GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS UNDER THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM.

SEC. 7002. GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS UNDER THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM. (a) In General.—Section 8906 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (a) and all that follows through the end of paragraph (1) of subsection (b) and inserting the following: “(a)(1) Not later than October 1 of each year, the Office of Personnel Management shall determine the weighted average of the subscription charges that will be in effect during the following contract year with respect to— “(A) enrollments under this chapter for self alone; and “(B) enrollments under this chapter for self and family. “(2) In determining each weighted average under paragraph (1), the weight to be given to a particular subscription charge shall, with respect to each plan (and option) to which it is to apply, be commensurate with the number of enrollees enrolled in such plan (and option) as of March 31 of the year in which the determination is being made. “(3) For purposes of paragraph (2), the term ‘enrollee’ means any individual who, during the contract year for which the weighted average is to be used under this section, will be eligible for a Government contribution for health benefits. “(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the biweekly Government contribution for health benefits for an employee or annuitant enrolled in a health benefits plan under this chapter is adjusted to an amount equal to 72 percent of the weighted average under subsection (a)(1) (A) or (B), as applicable. For an employee, the adjustment begins on the first day of the employee’s first pay period of each year. For an annuitant, the adjustment begins on the first day of the first period of each year for which an annuity payment is made.”. (b) Effective Date.—This section shall take effect on the first day of the contract year that begins in 1999. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the Office of Personnel Management 111 STAT. 663from taking any action, before such first day, which it considers necessary in order to ensure the timely implementation of this section.