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H.R.4249 / 109th Congress

Living Well with Fatal Chronic Illness Act of 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Nov 8, 2005

Living Well with Fatal Chronic Illness Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) carry out research, demonstration, and education programs with respect to fatal chronic illness through the Public Health Service; and (2) conduct studies on end-of-life care.

Directs the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand activities with respect to epidemiology and public health in fatal chronic illness.

Directs the Director of the National Institutes of Health to expand, intensify, and coordinate the activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to research on fatal chronic illness.

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Provides for Medicare pilot programs for the treatment of fatal chronic illnesses.

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) develop and carry out programs to improve the delivery of appropriate health and support services for patients with fatal chronic illnesses; and (2) make grants to support volunteer and community support of veterans living at home who have fatal chronic illnesses.

Provides for a study by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences on the: (1) level of care for the elderly provided by family members; and (2) coordination of such care with more formal care provided by health care providers.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8] · D–MN

Committees

  • Energy and Commerce Committee
  • Veterans' Affairs Committee
  • Ways and Means Committee
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  2. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  3. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Veterans' Affairs, 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.

  4. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Veterans' Affairs, 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.

  5. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Veterans' Affairs, 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.

  6. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Veterans' Affairs, 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.

  7. Introduced in House

  8. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 15, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4249 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4249 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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