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HR 66 105th Congress House

Medicare Patient Choice and Access Act of 1997

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide protections for Medicare beneficiaries who enroll in Medicare managed care plans.

Introduced: May 8, 1997 See on congress.gov
Health Access to health careAdministrative remediesCase managementCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
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CommerceCommunication in medicineConsumer complaintsConsumer educationContinuum of careContractsFinance and Financial SectorFreedom of speechGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkGrievance proceduresHealth insuranceHealth maintenance organizationsInsurance premiumsLabor and Employment
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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 22, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Jan 16, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to House Commerce
Jan 7, 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 7, 1997
Referred to House Ways and Means
Jan 7, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 22, 1997

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

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Medicare Patient Choice and Access Act of 1997 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require health maintenance organizations and competitive medical plans, among other things, to: (1) assure Medicare enrollees timely access to in-network primary and specialty health care providers and, under certain conditions, out-of-network providers as well; (2) establish a grievance process for resolving grievances between them and their enrollees; and (3) provide each enrollee with an explanation of the enrollee's rights and a copy of the most recent consumer report card for the organization. Prohibits provider incentive plans that fail to meet specified criteria. Bans interference with certain medical communications.

Applies the same requirements to Medicare select policies.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 19
All 19 Democratic 9 Republican 4 Independent 1
D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Oct 21, 1997
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Jun 25, 1997
KLECZKA, GERALD
· Jun 24, 1997
 R
Lucas, Frank D.
Oklahoma · Jun 17, 1997
MCCARTHY, KAREN
· May 8, 1997
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · May 8, 1997
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · May 1, 1997
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Apr 17, 1997
 D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · Apr 10, 1997
LAMPSON, NICK
· Mar 20, 1997
 D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Mar 13, 1997
Faleomavaega, Eni
· Mar 13, 1997
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Mar 6, 1997
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Mar 5, 1997
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Mar 5, 1997
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Feb 13, 1997
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Feb 4, 1997
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Feb 4, 1997
FROST, MARTIN
· Jan 21, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 66: Medicare Patient Choice and Access Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-66/
MLA
"H.R. 66: Medicare Patient Choice and Access Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-66/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 66, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-66/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 66: Medicare Patient Choice and Access Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-66/)
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