I
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3881
To establish the Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare to make
findings and issue recommendations on the future of the Medicare program.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 23, 1996
Mr. STEARNS (for himself, Mr. WOLF, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. GIBBONS, Mr.
MONTGOMERY, and Mr. ROHRABACHER) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to
the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To establish the Bipartisan Commission on the Future of
Medicare to make findings and issue recommendations
on the future 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. ESTABLISHMENT OF BIPARTISAN COMMISSION
ON THE FUTURE OF MEDICARE.
There is established a commission to be known as the
Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare (in this
Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
SEC. 2. DUTIES.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Commission shall make specific
findings regarding each of the following:
(1) Patterns of spending under the Medicare
program under title XVIII of the Social Security
Act.
(2) The long-term solvency of the Federal Hos-
pital Insurance Trust Fund under section 1817 of
the Social Security Act and the Federal Supple-
mentary Medical Insurance Trust Fund under sec-
tion 1841 of such Act.
(3) The feasibility and desirability of expanding
the choices available to Medicare beneficiaries in the
methods through which Medicare benefits are pro-
vided, including providing benefits through managed
care arrangements and through coordination with
employer-sponsored or other private health benefit
plans.
(4) The need to eliminate waste, fraud, and
abuse under the Medicare program.
(5) The quality of services provided under the
Medicare program.
(6) The effectiveness of the existing structure
and administration of the Medicare program.
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Commission shall
make specific recommendations to the Congress regarding
its findings under subsection (a).
SEC. 3. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) APPOINTMENT.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall be
composed of 15 members appointed as follows:
(A) The President shall appoint 5 mem-
bers, of whom at least one shall be under 35
years of age at the time of appointment.
(B) The majority leader of the Senate shall
appoint, after consultation with the minority
leader of the Senate, 5 Members of the Senate,
of whom not more than 3 may be of the same
political party and at least one shall be under
35 years of age at the time of appointment.
(C) The Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives shall appoint, after consultation
with the minority leader of the House of Rep-
resentatives, 5 Members of the House, of whom
not more than 3 may be of the same political
party and at least one shall be under 35 years
of age at the time of appointment.
(2) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—The mem-
bers of the Commission shall be appointed not later
than 6 months after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
(b) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMEN.—The Commis-
sion shall elect a chairman and 4 vice chairmen from
among its members.
(c) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the membership of
the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the
original appointment was made and shall not affect the
power of the remaining members to execute the duties of
the Commission.
(d) QUORUM.—A quorum shall consist of 8 members
of the Commission, except that 4 members may conduct
a hearing under section 5(a).
(e) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the
call of its chairman or a majority of its members.
(f) COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EX-
PENSES.—Members of the Commission are not entitled to
receive compensation for service on the Commission. Mem-
bers may be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other
necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of
the Commission.
SEC. 4. STAFF AND CONSULTANTS.
(a) STAFF.—The Commission may appoint and de-
termine the compensation of such staff as may be nec-
essary to carry out the duties of the Commission. Such
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Upon the request of the
Commission, the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office shall provide to the Commission such
cost estimates as the Commission determines to be
necessary to carry out its duties.
(2) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Commission shall
reimburse the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office for expenses relating to the employment in
the office of the Director of such additional staff as
may be necessary for the Director to comply with re-
quests by the Commission under paragraph (1).
(d) DETAIL OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.—Upon the
request of the Commission, the head of any Federal agen-
cy is authorized to detail, without reimbursement, any of
the personnel of such agency to the Commission to assist
the Commission in carrying out its duties. Any such detail
shall not interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service sta-
tus or privileges of the Federal employee.
(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Upon the request of
the Commission, the head of a Federal agency shall pro-
vide such technical assistance to the Commission as the
Commission determines to be necessary to carry out its
duties.
(f) USE OF MAILS.—The Commission may use the
United States mails in the same manner and under the
same conditions as Federal agencies, and shall, for pur-
poses of the frank, be considered a commission of Con-
gress as described in section 3215 of title 39, United
States Code.
(g) OBTAINING
INFORMATION.—The Commission
may secure directly from any Federal agency information
necessary to enable it to carry out its duties, if the infor-
mation may be disclosed under section 552 of title 5,
United States Code. Upon request of the chairman of the
Commission, the head of such agency shall furnish such
information to the Commission.
(h) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—Upon
the request of the Commission, the Administrator of Gen-
eral Services shall provide to the Commission on a reim-
bursable basis such administrative support services as the
Commission may request.
(i) ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS.—The Commission
may accept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of serv-
ices or property.
(j) PRINTING.—For purposes of costs relating to
printing and binding, including the costs of personnel de-
tailed from the Government Printing Office, the Commis-
sion shall be deemed to be a committee of the Congress.
SEC. 6. REPORT.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a
report containing its findings and recommendations under
section 2, and shall include in the report recommendations
for appropriate legislative initiatives to carry out its rec-
ommendations.
SEC. 7. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the
date of submission of the report required in section 6.
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