Skip to main content
HR 2497 105th Congress House Health Commerce Congress Congressional reporting requirements Consumer education Contracts Government Operations and Politics Government paperwork Law Managed care Medical fees Medicare Medicare managed care Medigap Physicians Social Welfare

Medicare Beneficiary Freedom To Contract Act of 1997

Introduced: October 31, 1997 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 15, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Sep 18, 1997
Introduced in House
Sep 18, 1997
Referred to House Commerce
Sep 18, 1997
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
Sep 18, 1997
Referred to House Ways and Means
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Medicare Beneficiary Freedom To Contract Act of 1997 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to revise provisions added by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 regarding the use of private contracts by Medicare beneficiaries for professional services. Outlines specific requirements for private contracts between Medicare beneficiaries and physicians or health care practitioners for services for which no Medicare claims may be submitted.

What's happening now October 15, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1194 Identical bill Medicare Beneficiary Freedom To Contract Act of 1997
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 10
All 10 Republican 9
R
Crapo, Mike
Idaho · Oct 31, 1997
Sanford, Mark
· Oct 31, 1997
 R
Thune, John
South Dakota · Oct 31, 1997
 R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · Oct 21, 1997
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Oct 2, 1997
 R
Lucas, Frank D.
Oklahoma · Oct 2, 1997
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Sep 29, 1997
 R
Moran, Jerry
Kansas · Sep 29, 1997
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Sep 29, 1997
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Sep 18, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2497: Medicare Beneficiary Freedom To Contract Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2497/
MLA
"H.R. 2497: Medicare Beneficiary Freedom To Contract Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2497/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2497, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2497/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2497: Medicare Beneficiary Freedom To Contract Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2497/)
Report a problem