Save Medicare Act

Bill: 117-hr-9187
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
Introduced: 2022-10-14
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2022-10-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-10-14
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Save Medicare Act</b></p> <p>This bill renames Medicare Advantage (MA) as the Alternative Private Health Plan program. It also establishes civil penalties for entities that continue to advertise MA plans with <i>Medicare</i> in the title.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9187 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 14, 2022 Mr. Pocan (for himself and Mr. Khanna ) introduced the following bill; which was 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 A BILL To rename the program under part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Save Medicare Act . 2. Medicare Advantage renamed (a) In general There is hereby established the Alternative Private Health Plan program. The Alternative Private Health Plan program shall consist of the program under part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–21 et seq. ). (b) References Notwithstanding section 201 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 ( Public Law 108–173 ) and subject to subsection (c), any reference to the program under part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–21 et seq. ) shall be deemed a reference to the Alternative Private Health Plan program and, with respect to such part, any reference to Medicare+Choice , Medicare Advantage , or MA is deemed a reference to the Alternative Private Health Plan program. (c) Transition In order to provide for an orderly transition and avoid beneficiary and provider confusion, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for an appropriate transition in the use of the terms Medicare Advantage , MA , and Alternative Private Health Plan in reference to the program under part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–21 et seq. ). Such transition shall be fully completed for all materials for plan years beginning on or after October 15, 2022. Before the completion of such transition, any reference to the Alternative Private Health Plan program shall be deemed to include a reference to Medicare+Choice , Medicare Advantage , and MA . 3. Civil money penalty Section 1128A of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320a–7a ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (t) (1) Any entity that advertises a plan under part C of title XVIII of this Act by using the term Medicare in the title of the plan on or after the date of enactment of this Act shall be subject to a civil money penalty of $100,000 for each instance of the use of the term in a plan title. (2) The provisions of subsections (c), (g), and (h) shall apply to a civil money penalty under this subsection in the same manner as such provisions apply to a penalty, assessment, or proceeding under subsection (a). .