[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1476 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1476
To waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for
individuals disabled by Huntington's disease.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 15, 2019
Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for
individuals disabled by Huntington's disease.
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 ``Huntington's Disease Parity Act of
2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Huntington's disease is a progressive degenerative
neurological disease that causes total physical and mental
deterioration. In the United States, approximately 30,000
individuals are affected by Huntington's disease, along with
another 200,000 individuals who are genetically ``at risk''.
There is no effective treatment in terms of halting or slowing
the progression of the disease.
(2) Clinical indicators of Huntington's disease include--
(A) loss of ability to control bodily movements;
(B) loss of ability to think or act quickly,
inability to learn new material, and loss of memory;
and
(C) behavioral or psychological problems, including
personality changes, irritability, mood swings,
anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behavior, inability to
concentrate, decreased motivation, and severe
depression.
(3) Adult-onset Huntington's disease typically results in
the development of symptoms in individuals between 30 and 50
years of age. Late-onset Huntington's disease is characterized
by development of symptoms after 50 years of age and is usually
associated with a milder course of the disease. Juvenile
Huntington's disease affects individuals who have yet to attain
19 years of age and progresses at a more rapid rate.
(4) Because of the incapacitating nature of Huntington's
disease, individuals living with this illness, including those
in the early stages of the disease, are unable to retain
employment. As a result, many such individuals rely solely on
Social Security Disability Insurance.
(5) After qualifying for Social Security Disability
Insurance, individuals with Huntington's disease must wait
another 24 months before receiving benefits under the Medicare
program, despite the fact that such individuals often become
incapacitated before reaching the age-eligibility requirement
under the Medicare program of 65 years of age.
(6) In 2000, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
waived the 24-month waiting period requirement for people
disabled by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (``ALS''), a
degenerative neurological condition that is similar to
Huntington's disease.
(7) In light of the significant cognitive, behavioral, and
physical incapacitation faced by individuals with this disease,
there is an urgent need for the removal of the 24-month waiting
period for coverage under the Medicare program for such
individuals, similar to the existing exemption for individuals
who have been diagnosed with ALS.
SEC. 3. WAIVER OF 24-MONTH WAITING PERIOD FOR COVERAGE UNDER MEDICARE
PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH HUNTINGTON'S
DISEASE.
(a) In General.--Section 226(h) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 426(h)) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
inserting ``or Huntington's disease (HD)'' after ``amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS)''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply to benefits under title XVIII of the Social Security Act with
respect to items and services furnished in months beginning after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
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