PoliticalRepoPoliticalRepo

United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 3559 (109th)

Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Access Act of 2005

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

28 July 2005

Last action

5 August 2005 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Sponsors

Rep. Hobson, David L. [R-OH-7], Rep. Tanner, John S. [D-TN-8], Rep. Mollohan, Alan B. [D-WV-1], Rep. Emerson, Jo Ann [R-MO-8], Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23], Rep. Gillmor, Paul E. [R-OH-5], Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4], Rep. Nussle, Jim [R-IA-1], DAVID PRICE, Rep. Bradley, Jeb [R-NH-1], Rep. Michaud, Michael H. [D-ME-2], Rep. Olver, John W. [D-MA-1], PATRICK TIBERI, Rep. Ross, Mike [D-AR-4], Rep. Latham, Tom [R-IA-3], Rep. Boucher, Rick [D-VA-9], Rep. Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22], Rep. Kanjorski, Paul E. [D-PA-11], Rep. Allen, Thomas H. [D-ME-1], Rep. Bishop, Timothy H. [D-NY-1], PETER VISCLOSKY, Rep. Davis, Jo Ann [R-VA-1], Rep. Murtha, John P. [D-PA-12], Rep. Gerlach, Jim [R-PA-6], COLLIN PETERSON, Rep. Wamp, Zach [R-TN-3], Rep. Regula, Ralph [R-OH-16], Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH], Rep. Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [R-VA-5], Rep. Porter, Jon C. [R-NV-3], Rep. Neugebauer, Randy [R-TX-19], Rep. Hall, Ralph M. [D-TX-4], Rep. Tierney, John F. [D-MA-6], Rep. Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [D-SD-At Large], Rep. Andrews, Robert E. [D-NJ-1], Rosa DeLauro, Rep. Bonner, Jo [R-AL-1], Rep. Gibbons, Jim [R-NV-2], Rep. McCotter, Thaddeus G. [R-MI-11], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Rep. Ford, Harold E., Jr. [D-TN-9], Rep. Berkley, Shelley [D-NV-1], Rep. Boehlert, Sherwood [R-NY-25], TIM RYAN, Rep. Walsh, James T. [R-NY-27], James McGovern, Rep. Gordon, Bart [D-TN-6]

Subjects

Healthcare

Source updated

5 December 2025

Healthcare

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Access Act of 2005 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from awarding any contracts under the competitive durable medical equipment items and services acquisition program unless: (1) the quality standards have been implemented; and (2) the Secretary has received advice from the program oversight committee. Requires the Secretary (who currently is authorized), in carrying out competitive acquisition programs, to exempt: (1) rural areas and areas with low population density within urban areas that are not competitive, unless there is a significant national market through mail order for a particular item or service; and (2) items and services for which the application of competitive acquisition is not likely to result in significant savings. Adds to such exemptions smaller metropolitan statistical areas. Modifies requirements for the protection of small suppliers in bidding and contracting. Requires the Secretary to permit suppliers classified as small businesses to continue to participate as suppliers at the selected award price so long as they submit bids at less than the fee schedule amount otherwise applicable to the items and they otherwise comply with applicable program requirements. Provides for appeal rights (currently denied). Requires the Secretary to exempt from competitive acquisition requirements items and services for which the application of competitive acquisition is not likely to result in significant savings of at least 10%. Prohibits the Secretary from implementing a program with respect to an item or service unless the Secretary demonstrates a probability of achieving significant savings of at least 10%, compared to the fee schedule in effect on January 1, 2006, by including the item or service in the program. Prohibits the Secretary from implementing certain requirements for the payment basis for covered items furnished after January 1, 2009, with respect to the application of rates in an area that is not a competitive acquisition area, unless the Secretary has completed and published in the Federal Register a comparability analysis to ensure the application is appropriate. Requires application of the comparability analysis requirement to certain other part B items and services.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 28 July 2005

    Introduced

    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.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 28 July 2005

    Introduced

    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.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 28 July 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 28 July 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 4 August 2005

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Source: Committee

  6. 5 August 2005

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

View fileDownload file

Sponsors

Showing 48 of 154 sponsors and actors.

Related records

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.