H.R. 2518 – Reading Mode

109th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2518

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 23, 2005

Mr. Filner (for himself and Mr. Foley) introduced the following bill; which was 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

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to prohibit disclosure of Social Security numbers on Medicare-related mailings.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stop the Theft of Our Social Security Numbers Act of 2005.

Prohibition of disclosure of social security numbers on medicare-related mailings

(a)

In general

Section 1874 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395kk) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(d)

(1)

In any case in which an individual's identifying number for purposes of this title is the social security account number issued to such individual for purposes of section 205(c)(2)(A), no officer or employee of the Department of Health and Human Services may include such number—

(A)

as part of any medicare-related mailing to any person, including the mailing of any medicare card that contains such number; or

(B)

as part of the contents of any tax-related mailing to any person unless—

(i)

the contents are in an envelope (or other appropriate wrapper) which is sealed; and

(ii)

such number may not be viewed without opening such envelope (or wrapper).

(2)

For purposes of this subsection, the term `medicare-related mailing' means any mailing related to the administration of this title.

(b)

Effective date

The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to mailings made on or after the first day of the first month beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.