[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6600 Engrossed in House (EH)]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6600

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit the inclusion 
         of Social Security account numbers on Medicare cards.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Identity Theft Prevention 
Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF INCLUSION OF SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBERS ON 
              MEDICARE CARDS.

    (a) In General.--Section 205(c)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new clause:
    ``(x) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation 
with the Commissioner of Social Security, shall establish cost-
effective procedures to ensure that a social security account number 
(or any derivative thereof) is not displayed, coded, or embedded on the 
Medicare card issued to an individual who is entitled to benefits under 
part A of title XVIII or enrolled under part B of title XVIII and that 
any other identifier displayed on such card is easily identifiable as 
not being the social security account number (or a derivative 
thereof).''.
    (b) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
        apply with respect to Medicare cards issued on and after an 
        effective date specified by the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services, but in no case shall such effective date be later 
        than the date that is 24 months after the date adequate funding 
        is provided pursuant to subsection (d)(2).
            (2) Reissuance.--Subject to subsection (d)(2), in the case 
        of individuals who have been issued such cards before such 
        date, the Secretary of Health and Human Services--
                    (A) shall provide for the reissuance for such 
                individuals of such a card that complies with such 
                amendment not later than 3 years after the effective 
                date specified under paragraph (1); and
                    (B) may permit such individuals to apply for the 
                reissuance of such a card that complies with such 
                amendment before the date of reissuance otherwise 
                provided under subparagraph (A) in such exceptional 
                circumstances as the Secretary may specify.
    (c) Outreach Program.--Subject to subsection (d)(2), the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of 
Social Security, shall conduct an outreach program to Medicare 
beneficiaries and providers about the new Medicare card provided under 
this section.
    (d) Report to Congress and Limitations on Effective Date.--
            (1) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for 
        Medicare & Medicaid Services and in consultation with the 
        Commissioner of Social Security, shall submit to Congress a 
        report that includes detailed options regarding the 
        implementation of this section, including line-item estimates 
        of and justifications for the costs associated with such 
        options and estimates of timeframes for each stage of 
        implementation. In recommending such options, the Secretary 
        shall take into consideration, among other factors, cost-
        effectiveness and beneficiary outreach and education.
            (2) Limitation; modification of deadlines.--With respect to 
        the amendment made by subsection (a), and the requirements of 
        subsections (b) and (c)--
                    (A) such amendment and requirements shall not apply 
                until adequate funding is appropriated pursuant to 
                paragraph (3) to implement the provisions of this 
                section, as determined by Congress; and
                    (B) any deadlines otherwise established under this 
                section for such amendment and requirements are 
                contingent upon the receipt of adequate funding (as 
                determined in subparagraph (A)) for such 
                implementation.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--
                    (A) In general.--In addition to any amounts made 
                available to the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
                for the Program Management Account of the Centers for 
                Medicare & Medicaid Services for administrative 
                expenses and to the Commissioner of Social Security for 
                administrative expenses, and subject to subparagraph 
                (B), taking into consideration the report submitted 
                under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be 
                appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
                the provisions of this section, including section 
                205(c)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act, as added by 
                subsection (a), for each of the five fiscal years 
                beginning after the date of submittal of the report 
                under paragraph (1).
                    (B) Limitation.--Such funds are not authorized to 
                be appropriated until after receipt of the report 
                provided under paragraph (1).

            Passed the House of Representatives September 29, 2008.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.
110th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 6600

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit the inclusion 
         of Social Security account numbers on Medicare cards.