Medicare Common Access Card Act of 2011
Latest action (13 Sep 2011): Introduced
What this bill does
The Medicare Common Access Card Act of 2011 would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a pilot program testing "smart card" technology for Medicare identification. Within 18 months of enactment, the Secretary would launch the program in at least five geographic areas identified as high-risk for fraud, issuing new chip-based ID cards to participating Medicare beneficiaries and providers. These cards would store Social Security and provider numbers securely on an embedded chip rather than printing them visibly, and provider enrollment would include biometric verification such as fingerprints. The program aims to improve billing accuracy, protect personal information, and reduce fraud and waste.
The bill would affect Medicare beneficiaries and providers in the selected pilot areas, who would receive new cards, card readers, and related equipment at no cost, along with information about how their data is used and protected. The Secretary would be required to report to Congress on the program's design, an interim evaluation, and a later assessment with recommendations on nationwide expansion. The bill appropriates $29 million for the pilot and also revises funding levels in the existing Medicare Improvement Fund for fiscal year 2015.
Introduced September 13, 2011, by Senator Mark Kirk with bipartisan cosponsors, the bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. It did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 112th Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Medicare Common Access Card Act of 2011 - Establishes a pilot program under title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act in order to utilize smart card technology for Medicare beneficiary and provider identification cards.
Common questions
- What does S. 1551 do?
- The Medicare Common Access Card Act of 2011 would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a pilot program testing "smart card" technology for Medicare identification. Within 18 months of enactment, the Secretary would launch the program in at least five geographic areas identified as high-risk for fraud, issuing new chip-based ID cards to participating Medicare beneficiaries and providers. These cards would store Social Security and provider numbers securely on an embedded chip rather than printing them visibly, and provider enrollment would include biometric verification such as fingerprints. The program aims to improve billing accuracy, protect personal information, and reduce fraud and waste. The bill would affect Medicare beneficiaries and providers in the selected pilot areas, who would receive new cards, card readers, and related equipment at no cost, along with information about how their data is used and protected. The Secretary would be required to report to Congress on the program's design, an interim evaluation, and a later assessment with recommendations on nationwide expansion. The bill appropriates $29 million for the pilot and also revises funding levels in the existing Medicare Improvement Fund for fiscal year 2015. Introduced September 13, 2011, by Senator Mark Kirk with bipartisan cosponsors, the bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. It did not receive a vote and did not advance further in the 112th Congress.
- Has S. 1551 become law?
- Not yet. As of 13 Sep 2011, S. 1551 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 1551?
- S. 1551 was sponsored by Sen. Mark Kirk [R-IL, 2010-2016] (Republican-IL), with 6 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 1551?
- Introduced (13 Sep 2011).
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