No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4204 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4204
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow Medicare
beneficiaries to choose their physical and occupational therapists,
speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and chiropractors.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 26, 2025
Mr. Smucker (for himself and Mr. Davis of North Carolina) 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 amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow Medicare
beneficiaries to choose their physical and occupational therapists,
speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and chiropractors.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Patient Choice Act''.
SEC. 2. FREE CHOICE OF THERAPISTS FOR MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES.
Section 1802(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395a(b)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``physician or practitioner'' and inserting
``physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified
audiologist''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding
clause (i), by striking ``physician or practitioner''
and inserting ``physician, practitioner, therapist, or
qualified audiologist'';
(2) in paragraph (2)(B)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``physician or
practitioner'' and inserting ``physician, practitioner,
therapist, or qualified audiologist'';
(B) in clause (v), by striking ``physicians or
practitioners'' and inserting ``physicians,
practitioners, therapists, or qualified audiologists'';
and
(C) in the matter following clause (v), by striking
``physician or practitioner'' and inserting
``physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified
audiologist'';
(3) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``physician or
practitioner'' and inserting ``physician, practitioner,
therapist, or qualified audiologist'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``physician or
practitioner'' and inserting ``physician, practitioner,
therapist, or qualified audiologist'';
(C) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``physician
or practitioner'' each place it appears and
inserting ``physician, practitioner, therapist,
or qualified audiologist''; and
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking
``physician or practitioner'' and inserting
``physician, practitioner, therapist, or
qualified audiologist'';
(D) in subparagraph (C)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
striking ``physician or practitioner'' and
inserting ``physician, practitioner, therapist,
or qualified audiologist'';
(ii) in clause (i), by striking ``physician
or practitioner'' and inserting ``physician,
practitioner, therapist, or qualified
audiologist''; and
(iii) in clause (ii), by striking
``physician or practitioner'' and inserting
``physician, practitioner, therapist, or
qualified audiologist''; and
(E) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``physician or
practitioner'' each place it appears and inserting
``physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified
audiologist'';
(4) in paragraph (5)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``physicians and
practitioners'' and inserting ``physicians,
practitioners, therapists, and qualified
audiologists'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``physicians
and practitioners'' and inserting ``physicians,
practitioners, therapists, and qualified
audiologists''; and
(C) in subparagraph (B)--
(i) in the manner preceding clause (i), by
striking ``physicians and practitioners'' and
inserting ``physicians, practitioners,
therapists, and qualified audiologists'';
(ii) in clause (iv), by striking
``physicians and practitioners'' and inserting
``physicians, practitioners, therapists, and
qualified audiologists''; and
(iii) in clause (v), by striking
``physicians and practitioners'' and inserting
``physicians, practitioners, therapists, and
qualified audiologists''; and
(5) in paragraph (6)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``paragraphs
(1), (2), (3), and (4) of'';
(B) in subparagraph (D)--
(i) in the heading, by striking ``physician
or practitioner'' and inserting ``physician,
practitioner, therapist, or qualified
audiologist''; and
(ii) by striking ``physician or
practitioner'' each place it appears and
inserting ``physician, practitioner, therapist,
or qualified audiologist''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) Therapist.--The term `therapist' means a qualified
physical therapist (as such term is used in section 1861(p)), a
qualified occupational therapist (as such term is used in
1861(g)), or a qualified speech-language pathologist (as
defined in 1861(ll)(4)(A)).
``(F) Qualified audiologist.--The term `qualified
audiologist' has the meaning given such term in section
1861(ll)(4)(B).''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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.
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.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line