H.R. 4204

119 HR 4204 IH: Medicare Patient Choice Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-06-26
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 4204  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   June 26, 2025   Mr. Smucker  (for himself and  Mr. Davis of North Carolina ) 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 allow Medicare beneficiaries to choose their physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and chiropractors.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Medicare Patient Choice Act  .
2.
Free choice of therapists for Medicare beneficiaries
Section 1802(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395a(b) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking  physician or practitioner  and inserting  physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; and
(B)
in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking  physician or practitioner  and inserting  physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ;
(2)
in paragraph (2)(B)—
(A)
in clause (i), by striking  physician or practitioner  and inserting  physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ;
(B)
in clause (v), by striking  physicians or practitioners  and inserting  physicians, practitioners, therapists, or qualified audiologists ; and
(C)
in the matter following clause (v), by striking  physician or practitioner  and inserting  physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ;
(3)
in paragraph (3)—
(A)
in the heading, by striking
physician or practitioner   and inserting
physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist  ;
(B)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  physician or practitioner  and inserting  physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ;
(C)
in subparagraph (B)—
(i)
in clause (i), by striking  physician or practitioner  each place it appears and inserting  physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; and
(ii)
in clause (ii), by striking  physician or practitioner  and inserting  physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ;
(D)
in subparagraph (C)—
(i)
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking  physician or practitioner  and inserting  physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ;
(ii)
in clause (i), by striking  physician or practitioner  and inserting  physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; and
(iii)
in clause (ii), by striking  physician or practitioner  and inserting  physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; and
(E)
in subparagraph (D), by striking  physician or practitioner  each place it appears and inserting  physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ;
(4)
in paragraph (5)—
(A)
in the heading, by striking
physicians and practitioners   and inserting
physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists  ;
(B)
in subparagraph (A), by striking  physicians and practitioners  and inserting  physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists ; and
(C)
in subparagraph (B)—
(i)
in the manner preceding clause (i), by striking  physicians and practitioners  and inserting  physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists ;
(ii)
in clause (iv), by striking  physicians and practitioners  and inserting  physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists ; and
(iii)
in clause (v), by striking  physicians and practitioners  and inserting  physicians, practitioners, therapists, and qualified audiologists ; and
(5)
in paragraph (6)—
(A)
in subparagraph (B), by striking  paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of ;
(B)
in subparagraph (D)—
(i)
in the heading, by striking
physician or practitioner   and inserting
physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist  ; and
(ii)
by striking  physician or practitioner  each place it appears and inserting  physician, practitioner, therapist, or qualified audiologist ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(E)
Therapist
The term  therapist  means a qualified physical therapist (as such term is used in section 1861(p)), a qualified occupational therapist (as such term is used in 1861(g)), or a qualified speech-language pathologist (as defined in 1861(ll)(4)(A)).
(F)
Qualified audiologist
The term  qualified audiologist  has the meaning given such term in section 1861(ll)(4)(B).
 .