[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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