[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 136 (Tuesday, October 16, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H6310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

            By Mr. GRAVES of Missouri:
        H.R. 6575.
        Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant 
     to the following:
       Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1 (General Welfare) and Clause 
     3 (Commerce)
       `Congress shall have the power to . . . provide for the . . 
     . general welfare'
       `Congress shall have the power . . . to regulate Commerce'
       The Medicare Audit Improvement Act makes several changes to 
     the way hospital audits are conducted which involves at least 
     three parties: a hospital, a private Medicare contractor who 
     conducts audits and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid 
     Services. During the auditing process, transactions take 
     place between these parties which is what constitutes this 
     bill as regulating commerce. Further, Medicare is considered 
     to be constitutional as part of providing for the general 
     welfare and therefore any changes to Medicare would fall 
     under this provision as well.