I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 827
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage 
of ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms under part B 
of the Medicare Program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 15, 2005
Mr. SHIMKUS (for himself, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, and Mr. LEWIS of 
Kentucky) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee 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 
A BILL 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide 
for coverage of ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic 
aneurysms under part B of the Medicare Program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Screening Abdominal 
Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently (SAAAVE) Act of 
2005’’.
SEC. 2. MEDICARE COVERAGE OF ULTRASOUND SCREEN-
ING FOR ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1861 of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x) is amended—
(1) in subsection (s)(2)—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (Y); 
(B) by adding ‘‘and’’ at the end of sub-
paragraph (Z); and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(AA) ultrasound screening for abdominal aor-
tic aneurysm (as defined in subsection (bbb)) for an 
individual who has not been previously furnished 
such a ultrasound screening and who—
‘‘(i) has a family history of abdominal aor-
tic aneurysm; 
‘‘(ii) manifests risk factors for cardio-
vascular disease (such as smoking or hyper-
tension); 
‘‘(iii) evidences arthrosclerotic vascular dis-
ease; or 
‘‘(iv) has other risk factors for abdominal 
aortic aneurysm as the Secretary may specify;’’. 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section:
‘‘Ultrasound Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm 
‘‘(bbb) The term ‘ultrasound screening for abdominal 
aortic aneurysm’ means—
‘‘(1) a procedure using sound waves (or such 
other procedures using alternative technologies, of 
commensurate accuracy and cost, that the Secretary 
may specify) provided for the early detection of ab-
dominal aortic aneurysm, and 
‘‘(2) includes a physician’s interpretation of the 
results of the procedure.’’. 
(b) INCLUSION OF ULTRASOUND SCREENING FOR 
ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM IN SCREENING SERVICES 
FOR WHICH EDUCATION, COUNSELING, AND REFERRAL 
IS PROVIDED FOR UNDER BENEFITS FOR INITIAL PRE-
VENTIVE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION.—Section 1861(ww)(2) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ww)(2)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(L) Ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic 
aneurysm as defined in section 1861(bbb).’’. 
(c) PAYMENT FOR ULTRASOUND SCREENING FOR 
ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM.—(1) Section 1848(j)(3) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–4(j)(3)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘(2)(AA)’’ after ‘‘(2)(W)’’.
(d) FREQUENCY AND QUALITY STANDARDS.—Sec-
tion 1862(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395m(a)(1)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (L); 
(2) by striking the semicolon at the end of sub-
paragraph (M) and inserting ‘‘, and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(N) in the case of ultrasound screening for ab-
dominal aortic aneurysm—
‘‘(i) which is performed more frequently 
than 
is 
provided 
for 
under 
section 
1861(s)(2)(AA); or 
‘‘(ii) which is performed by an individual 
or diagnostic laboratory that does not meet 
quality assurance standards established by the 
Secretary, including with respect to individuals 
performing ultrasound screening for abdominal 
aortic aneurysm (other than physicians) and di-
agnostic laboratories, that the individual or lab-
oratory is certified by the appropriate State li-
censing or certification agency or, in the case of 
a services performed in a State that does not li-
cense or certify such individuals or laboratories,
by a national certification or accreditation orga-
nization recognized by the Secretary;’’. 
(e) NON-APPLICATION OF PART B DEDUCTIBLE.—
Section 1833(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(b)) is 
amended in the first sentence—
(1) by striking ‘‘and (6)’’ and inserting ‘‘(6)’’; 
and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘, and (7) such deductible shall 
not apply with respect to ultrasound screening for 
abdominal aortic aneurysm (as defined in section 
1861(bbb))’’ before the period at the end. 
(f) CONSULTATION IN ESTABLISHMENT OF QUALITY 
ASSURANCE STANDARDS AND DESIGNATION OF RECOGNI-
TION OF NATIONAL ACCREDITATION ORGANIZATIONS.—
The Secretary shall consult with national medical, vas-
cular technologist and sonographer societies in estab-
lishing—
(1) risk factors under section 1861(s)(2)(A)(iv) 
of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection 
(a)(1)(C), and 
(2) quality assurance standards under section 
1862(a)(1)(N)(ii) of such Act, as added by sub-
section (d)(3). 
(g) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to ultrasound screenings for ab-
dominal aortic aneurysm performed on or after January 
1, 2006. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATION CAM-
PAIGN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—After consultation with national 
medical, vascular technologist and sonographer societies, 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall carry 
out a national education and information campaign to pro-
mote awareness among health care practitioners and the 
general public with respect to the importance of early de-
tection and treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. 
(b) USE
OF
FUNDS.—The Secretary may use 
amounts appropriated pursuant to this subsection to make 
grants to national medical, vascular technologist, and 
sonographer societies (in accordance with procedures and 
criteria specified by the Secretary) to enable them to edu-
cate practitioners and providers about matters relating to 
such aneurysms. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2006 and 
each fiscal year thereafter such sums as may be necessary 
to carry out this section.
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