IB 

Union Calendar No. 114 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2506 

[Report No. 114–158, Part I] 

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay the authority 

to terminate Medicare Advantage contracts for MA plans failing to 

achieve minimum quality ratings. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 21, 2015 

Mr. BUCHANAN (for himself, Mrs. BLACKBURN, and Mr. RANGEL) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and 

Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and 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 

JUNE 16, 2015 

Additional sponsors: Ms. SINEMA, Mr. DESJARLAIS, and Mr. MURPHY of 

Florida 

JUNE 16, 2015 

Reported from the Committee on Ways and Means with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

JUNE 16, 2015 

The Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be 

printed 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 21, 2015] 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 2506 RH

A BILL 

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to delay 

the authority to terminate Medicare Advantage contracts 

for MA plans failing to achieve minimum quality ratings. 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 2506 RH

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Seniors’ Health Care 

5 Plan Protection Act of 2015’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DELAY IN AUTHORITY TO TERMINATE CONTRACTS 

7 FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS FAILING 

8 TO ACHIEVE MINIMUM QUALITY RATINGS. 

9 (a) FINDINGS.—Consistent with the studies provided 

10 under the IMPACT Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–185), it 

11 is the intent of Congress— 

12 (1) to continue to study and request input on the 

13 effects of socioeconomic status and dual-eligible popu14 lations on the Medicare Advantage STARS rating 

15 system before reforming such system with the input of 

16 stakeholders; and 

17 (2) pending the results of such studies and input, 

18 to provide for a temporary delay in authority of the 

19 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to 

20 terminate Medicare Advantage plan contracts solely 

21 on the basis of performance of plans under the 

22 STARS rating system. 

23 (b) DELAY IN MA CONTRACT TERMINATION AUTHOR24 ITY FOR PLANS FAILING TO ACHIEVE MINIMUM QUALITY

25 RATINGS.—Section 1857(h) of the Social Security Act (42 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 2506 RH

1 U.S.C. 1395w–27(h)) is amended by adding at the end the 

2 following new paragraph: 

3 ‘‘(3) DELAY IN CONTRACT TERMINATION AU4 THORITY FOR PLANS FAILING TO ACHIEVE MINIMUM

5 QUALITY RATING.—The Secretary may not terminate 

6 a contract under this section with respect to the offer7 ing of an MA plan by a Medicare Advantage organi8 zation solely because the MA plan has failed to 

9 achieve a minimum quality rating under the 5-star 

10 rating system established under section 1853(o) dur11 ing the period beginning on the date of the enactment 

12 of this paragraph and through the end of plan year 

13 2018.’’. 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS

asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 114 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2506 

[Report No. 114–158, Part I] 

A BILL 

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 

minimum quality ratings. tage contracts for MA plans failing to achieve delay the authority to terminate Medicare AdvanJUNE 16, 2015 

Reported from the Committee on Ways and Means with 

J

an amendment 

UNE 16, 2015 

The Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged; 

the State of the Union and ordered to be printed committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with BILLS