[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 92 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 H. R. 92

  To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit Medicare 
beneficiaries upon request to use an identification number other than a 
 social security account number under the Medicare Program in order to 
                         deter identity theft.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 4, 2005

Mr. Frelinghuysen 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 concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit Medicare 
beneficiaries upon request to use an identification number other than a 
 social security account number under the Medicare Program in order to 
                         deter identity theft.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PERMITTING UPON REQUEST THE USE OF AN IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 
              OTHER THAN SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBER UNDER THE 
              MEDICARE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 1874 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395kk) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) The Secretary shall establish a procedure under which, upon 
request of an individual who is entitled to benefits under this title, 
the Secretary shall provide--
            ``(1) for the issuance and use of an identification number 
        other than the individual's social security account number for 
        purposes of carrying out the provisions of this title (and 
        related provisions) with respect to such individual; and
            ``(2) for the issuance of an appropriate medicare card 
        containing such alternative identification number.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall establish the procedure required under the amendment made by 
subsection (a) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. Such procedure shall apply to an individual regardless of 
whether or not a medicare identification card was issued to the 
individual before the date of establishment of such procedure.
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