[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1357 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1357

To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to change the 
 rules relating to enrollment of residents of Puerto Rico under part B 
                        of the Medicare program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 4, 2011

    Mr. Pierluisi (for himself, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Serrano, Mr. 
Gonzalez, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Hinojosa, Ms. Bordallo, Ms. Roybal-Allard, 
  Mr. Faleomavaega, Ms. Velazquez, and Mr. Gutierrez) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
  Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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 part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to change the 
 rules relating to enrollment of residents of Puerto Rico under part B 
                        of the Medicare program.

    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 ``Puerto Rico Medicare Part B Equity 
Act of 2011''.

SEC. 2. CHANGE IN RULES FOR ENROLLMENT OF RESIDENTS OF PUERTO RICO 
              UNDER PART B OF THE MEDICARE PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension of Initial Enrollment Period.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1837(d) of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 1395p(d)) is amended by inserting after ``seven 
        months later'' the following: ``(or 3 years in the case of an 
        individual for whom subsection (f) does not apply because the 
        individual is a resident of Puerto Rico)''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
        shall apply to initial enrollment periods which begin after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act or which have not yet ended 
        as of such date.
    (b) Limitation on Part B Late Enrollment Penalty.--
            (1) In general.--The first sentence of section 1839(b) of 
        such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395r(b)) is amended by inserting before 
        the period at the end the following: ``, except that in the 
        case of an individual for whom section 1837(f) did not apply 
        because the individual is and has remained a resident of Puerto 
        Rico, the increase under this subsection shall not apply for 
        longer than 60 months''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
        shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and 
        shall apply to premiums for months beginning with the first 
        month that begins after such date. In applying such amendment, 
        premium increases paid for months before such first month shall 
        be taken into account.
    (c) Enhanced Outreach and Enrollment Opportunities.--The 
Administrator of Social Security, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, shall implement a plan--
            (1) to better inform individuals residing in Puerto Rico 
        who are potential beneficiaries under part B of the Medicare 
        program about their eligibility to enroll under such part and 
        of the consequences of their late enrollment under such part; 
        and
            (2) to facilitate the enrollment of those desiring to so 
        enroll.
                                 <all>