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HR 4945 116th Congress House

Safeguarding Medicare Access to Respiratory Therapy Act of 2019

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exclude ventilators from competitive acquisition programs under the Medicare program for 5years, and for other purposes.

Introduced: November 8, 2019 Introduced by: Griffith, H. Morgan Republican · Virginia See on congress.gov
Health Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvisory bodiesCardiovascular and respiratory healthGovernment information and archives
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Health care coverage and accessHealth technology, devices, suppliesMedicarePublic contracts and procurement
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 1, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Oct 31, 2019
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.
Oct 31, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 1, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Safeguarding Medicare Access to Respiratory Therapy Act of 2019

This bill establishes certain requirements relating to Medicare coverage of ventilators.

Specifically, the bill (1) excludes ventilators and other covered respiratory items, as specified, from Medicare's competitive acquisition program (in which rates are set through a competitive bidding program rather than by an established fee schedule); and (2) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to establish a technical expert panel to review, and make recommendations regarding, national coverage determinations with respect to Medicare coverage of ventilators and other specified respiratory devices.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 49
King, Steve
· Jun 15, 2020
R
Marshall, Roger
Kansas · May 1, 2020
Roe, David
· May 1, 2020
R
Higgins, Clay
Louisiana · Mar 11, 2020
D
Raskin, Jamie
Maryland · Mar 9, 2020
D
Dean, Madeleine
Pennsylvania · Feb 28, 2020
R
Rutherford, John H.
Florida · Feb 28, 2020
D
Lieu, Ted
California · Feb 25, 2020
Graves, Garret
· Feb 21, 2020
Maloney, Sean
· Feb 21, 2020
Davis, Rodney
· Feb 10, 2020
Delgado, Antonio
· Feb 10, 2020
ENGEL, ELIOT
· Feb 4, 2020
D
Crow, Jason
Colorado · Jan 28, 2020
D
Morelle, Joseph D.
New York · Jan 15, 2020
Stivers, Steve
· Jan 15, 2020
D
Beatty, Joyce
Ohio · Jan 13, 2020
D
Cisneros, Gilbert Ray
California · Jan 13, 2020
D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Jan 8, 2020
R
Grothman, Glenn
Wisconsin · Dec 19, 2019
D
Pingree, Chellie
Maine · Dec 19, 2019
Butterfield, G. K.
· Dec 17, 2019
R
Scott, Austin
Georgia · Dec 17, 2019
R
Reschenthaler, Guy
Pennsylvania · Dec 13, 2019
R
Stefanik, Elise M.
New York · Dec 13, 2019
R
Westerman, Bruce
Arkansas · Dec 13, 2019
Lamb, Conor
· Dec 5, 2019
D
Blunt Rochester, Lisa
Delaware · Dec 4, 2019
R
Guthrie, Brett
Kentucky · Nov 22, 2019
Katko, John
· Nov 22, 2019
Bishop, Dan
· Nov 19, 2019
Bucshon, Larry
· Nov 19, 2019
R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · Nov 19, 2019
D
Fletcher, Lizzie
Texas · Nov 15, 2019
D
Suozzi, Thomas R.
New York · Nov 15, 2019
D
McCollum, Betty
Minnesota · Nov 13, 2019
D
Pocan, Mark
Wisconsin · Nov 13, 2019
Hollingsworth, Trey
· Nov 12, 2019
R
Thompson, Glenn
Pennsylvania · Nov 12, 2019
D
Chu, Judy
California · Nov 8, 2019
R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Pennsylvania · Nov 8, 2019
R
Kelly, Mike
Pennsylvania · Nov 8, 2019
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Nov 8, 2019
Reed, Tom
· Nov 8, 2019
D
Tonko, Paul
New York · Nov 8, 2019
R
Bilirakis, Gus M.
Florida · Oct 31, 2019
D
Larson, John B.
Connecticut · Oct 31, 2019
D
Soto, Darren
Florida · Oct 31, 2019
D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Oct 31, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4945: Safeguarding Medicare Access to Respiratory Therapy Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4945/
MLA
"H.R. 4945: Safeguarding Medicare Access to Respiratory Therapy Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4945/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4945, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4945/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4945: Safeguarding Medicare Access to Respiratory Therapy Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4945/)
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