BENES Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-2477
Sponsor: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2019-05-02 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Immunology and vaccination
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare
Organ and tissue donation and transplantation
Prescription drugs
Social Security Administration

Summary:
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: 

Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification Act of 2019 or the BENES Act of 2019

 
This bill makes a series of changes to, and requires additional notifications regarding, the Medicare enrollment process.
 
Specifically, the bill changes the Medicare general enrollment period to October 15-December 31, and requires coverage to begin on the first day of the month following enrollment. (Currently, the general enrollment period is January 1-March 31, and coverage begins July 1.) The bill also generally requires coverage to begin on the first day of the month following enrollment for individuals who enroll in the latter months of their initial enrollment period. (Currently, the longer an individual waits to enroll, the more delayed the effective date of coverage.)
 
The bill also requires Social Security account statements for individuals ages 60 to 64 to include information about Medicare eligibility, late enrollment penalties, coordination of benefits, and special enrollment populations (e.g., veterans).

action_date: 2020-12-08
text: 

Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification Act of 2020 or the BENES Act of 

2020

 
This bill modifies requirements relating to Medicare enrollment, coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients, secondary payer reporting, and hospice survey requirements.
 
Among other provisions, the bill
 
 
generally requires Medicare coverage to begin on the first day of the month following enrollment for individuals who enroll in the latter months of their initial enrollment period;
 
requires Social Security account statements for individuals attaining ages 63 to 65 to include information about Medicare eligibility, late enrollment penalties, and other information;
 
indefinitely extends Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients for individuals who do not have other coverage; 
 
requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to share Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug benefit enrollment information with liability insurers in response to Medicare secondary payer inquiries; and
 
establishes survey requirements for, and enforcement mechanisms against, certified hospice programs under Medicare.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-12-09
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6993-6997)
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2477.
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6993-7000)
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: Mr. Larson (CT) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-621, Part I.
action_date: 2020-12-08
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-621, Part I.
action_date: 2020-07-15
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2020-07-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) .
action_date: 2020-03-11
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2020-01-08
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2019-05-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-05-02
text: Introduced in House