CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

Mark Pocan (D-WI)

Save Medicare Act

H.R. 7803 · House bill Health

A Democratic bill with 17 Democratic cosponsors · See all 17 cosponsors

Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and 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.

In committee

Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.

The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.

Its path through Congress

  1. Introduced
  2. In Committee

What this bill would do

This bill, titled the "Save Medicare Act," seeks to rename the program currently known as Medicare Advantage. It establishes the "Alternative Private Health Plan" program to replace references to the program under part C of title XVIII of the Social Security Act. The legislation mandates that any references to "Medicare+Choice," "Medicare Advantage," or "MA" be replaced with the new program name. It also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to manage a transition period to prevent confusion among beneficiaries and providers. Finally, the bill introduces a civil money penalty for entities that use the term "Medicare" in a plan title.

Yes

  • Scored +2

    Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?

    The bill protects consumers by preventing private entities from using the 'Medicare' name to market their plans via civil penalties.

  • Scored +1

    Would people over 65 be better off under this?

    The bill establishes a transition process to help seniors avoid confusion when the Medicare Advantage program is renamed.

  • Scored +1

    Would retired people be better off under this?

    The bill provides an orderly transition to minimize confusion for those currently utilizing Medicare Advantage programs.

The opposite

  • Scored -2

    Would business owners be better off under this?

    Private health plan entities face new civil money penalties for using the term 'Medicare' in their plan titles.