Medicaid program; state allotments for payment of Medicare Part B premiums for qualifying individuals: federal fiscal year 1998--HCFA. Notice with comment period

Section 4732 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33) amended the Social Security Act to provide for two additional eligibility groups of low-income Medicare beneficiaries for whom Medicaid payment can be made for Medicare Part B premiums during the period beginning January 1998 and ending December 2002. This notice announces the Federal fiscal year 1998 State allotments that are available to pay Medicare Part B premiums for these two new eligibility groups and describes the methodology used to determine each State's allotment.