I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2990 
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit inclusion of Social 
Security account numbers on Medicare cards, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 21, 2017 
Mr. RICHMOND introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to prohibit 
inclusion of Social Security account numbers on Medicare 
cards, 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. PROHIBITION OF INCLUSION OF SOCIAL SECU-
RITY ACCOUNT NUMBERS ON MEDICARE 
CARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 205(c)(2)(C) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new clause: 
‘‘(xiv) The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, in consultation with the 
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Commissioner of Social Security, shall es-
tablish cost-effective procedures to ensure 
that a Social Security account number (or 
derivative thereof) is not displayed, coded, 
or embedded on the Medicare card issued 
to an individual who is entitled to benefits 
under part A of title XVIII or enrolled 
under part B of title XVIII and that any 
other identifier displayed on such card is 
not identifiable as a Social Security ac-
count number (or derivative thereof).’’. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—In implementing clause (xiv) 
of section 205(c)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)), as added by subsection (a), the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services shall do the fol-
lowing: 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Establish a cost-effective 
process that involves the least amount of disruption 
to, as well as necessary assistance for, Medicare 
beneficiaries and health care providers, such as a 
process that provides such beneficiaries with access 
to assistance through a toll-free telephone number 
and provides outreach to providers. 
(2) CONSIDERATION
OF
MEDICARE
BENE-
FICIARY
IDENTIFIED.—Consider implementing a 
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process, similar to the process involving Railroad Re-
tirement Board beneficiaries, under which a Medi-
care beneficiary identifier which is not a Social Secu-
rity account number (or derivative thereof) is used 
external to the Department of Health and Human 
Services and is convertible over to a Social Security 
account number (or derivative thereof) for use inter-
nal to such Department and the Social Security Ad-
ministration. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Clause (xiv) of section 
205(c)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
405(c)(2)(C)), as added by subsection (a), shall 
apply with respect to Medicare cards issued on and 
after an effective date specified by the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, but in no case shall 
such effective date be later than January 1, 2018. 
(2) REISSUANCE.—The Secretary shall provide 
for the reissuance of Medicare cards that comply 
with the requirements of such clause not later than 
January 1, 2019. 
Æ 
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