I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1357 
To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to change the 
rules relating to enrollment of residents of Puerto Rico under part 
B of the Medicare program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 4, 2011 
Mr. PIERLUISI (for himself, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. GON-
ZALEZ, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. HINOJOSA, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. ROYBAL-AL-
LARD, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, and Mr. GUTIERREZ) intro-
duced the following bill; which was 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 
A BILL 
To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security 
Act to change the rules relating to enrollment of resi-
dents of Puerto Rico 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 ‘‘Puerto Rico Medicare 
Part B Equity Act of 2011’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:06 Apr 06, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1357.IH
H1357
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. CHANGE IN RULES FOR ENROLLMENT OF RESI-
DENTS OF PUERTO RICO UNDER PART B OF 
THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. 
(a) EXTENSION OF INITIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1837(d) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395p(d)) is amended 
by inserting after ‘‘seven months later’’ the fol-
lowing: ‘‘(or 3 years in the case of an individual for 
whom subsection (f) does not apply because the indi-
vidual is a resident of Puerto Rico)’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 
by paragraph (1) shall apply to initial enrollment pe-
riods which begin after the date of the enactment of 
this Act or which have not yet ended as of such 
date. 
(b) LIMITATION ON PART B LATE ENROLLMENT 
PENALTY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The first sentence of section 
1839(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395r(b)) is amend-
ed by inserting before the period at the end the fol-
lowing: ‘‘, except that in the case of an individual for 
whom section 1837(f) did not apply because the in-
dividual is and has remained a resident of Puerto 
Rico, the increase under this subsection shall not 
apply for longer than 60 months’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:06 Apr 06, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1357.IH
H1357
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made 
by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act and shall apply to premiums 
for months beginning with the first month that be-
gins after such date. In applying such amendment, 
premium increases paid for months before such first 
month shall be taken into account. 
(c) ENHANCED OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT OP-
PORTUNITIES.—The Administrator of Social Security, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, shall implement a plan— 
(1) to better inform individuals residing in 
Puerto Rico who are potential beneficiaries under 
part B of the Medicare program about their eligi-
bility to enroll under such part and of the con-
sequences of their late enrollment under such part; 
and 
(2) to facilitate the enrollment of those desiring 
to so enroll. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:06 Apr 06, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1357.IH
H1357
tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with BILLS