Washington, DC – The American Insurance Association (AIA), a leading proponent of the Strengthening Medicare and Repaying Taxpayers Act or SMART Act, applauds the recent passage of H.R. 1063 by the U.S. House of Representatives. The SMART Act (H.R. 1063), as passed by the House Energy & Commerce Committee, was inserted as Title II of H.R. 1845, legislation to provide for a study on issues relating to access to intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) for Medicare beneficiaries, under suspension of the rules. The House passed H.R. 1845 by a vote of 401-3.
“AIA has been a long-time supporter of the SMART Act and we are pleased that the House has passed this important bill,” said Melissa Shelk, AIA’s vice president for federal affairs. “We thank Representatives Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Ron Kind (D-WI) for their leadership in shepherding the bill through to passage in the final days of this Congress.”
H.R. 1063 will facilitate property-casualty insurers’ compliance with Medicare Secondary Payment (MSP) Act Section 111 reporting.
“It will lead to the more efficient and faster settlement of claims involving Medicare beneficiaries,” said Shelk. “The bill will benefit beneficiaries, employers, insurers and CMS. We urge the Senate to pass this legislation before it adjourns.”
The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Source: AIA