HR 1509
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1509
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit the inclusion
of Social Security account numbers on Medicare cards.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 13, 2011
Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas (for himself and Mr. DOGGETT) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit the inclusion
of Social Security account numbers on Medicare cards.
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 `Medicare Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2011'.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF INCLUSION OF SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBERS ON MEDICARE
CARDS.
(a) In General- 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:
`(xi) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the
Commissioner of Social Security, shall establish cost-effective procedures
to ensure that a Social Security account number (or any derivative thereof)
is not displayed, coded, or embedded on the Medicare card issued to an individual
who is entitled to benefits under part A of title XVIII or enrolled under
part B of title XVIII and that any other identifier displayed on such card
is easily identifiable as not being the Social Security account number (or
a derivative thereof).'.
(1) IN GENERAL- The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect
to Medicare cards issued on and after an effective date specified by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, but in no case shall such effective
date be later than the date that is 24 months after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
(2) REISSUANCE- In the case of individuals who have been issued such cards
before such effective date, the Secretary of Health and Human Services--
(A) shall provide for the reissuance for such individuals of such a card
that complies with such amendment not later than 3 years after such effective
date; and
(B) may permit such individuals to apply for the reissuance of such a
card that complies with such amendment before the date of reissuance otherwise
provided under subparagraph (A) in such exceptional circumstances as the
Secretary may specify.
END
