What This Bill Does
This bill changes Social Security rules for people with metastatic breast cancer (cancer that has spread to other parts of the body). It removes waiting periods that normally apply before people with this condition can receive disability insurance benefits and Medicare coverage.
Who It Affects
People with metastatic breast cancer who apply for disability insurance benefits or Medicare.
Key Provisions
• People with metastatic breast cancer no longer have to wait the normal period to receive disability insurance benefits (Sec. 2)
• People with metastatic breast cancer no longer have to wait 24 months to receive Medicare coverage (Sec. 3)
What Changes
If this bill becomes law, individuals with metastatic breast cancer who file applications for disability benefits after the law passes will not face standard waiting periods. Additionally, these individuals will receive Medicare coverage without the typical 24-month waiting period that usually applies.
Important Definitions
None defined in the bill text.
Effective Date
The disability insurance changes apply to applications filed after the bill becomes law (Sec. 2). The Medicare coverage changes apply to benefits for months beginning after the bill becomes law (Sec. 3).
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 663
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the waiting periods
for disability insurance benefits and Medicare coverage for individuals
with metastatic breast cancer, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 6, 2023
Mr. MURPHY (for himself and Ms. ERNST) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
A BILL
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate
the waiting periods for disability insurance benefits and
Medicare coverage for individuals with metastatic breast
cancer, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Metastatic Breast Can-
4
cer Access to Care Act’’.
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•S 663 IS
SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF WAITING PERIOD FOR INDIVID-
1
UALS WITH METASTATIC BREAST CANCER.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 223(a) of the Social Secu-
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rity Act (42 U.S.C. 423(a)) is amended—
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(1) in paragraph (1), in the matter following
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subparagraph (E), by inserting ‘‘or metastatic
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breast cancer’’ after ‘‘amyotrophic lateral sclerosis’’;
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and
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(2) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ‘‘or (iii)’’
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after ‘‘clause (ii)’’.
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(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
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this section shall apply with respect to applications for dis-
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ability insurance benefits filed after the date of the enact-
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ment of this Act.
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SEC. 3. WAIVER OF 24-MONTH WAITING PERIOD FOR MEDI-
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CARE
COVERAGE
OF
INDIVIDUALS
WITH
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METASTATIC BREAST CANCER.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 226(h) of the Social Secu-
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rity Act (42 U.S.C. 426(h)) is amended by inserting ‘‘or
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metastatic breast cancer’’ after ‘‘amyotrophic lateral scle-
20
rosis (ALS)’’.
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(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
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this section shall apply to benefits for months beginning
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after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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Æ
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