than $500,000 |
80 percent |
At least $500,000 |
85 percent |
- Decreases the modified adjusted gross income range for joint filers from twice the amount of a single filer to 150%, except for those with income of at least $500,000.
If the modified adjusted gross income is: |
The applicable percentage is: |
More than $127,500 but not more than $160,500 |
35 percent |
More than $160,500 but not more than $200,250 |
50 percent |
More than $200,250 but not more than $240,000 |
65 percent |
More than $240,000 but less than $1,000,000 |
80 percent |
At least $1,000,000 |
85 percent |
- Excludes dollar amounts over $500,000 from inflation adjustments until 2028.
- Beginning in 2028, dollar amounts over $500,000 are subject to inflation adjustments and increased by the percentage change, if any, of the average Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers between the 12-month period ending with August of the preceding calendar year and the corresponding 12-month period ending in August 2026.
- Makes the amended table effective for calendar year 2019.
Increasing Efficiency of Prison Data Reporting
- Amends title XVI of the Social Security Act to change the time by which correctional facilities that have signed an incentive payment Memorandum of Understanding with SSA must report prison information in order to be able to receive the maximum prisoner incentive payment.
- Entities that report within 15 days of the beneficiary’s incarceration will receive an incentive payment of $400.
- Entities that report more than 15 days but within 90 days of the beneficiary’s incarceration will receive an incentive payment of $200.
- This change does not apply to title II incentive payments.
- Effective for title XVI incentive payments made on or after six months after enactment.
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1 Under prior law, the MAGI range ended at “more than $160,000” with an applicable percentage of 80 percent.