Bill Summary
The "Huntington's Disease Parity Act of 2019" is a bill proposed by the United States government that aims to waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for individuals who are disabled by Huntington's disease. This legislation is meant to provide relief to individuals suffering from this progressive degenerative neurological disease, which currently affects approximately 30,000 people in the US with an additional 200,000 people at risk. The bill highlights the debilitating nature of Huntington's disease, which can affect individuals at any age but is most commonly diagnosed in adults between 30 and 50 years old. It also notes the similarities between Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), for which the 24-month waiting period for Medicare coverage has already been waived. The bill proposes to amend the Social Security Act to also waive the waiting period for individuals with Huntington's disease, effective immediately after the enactment of the Act. This would allow those with the disease to receive Medicare benefits sooner and alleviate some of the financial burden they may face due to the inability to work.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation would directly impact individuals with Huntington's disease, as it would waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility. This could significantly improve their access to necessary medical care and support.
2. This legislation could also affect family members of individuals with Huntington's disease, as they may be considered "at risk" and could benefit from the waived waiting period as well.
3. The passage of this bill could also have financial implications for the government, as they would be responsible for providing Medicare coverage to individuals with Huntington's disease earlier than the current 24-month waiting period.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2770 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2770
To waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for
individuals disabled by Huntington's disease.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 15, 2019
Mr. Pascrell (for himself, Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Schiff, Ms.
Norton, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Langevin, Mr. Peters, Mr.
Tonko, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. McCollum, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Massie, Mr.
Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Moulton, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Foster, Ms.
Clarke of New York, Mr. Cicilline, Miss Rice of New York, Mr. Young,
Mr. King of Iowa, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Kilmer, Ms. DeLauro,
Mr. Hastings, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Clay, Mr. Deutch, Mr.
Price of North Carolina, Mr. Rogers of Kentucky, Mr. Wilson of South
Carolina, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Mr. Golden, Mr. Meeks, Mr.
McGovern, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Pingree, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Hunter,
Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Cooper, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Aguilar, Mr. Smith of New
Jersey, Ms. Herrera Beutler, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, Mr. Zeldin,
Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. Hill of Arkansas, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Beyer, and Mr.
Cook) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for
individuals disabled by Huntington's disease.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Huntington's Disease Parity Act of
2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Huntington's disease is a progressive degenerative
neurological disease that causes total physical and mental
deterioration. In the United States, approximately 30,000
individuals are affected by Huntington's disease, along with
another 200,000 individuals who are genetically ``at risk''.
There is no effective treatment in terms of halting or slowing
the progression of the disease.
(2) Clinical indicators of Huntington's disease include--
(A) loss of ability to control bodily movements;
(B) loss of ability to think or act quickly,
inability to learn new material, and loss of memory;
and
(C) behavioral or psychological problems, including
personality changes, irritability, mood swings,
anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behavior, inability to
concentrate, decreased motivation, and severe
depression.
(3) Adult-onset Huntington's disease typically results in
the development of symptoms in individuals between 30 and 50
years of age. Late-onset Huntington's disease is characterized
by development of symptoms after 50 years of age and is usually
associated with a milder course of the disease. Juvenile
Huntington's disease affects individuals who have yet to attain
19 years of age and progresses at a more rapid rate.
(4) Because of the incapacitating nature of Huntington's
disease, individuals living with this illness, including those
in the early stages of the disease, are unable to retain
employment. As a result, many such individuals rely solely on
Social Security Disability Insurance.
(5) After qualifying for Social Security Disability
Insurance, individuals with Huntington's disease must wait
another 24 months before receiving benefits under the Medicare
program, despite the fact that such individuals often become
incapacitated before reaching the age-eligibility requirement
under the Medicare program of 65 years of age.
(6) In 2000, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
waived the 24-month waiting period requirement for people
disabled by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (``ALS''), a
degenerative neurological condition that is similar to
Huntington's disease.
(7) In light of the significant cognitive, behavioral, and
physical incapacitation faced by individuals with this disease,
there is an urgent need for the removal of the 24-month waiting
period for coverage under the Medicare program for such
individuals, similar to the existing exemption for individuals
who have been diagnosed with ALS.
SEC. 3. WAIVER OF 24-MONTH WAITING PERIOD FOR COVERAGE UNDER MEDICARE
PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH HUNTINGTON'S
DISEASE.
(a) In General.--Section 226(h) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 426(h)) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
inserting ``or Huntington's disease (HD)'' after ``amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS)''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply to benefits under title XVIII of the Social Security Act with
respect to items and services furnished in months beginning after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>