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HR 5139 107th Congress House

Living Well with Fatal Chronic Illness Act of 2002

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide certain caregivers with access to Medicare benefits, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to p… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide certain caregivers with access to Medicare benefits, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a long-term care tax credit, and to provide for programs within the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Veterans Affairs for patients with fatal chronic illness.

Introduced: July 17, 2002 See on congress.gov
Health Access to health careArmed Forces and National SecurityCaregiversCase management
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Chronically illCommunity health servicesCongressCongressional investigationsCongressional reporting requirementsContinuing educationDisabledEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEmergency medical servicesEpidemiologyFamiliesFederal aid to health facilitiesFederal aid to medical educationFederal aid to medical researchFinance and Financial SectorGovernment trust fundsHealth educationHigher educationHome care servicesHospices (Terminal care)Income taxInsurance premiumsInsurance ratesLong-term careMedical economicsMedical personnelMedicarePersonal income taxQuality of careQuality of lifeRespite careScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareTax creditsTaxationTerminal careTerminally illVeterans' medical care
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This bill died when the 107th Congress ended
It never became law before the 107th Congress (2001–2002) 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
Aug 9, 2002
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jul 29, 2002
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jul 16, 2002
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Veterans' Affairs, 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.
Jul 16, 2002
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1272-1273)
Jul 16, 2002
Introduced in House
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 Latest action August 9, 2002

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Living Well with Fatal Chronic Illness Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (Purchase of Medicare Benefits by Certain Caregivers Age 55-to-65 Years of Age). Makes eligible for both part A and part B Medicare benefits during a specified period certain individuals 55 or older who are caring on a full-time basis for family members who are Medicare beneficiaries requiring substantial supervision due to severe cognitive impairment or are unable to perform at least two activities of daily living.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to determine and to provide for payment and collection of a monthly premium.

Creates in the Treasury the Medicare Caregiver Trust Fund to hold collected premiums.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide an annual long-term care credit of $3000 per applicable person for whom a taxpayer is an eligible caregiver.

Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to carry out research, demonstration, and education programs toward improving the delivery of appropriate health and support services for patients with fatal chronic illnesses.

Requires the Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Director of the National Institutes of Health to expand activities with respect to fatal chronic illness.

Requires the Secretary to develop pilot programs for the treatment for fatal chronic illness.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the delivery of appropriate treatment services to patients with fatal chronic illness under health care programs of the Department of Veterans Services.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 2
FROST, MARTIN
· Jul 17, 2002
 D
McCollum, Betty
Minnesota · Jul 17, 2002
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jul 17, 2002
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5139: Living Well with Fatal Chronic Illness Act of 2002. 107th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-5139/
MLA
"H.R. 5139: Living Well with Fatal Chronic Illness Act of 2002." 107th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-5139/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5139, 107th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-5139/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5139: Living Well with Fatal Chronic Illness Act of 2002](https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-5139/)
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