SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Huntington’s Disease is a progressive de-
generative neurological disease that causes total 
physical and mental deterioration. In the United 
States, approximately 30,000 individuals are af-
fected by Huntington’s Disease, along with another 
200,000 individuals who are genetically ‘‘at risk’’. 
There is no effective treatment in terms of halting 
or slowing the progression of the disease. 
(2) Clinical indicators of Huntington’s Disease 
include— 
(A) loss of ability to control bodily move-
ments; 
(B) loss of ability to think or act quickly, 
inability to learn new material, and loss of 
memory; and 
(C) behavioral or psychological problems, 
including personality changes, irritability, mood 
swings, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behavior, 
inability to concentrate, decreased motivation, 
and severe depression. 
(3) Adult-onset Huntington’s Disease typically 
results in the development of symptoms in individ-
uals between 30 and 50 years of age. Late-onset 
Huntington’s Disease is characterized by develop-
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ment of symptoms after 50 years of age and is usu-
ally associated with a milder course of the disease. 
Juvenile Huntington’s Disease affects individuals 
who have yet to attain 19 years of age and pro-
gresses at a more rapid rate. 
(4) Because of the incapacitating nature of 
Huntington’s Disease, individuals living with this ill-
ness, including those in the early stages of the dis-
ease, are unable to retain employment. As a result, 
many such individuals rely solely on Social Security 
Disability Insurance. 
(5) Despite significant advances in medicine 
and a greater understanding of Huntington’s Dis-
ease, the Social Security Administration has not 
comprehensively revised its rules for the medical 
evaluation of neurological disabilities since 1985. 
The designation of this disease by the Social Secu-
rity Administration as ‘‘Huntington’s Chorea’’ is 
both outdated and medically inaccurate, as this term 
fails to recognize the behavioral and cognitive impact 
of Huntington’s Disease, while also providing an in-
complete characterization of the full spectrum of 
Huntington’s Disease for purposes of Social Security 
Disability Insurance and the Medicare program. 
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(6) After qualifying for Social Security Dis-
ability Insurance, individuals with Huntington’s Dis-
ease must wait another 24 months before receiving 
benefits under the Medicare program, despite the 
fact that such individuals often become incapacitated 
before reaching the age-eligibility requirement under 
the Medicare program of 65 years of age. 
(7) In 2000, the Centers for Medicaid & Medi-
care Services waived the 24-month waiting period re-
quirement for people disabled by amyotrophic lateral 
sclerosis (‘‘ALS’’), a degenerative neurological condi-
tion that is similar to Huntington’s Disease. 
(8) In light of the outdated Social Security Dis-
ability Insurance guidelines for Huntington’s Dis-
ease and the significant cognitive, behavioral, and 
physical incapacitation faced by individuals with this 
disease, there is an urgent need for a revision of the 
medical and evaluation criteria used by the Social 
Security Administration in determining whether 
such individuals are disabled, as well as removal of 
the 24-month waiting period for coverage under the 
Medicare program for such individuals, similar to 
the existing exemption for individuals who have been 
diagnosed with ALS. 
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SEC. 3. REVISION OF MEDICAL AND EVALUATION CRITERIA 
FOR EVALUATING DISABILITY CAUSED BY 
ADULT-ONSET AND JUVENILE HUNTINGTON’S 
DISEASE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of determinations of 
cognitive, behavioral, and physical disability under titles 
II and XVI of the Social Security Act, the Commissioner 
of Social Security, in consultation with the National Insti-
tute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National 
Institutes of Health, and other relevant organizations with 
medical expertise relating to Adult-Onset and Juvenile 
Huntington’s Disease, shall, not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act— 
(1) amend section 11.00 of part A of the List-
ing of Impairments (relating to neurological impair-
ments of adults) by— 
(A) providing medical and evaluation cri-
teria for Huntington’s Disease; and 
(B) striking ‘‘Huntington’s Chorea’’ each 
place it appears; 
(2) amend section 12.00 of part A of the List-
ing of Impairments (relating to mental disorders of 
adults) by providing medical and evaluation criteria 
for Huntington’s Disease; 
(3) amend section 111.00 of part B of the List-
ing of Impairments (relating to neurological impair-
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ments of children) by providing medical and evalua-
tion criteria for Juvenile Huntington’s Disease; and 
(4) amend section 112.00 of part B of the List-
ing of Impairments (relating to mental disorders of 
children) by providing medical and evaluation cri-
teria for Juvenile Huntington’s Disease. 
(b) LISTING OF IMPAIRMENTS.—For purposes of this 
section, the term ‘‘Listing of Impairments’’ means appen-
dix 1 to subpart P of part 404 of title 20 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 4. WAIVER OF 24-MONTH WAITING PERIOD FOR COV-
ERAGE UNDER MEDICARE PROGRAM FOR IN-
DIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH HUNTINGTON’S 
DISEASE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 226(h) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 426(h)) is amended, in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or Huntington’s Dis-
ease (HD)’’ after ‘‘amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply to benefits under title XVIII of 
the Social Security Act with respect to items and services 
furnished in months beginning after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
Æ 
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