Number:  112-28
Date:  December 21, 2012

House Passes H.R. 1509
The Medicare Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2012

On December 20, 2012, the House passed H.R. 1509, the Medicare Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2012, by voice vote.  The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.  

Following are provisions of interest to SSA.

  • Would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security, to implement a cost-effective process to ensure the Social Security Number (SSN) (or a derivative thereof) is not displayed, coded, or embedded on the Medicare card. 
  • Would require the Secretary to consider implementing a process to convert the new, non-SSN based Medicare beneficiary identifier used by external entities to an SSN for HHS and Social Security Administration internal use.
  • Would apply to Medicare cards newly issued on or after an effective date specified by the Secretary, but not later than 3 years after the date of enactment.
  • Would apply to reissued Medicare cards not later than 3 years after the effective date specified by the Secretary, except that the Secretary may permit reissuance of a card that meets these requirements earlier than this date in “exceptional circumstances.”
  • Would require the Commissioner and the Secretary to enter into an agreement under which the Secretary provides the Commissioner funds at scheduled intervals for the full costs incurred under this Act.  Such agreement would also require annual accountings and reconciliations of the actual costs incurred and funds provided.   
  • Would require the Secretary and the Commissioner to keep detailed accounts of funds spent to implement this Act and submit an annual report, in fiscal years 2013 through 2021, on such expenditures to the House Committee on Ways and Means, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Comptroller General.
  • Would require the Comptroller General to conduct semi-annual audits of HHS and SSA expenditures during implementation of this Act, including a review of the extent to which funds made available to carry out the Act are used solely for such purpose.