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Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 21, 2009
Empowering Medicare Patient Choices Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) contract with an entity to establish consensus-based standards to certify patient decision aids; and (2) establish an expert panel to make recommendations about which patient decision aids should be implemented, appropriate training for health care providers on patient decision aids and shared decision making, and appropriate quality measures for use in the related pilot program
Directs the Secretary to establish a pilot program to provide for the phased-in development, implementation, and evaluation of shared decision making under the Medicare program using patient decision aids to improve beneficiary understanding of medical treatment options.
Directs the Secretary to provide financial assistance for establishment of Shared Decision Making Resource Centers to support adoption, implementation, and effective use of patient decision aids and shared decision making by eligible Medicare providers.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Specifies the medical conditions for approved patient decision aids
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary to promulgate regulations that: (1) specify for which preference-sensitive conditions beneficiaries should participate in shared decision making; (2) require service providers and suppliers to make sure that beneficiaries receive appropriate patient decision aids; and (3) specify a process for beneficiaries to elect not to use such patient decision aids.
Prescribes a penalty for service providers or item suppliers if a patient does not receive a patient decision aid before an item or service is furnished, unless the patient has elected not to use such an aid.
People & committees
Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] · D–OR
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Referred to House Energy and Commerce
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.
Referred to House Ways and Means
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1236)
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Jan 21, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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