I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 978 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 9, 2011 Mr. Israel 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 II of the Social Security Act to preclude use of the social security account number on Government-issued identification cards issued in connection with Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP benefits, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Seniors’ Identity Protection Act of 2011.

2.

Restrictions on use of the social security account number of Government-issued identification cards issued in connection with Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP benefits

(a)

Provisions related to Medicare

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)In the administration of title XVIII, the Secretary may not display an individual’s social security account number (or any derivative of such number) on any personal identification card issued for purposes of carrying out such title. . (b)

Provisions related to Medicaid or SCHIP

Section 205(c)(2)(C)(vi) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(c)(2)(C)(iv)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subclause: (III)Any State or political subdivision thereof (and any person acting as an agent of such an agency or instrumentality), in the administration of any program established under title XIX or XXI, may not display an individual’s social security account number (or any derivative of such number) on any personal identification card issued for purposes of carrying out such program. . (c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to personal identification cards issued after 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

3.

Sense of the Congress relating to use by private entities of the social security account number

It is the sense of the Congress that private entities should not use social security account numbers as a method of identification of individuals on documents made available to the public or on personal identification cards issued to individuals by such entities.