Lawmakers praise passage of Medicare ID-theft bill

Reps. Sam Johnson (R-Texas) and Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) on Friday cheered the passage of their bill to redesign the Medicare identity card so as not to display seniors' Social Security numbers.

The Medicare Identity Theft Prevention Act passed Thursday on a voice vote. The bill orders "cost-effective procedures" at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that Social Security numbers are not used on the Medicare card, which seniors are asked to carry at all times.

“This commonsense bill is a vital step in protecting our nation’s seniors from identity theft," said Johnson, who leads the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security. 

"We can’t afford to put seniors at risk any longer, and I hope the Senate will act immediately to pass this legislation."

Doggett, a member of the Social Security subcommittee, said that "a little prevention can save a lot of heartache" for Medicare beneficiaries.

"Millions of Americans carry in their wallet or purse something that makes them needlessly more vulnerable to identity theft — it’s their Medicare card," he said.

"Seniors have spent a lifetime building their financial security.  Their savings and credit should not be put at risk if someone steals their Medicare card."

Johnson and Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.), who leads the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, have long argued that HHS should overhaul the Medicare ID card.

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