I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1975
To modify the deadline for initial compliance with the standards and imple-
mentation specifications promulgated under section 1173 of the Social
Security Act, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 23, 2001
Mr. SHADEGG (for himself, Ms. DUNN of Washington, Mr. POMEROY, Mr.
GORDON, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. FOLEY, Mr. TERRY, Mr. KIRK, Mr. LEWIS
of Kentucky, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. BUYER, Mr. TANNER, and Mr. PENCE)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on En-
ergy 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 jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To modify the deadline for initial compliance with the stand-
ards and implementation specifications promulgated
under section 1173 of the Social Security Act, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. MODIFIED TIMETABLE FOR INITIAL COMPLI-
ANCE WITH ADMINISTRATIVE SIMPLIFICA-
TION STANDARDS FOR HEALTH CARE INFOR-
MATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1175(b)(1) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d–4(b)(1)) is amended to
read as follows:
‘‘(1) INITIAL COMPLIANCE.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each person to whom
an initial standard or implementation specifica-
tion adopted or established under section 1173
applies shall comply with the standard or speci-
fication by the later of—
‘‘(i) 24 months after the date on
which the Secretary determines that—
‘‘(I) regulations have been pro-
mulgated in final form containing all
of the standards and specifications re-
quired to be adopted or established by
such section (excluding standards
under subsection (b)(1) of such sec-
tion (providing for unique health iden-
tifiers for individuals));
‘‘(II) regulations have been pro-
mulgated in final form implementing
section 1176; and
‘‘(III) standard unique health
identifiers for each health plan and
health care provider are available for
use in the health care system pursu-
ant to standards adopted under sec-
tion 1173(b); or
‘‘(ii) October 16, 2004.
‘‘(B) DETERMINATION OF FINALITY.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The requirements
of subclauses (I) and (II) of subparagraph
(A)(i) shall be considered to be met if the
regulations are promulgated and become
effective in accordance with section 553 of
title 5, United States Code.
‘‘(ii) 
MODIFICATIONS.—Nothing 
in
subclause (I) or (II) of subparagraph
(A)(i) shall be construed as requiring the
Secretary to take into account any subse-
quent modification made to a regulation
pursuant to section 1174(b) in making the
determination that the regulation has been
promulgated in final form.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1175(b)(2)
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d–4(b)(2)) is
amended by adding at the end ‘‘For purposes of this para-
graph, the Secretary shall determine the plans that qualify
as small health plans.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
subsections (a) and (b) shall take effect as if included in
the enactment of section 262 of the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law
104–191; 110 Stat. 2021 et seq.).
SEC. 2. NO EFFECT ON REGULATIONS GOVERNING PRI-
VACY 
OF 
INDIVIDUALLY 
IDENTIFIABLE
HEALTH INFORMATION.
Nothing in the amendments made by section 1, or
in section 1175(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1320d–4(b)), as amended by section 1, shall be construed
as affecting—
(1) the compliance dates for initial implementa-
tion of the standards for privacy of individually iden-
tifiable health information set forth in section
164.534 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (as
amended by the final rule published on February 26,
2001, in the Federal Register (66 Fed. Reg.
12433));
(2) any other provision of subpart E of part
164 of subchapter C of subtitle A of title 45, Code
of Federal Regulations;
(2) the progress of such persons and entities in
complying with such part and regulations.
(b) DEADLINE.—Not later than October 31, 2003,
the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit
to the appropriate committees of the Congress a report
on the study conducted under subsection (a).
(c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the
terms ‘‘health plan’’, ‘‘health care provider’’, and ‘‘health
care clearinghouse’’ have the meaning given such terms
in section 1171 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1320d).
Æ