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HR 2560 109th Congress House

Elaine Sullivan Act

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require, as a condition of participation in the Medicare Program, that hospitals make reasonable efforts to … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require, as a condition of participation in the Medicare Program, that hospitals make reasonable efforts to contact a family member, specified healthcare agent, or surrogate decisionmaker of a patient who arrives at a hospital emergency department unconscious or otherwise physically incapable of communicating with the attending health care practitioners of the hospital, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 29, 2005 See on congress.gov
Health Communication in medicineData banksDirectoriesDisabled
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Economics and Public FinanceElectronic data interchangeEmergency ManagementEmergency medicineFamiliesFamily servicesGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkGrants-in-aidHealth information systemsHospital careHospitalsLawMedicareMissing personsNonprofit organizationsPatients' rightsPower of attorneyScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial Welfare
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This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) 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
Jun 17, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 1, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
May 24, 2005
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
May 24, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3880-3881)
May 24, 2005
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 17, 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Elaine Sullivan Act - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require emergency departments to contact family members, a specified healthcare agent, or a surrogate decisionmaker of an incapacitated patient within 24 hours of arrival at the emergency department.

Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to qualified not-for-profit organizations for the purpose of assisting them to establish and operate voluntary next of kin registries.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2
D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Jun 29, 2005
 D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Jun 29, 2005
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2560: Elaine Sullivan Act. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2560/
MLA
"H.R. 2560: Elaine Sullivan Act." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2560/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2560, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2560/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2560: Elaine Sullivan Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2560/)
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