119 HR 4204 IH: Medicare Patient Choice Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-06-26 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I119th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 4204IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJune 26, 2025Mr. Smucker (for himself and Mr. Davis of North Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedA BILLTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow Medicare beneficiaries to choose their physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and chiropractors.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Medicare Patient Choice Act.

2.

Free choice of therapists for Medicare beneficiaries

Section 1802(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395a(b)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (1)— (A)in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; and (B)in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (2)in paragraph (2)(B)— (A)in clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (B)in clause (v), by striking physicians or practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, or qualified audiologists; and (C)in the matter following clause (v), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (3)in paragraph (3)— (A)in the heading, by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (B)in subparagraph (A), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (C)in subparagraph (B)— (i)in clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner each place it appears and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; and (ii)in clause (ii), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (D)in subparagraph (C)— (i)in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (ii)in clause (i), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; and (iii)in clause (ii), by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; and (E)in subparagraph (D), by striking physician or practitioner each place it appears and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; (4)in paragraph (5)— (A)in the heading, by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists; (B)in subparagraph (A), by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists; and (C)in subparagraph (B)— (i)in the manner preceding clause (i), by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists; (ii)in clause (iv), by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists; and (iii)in clause (v), by striking physicians and practitioners and inserting physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists; and (5)in paragraph (6)— (A)in subparagraph (B), by striking paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of; (B)in subparagraph (D)— (i)in the heading, by striking physician or practitioner and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; and (ii)by striking physician or practitioner each place it appears and inserting physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist; and (C)by adding at the end the following: (E)

Therapist

The term therapist means a qualified physical therapist (as such term is used in section 1861(p)), a qualified occupational therapist (as such term is used in 1861(g)), or a qualified speech-language pathologist (as defined in 1861(ll)(4)(A)). (F)

Qualified audiologist

The term qualified audiologist has the meaning given such term in section 1861(ll)(4)(B). .