Bill Summary & Status for the 106th Congress

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H.R.491
Sponsor: Rep Stark, Fortney Pete (introduced 2/2/1999)
Latest Major Action: 3/11/1999 Referred to House subcommittee
Title: To amend parts C and D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the operation of the Medicare+Choice and Medigap programs.
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TITLE(S):  (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)
STATUS: (color indicates Senate actions) (Floor Actions/Congressional Record Page References)
2/2/1999:
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2/2/1999:
Referred to House Ways and Means
2/18/1999:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
2/2/1999:
Referred to House Commerce
3/11/1999:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.

COMMITTEE(S):
RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***


AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***


COSPONSORS(32), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:     (Sort: by date)

Rep Baldacci, John Elias - 2/9/1999 Rep Barrett, Thomas M. - 2/9/1999
Rep Berkley, Shelley - 7/21/1999 Rep Bonior, David E. - 4/21/1999
Rep Brady, Robert - 4/28/1999 Rep Brown, Sherrod - 2/2/1999
Rep Capps, Lois - 11/16/1999 Rep Frank, Barney - 2/2/1999
Rep Frost, Martin - 2/2/1999 Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. - 2/23/1999
Rep Kaptur, Marcy - 3/3/1999 Rep Kleczka, Gerald D. - 3/24/1999
Rep Lee, Barbara - 6/18/1999 Rep Levin, Sander M. - 2/2/1999
Rep Lewis, John - 2/2/1999 Rep Markey, Edward J. - 2/2/1999
Rep Matsui, Robert T. - 2/2/1999 Rep McDermott, Jim - 2/2/1999
Rep McGovern, James P. - 3/3/1999 Rep Miller, George - 2/23/1999
Rep Moran, James P. - 2/2/1999 Rep Nadler, Jerrold - 2/23/1999
Rep Neal, Richard E. - 2/2/1999 Rep Olver, John W. - 4/21/1999
Rep Owens, Major R. - 9/8/1999 Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. - 2/9/1999
Rep Payne, Donald M. - 3/3/1999 Rep Rangel, Charles B. - 2/9/1999
Rep Sandlin, Max - 2/23/1999 Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. - 2/2/1999
Rep Thurman, Karen L. - 2/2/1999 Rep Waxman, Henry A. - 2/2/1999


SUMMARY AS OF:
2/2/1999--Introduced.

Medicare+Choice Program Improvement Act of 1999 - Amends parts C (Medicare+Choice) and D (Miscellaneous Provisions) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act concerning the Medicare+Choice and Medigap programs to, among other things: (1) allow enrollment in alternative Medicare+Choice plans of Medicare beneficiaries whose Medicare+Choice organizations or group health plans under which they are enrolled have provided notice of intended coverage termination; (2) guarantee access for certain Medicare beneficiaries to Medigap policies in case of involuntary termination of coverage under a Medicare+Choice plan; (3) apply Medicare+Choice and Medigap consumer protections to disabled and end-stage renal disease Medicare beneficiaries; (4) prohibit attained-age rating of premiums for Medigap policies; (5) provide for non-preemption of State prescription drug coverage mandates in case of approved State Medigap waivers; (6) prohibit "cold-call" marketing of Medicare+Choice plans; (7) grant flexibility in the definition of the term "service area" under the Medicare+Choice program; (8) provide for a three-year phase-in of risk adjustment of Medicare+Choice plan payments; (9) allow delays in certain deadlines under the Medicare+Choice program, such as delay in the rate promulgation deadline; (10) account for costs of Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense military facility services to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries in calculating Medicare+Choice plan payment rates; (11) increase civil monetary penalties for failure to meet Medigap open enrollment requirements; and (12) provide for National Association of Insurance Commissioners, at the request of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, review, and, along with the Secretary, update of benefit packages for Medigap policies.