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HR 459 105th Congress House

Senior Citizens' Access to Health Care Act of 1997

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require health maintenance organizations participating in the Medicare program to assure access to out-of-ne… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require health maintenance organizations participating in the Medicare program to assure access to out-of-network services to Medicare beneficiaries enrolled with such organizations.

Introduced: January 21, 1997 See on congress.gov
Health Access to health careHealth maintenance organizationsManaged careMedicare
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Medicare managed carePatients' rightsSocial Welfare
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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 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 27, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jan 27, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Jan 21, 1997
Referred to House Commerce
Jan 21, 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.
Jan 21, 1997
Referred to House Ways and Means
Jan 21, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 27, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Senior Citizens' Access to Health Care Act of 1997 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require health maintenance organizations participating in the Medicare program to offer coverage for out-of-network services to Medicare beneficiaries enrolled with such organizations.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 2 Republican 1 Independent 1
R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Feb 13, 1997
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Jan 21, 1997
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Jan 21, 1997
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Jan 21, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 459: Senior Citizens' Access to Health Care Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-459/
MLA
"H.R. 459: Senior Citizens' Access to Health Care Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-459/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 459, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-459/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 459: Senior Citizens' Access to Health Care Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-459/)
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