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To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare payment option for patients and eligible professionals to freely contract, without penalty, for Medicare fee-for-service items and services, while allowing Medicare beneficiaries to use their Medicare benefits.

USA115th CongressHR-4133| House 
| Updated: 10/27/2017
Pete Sessions

Pete Sessions

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (5)
Doug Lamborn (Republican)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Mike Coffman (Republican)Bill Johnson (Republican)David P. Roe (Republican)

Ways and Means Committee, Health Subcommittee, Energy and Commerce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Medicare Patient Empowerment Act of 2017 This bill allows any Medicare beneficiary to enter into a contract with an eligible professional, regardless of whether the professional is a participating or non-participating physician or practitioner, for any item or service covered by Medicare. Such beneficiaries may submit a claim for Medicare payment in the amount that would otherwise apply, except that, where the professional is considered to be non-participating, payment shall be paid as if the professional were participating. An eligible professional is a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse-midwife, clinical social worker, clinical psychologist, physical or occupational therapist, qualified speech-language pathologist, or qualified audiologist. A Medicare beneficiary must agree in writing in such a contract to: (1) pay the eligible professional for a Medicare-covered item or service; and (2) submit, in lieu of the eligible professional, a claim for Medicare payment. However, a beneficiary may negotiate, as a term of the contract, for the eligible professional to file such claims on the beneficiary's behalf. The bill preempts state laws from limiting the amount of charges for physician and practitioner services for which Medicare payment is made.
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Timeline
Oct 25, 2017
Introduced in House
Oct 25, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
Oct 27, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Nov 13, 2018

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 115-3610
Introduced in Senate
  • October 25, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • October 25, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.


  • October 27, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • November 13, 2018

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 115-3610
    Introduced in Senate

Health

Related Bills

  • S 115-3610: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare payment option for patients and eligible professionals to freely contract, without penalty, for Medicare fee-for-service items and services, while allowing Medicare beneficiaries to use their Medicare benefits.
Contracts and agencyFederal preemptionHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth personnelMedicareState and local government operations

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare payment option for patients and eligible professionals to freely contract, without penalty, for Medicare fee-for-service items and services, while allowing Medicare beneficiaries to use their Medicare benefits.

USA115th CongressHR-4133| House 
| Updated: 10/27/2017
Medicare Patient Empowerment Act of 2017 This bill allows any Medicare beneficiary to enter into a contract with an eligible professional, regardless of whether the professional is a participating or non-participating physician or practitioner, for any item or service covered by Medicare. Such beneficiaries may submit a claim for Medicare payment in the amount that would otherwise apply, except that, where the professional is considered to be non-participating, payment shall be paid as if the professional were participating. An eligible professional is a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified nurse-midwife, clinical social worker, clinical psychologist, physical or occupational therapist, qualified speech-language pathologist, or qualified audiologist. A Medicare beneficiary must agree in writing in such a contract to: (1) pay the eligible professional for a Medicare-covered item or service; and (2) submit, in lieu of the eligible professional, a claim for Medicare payment. However, a beneficiary may negotiate, as a term of the contract, for the eligible professional to file such claims on the beneficiary's behalf. The bill preempts state laws from limiting the amount of charges for physician and practitioner services for which Medicare payment is made.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Oct 25, 2017
Introduced in House
Oct 25, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
Oct 27, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Nov 13, 2018

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 115-3610
Introduced in Senate
  • October 25, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • October 25, 2017
    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.


  • October 27, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • November 13, 2018

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 115-3610
    Introduced in Senate
Pete Sessions

Pete Sessions

Republican Representative

Texas

Cosponsors (5)
Doug Lamborn (Republican)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Mike Coffman (Republican)Bill Johnson (Republican)David P. Roe (Republican)

Ways and Means Committee, Health Subcommittee, Energy and Commerce Committee

Health

Related Bills

  • S 115-3610: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a Medicare payment option for patients and eligible professionals to freely contract, without penalty, for Medicare fee-for-service items and services, while allowing Medicare beneficiaries to use their Medicare benefits.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Contracts and agencyFederal preemptionHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth personnelMedicareState and local government operations