[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 164 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H7278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 MEDICARE IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION ACT

  (Mr. ALTMIRE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Madam Speaker, today the House will consider the 
Medicare Identity Theft Prevention Act, and I urge my colleagues to 
support it this afternoon.
  Despite actions taken by this House and Federal agencies, Medicare 
identity theft continues to be a problem. Medicare's own inspector 
general issued a report stating that more than a quarter-million 
Medicare beneficiaries are potential victims of identity theft. This is 
simply unacceptable.
  The bill we will consider today makes a commonsense change to 
Medicare cards that most seniors carry. It will ensure that, in the 
future, Social Security numbers are not displayed or embedded on these 
cards, which are issued to every Medicare beneficiary.
  Seniors spend their whole lives building financial security for their 
retirement years. They shouldn't have to worry about losing it if 
someone steals one's Medicare card.

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