H.R. 3171House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide that certain orthotist's and prosthetist's clinical notes under Medicare be treated as part of the patient's medical record.

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 4:58 PM UTC

The bill changes the Social Security Act so that clinical notes written by orthotists and prosthetists for Medicare patients are counted as part of the patient’s official medical record. This makes those notes usable when Medicare decides if orthotic or prosthetic services are reasonable and medically necessary. It affects Medicare beneficiaries who receive orthotic or prosthetic care and the orthotists and prosthetists who provide that care.

Key Provisions

Adds a new paragraph to Section 1834(h) stating that documentation created by orthotists and prosthetists is considered part of the patient’s medical record for Medicare purposes.
Specifies that this documentation can be used to support the determination of reasonableness and medical necessity of orthotic and prosthetic services.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

July 14, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 10, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

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.

Energy and Commerce Committee

July 10, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

July 11, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

July 14, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 10, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3171

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 10, 2017

Mr. Bishop of Michigan (for himself and Mr. Thompson of California) introduced the following bill; which was 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

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide that certain orthotist’s and prosthetist’s clinical notes under Medicare be treated as part of the patient’s medical record.

Orthotist’s and prosthetist’s clinical notes as part of the patient’s medical record

Section 1834(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(5)

Documentation created by orthotists and prosthetists

For purposes of determining the reasonableness and medical necessity of orthotics and prosthetics, documentation created by an orthotist or prosthetist shall be considered part of the patient’s medical record to support documentation created by eligible professionals described in section 1848(k)(3)(B).