To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take into account the health of a primary caregiver in determining whether an item of durable medical equipment is considered medically necessary and appropriate under part B of the medicare program.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jul 14, 1994

Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, when determining whether an item of durable medical equipment (DME) is reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury or to improve the functioning of a malformed body member with respect to an ill or injured individual, to consider the effect of a denial of payment for the DME item on the health of the individual's live-in primary caregiver. Defines the primary caregiver as one who assists the ill or injured individual without monetary compensation in the performance of such activities of daily living as eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, and transferring in and out of a bed or a chair.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH-13] · D–OH

Committees

Energy and Commerce Committee
Ways and Means Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Aug 1, 1994
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment.
Jul 25, 1994
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jul 14, 1994
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jul 14, 1994
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jul 14, 1994
Introduced in House
Jul 14, 1994
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in House · Jul 14, 1994 Formatted Text PDF

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: Jun 3, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4756 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4756, 103rd Congress: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take into account the health of a primary caregiver in determining whether an item of durable medical equipment is considered medically necessary and appropriate under part B of the medicare program.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/4756

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1994-07-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr4756/BILLS-103hr4756ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-06-03T16:29:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.4756 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4756 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4756, 103rd Congress: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take into account the health of a primary caregiver in determining whether an item of durable medical equipment is considered medically necessary and appropriate under part B of the medicare program.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/4756

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1994-07-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr4756/BILLS-103hr4756ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-06-03T16:29:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4756 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4756 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4756, 103rd Congress: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take into account the health of a primary caregiver in determining whether an item of durable medical equipment is considered medically necessary and appropriate under part B of the medicare program.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/4756

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1994-07-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr4756/BILLS-103hr4756ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-06-03T16:29:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4756 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4756 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4756, 103rd Congress: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take into account the health of a primary caregiver in determining whether an item of durable medical equipment is considered medically necessary and appropriate under part B of the medicare program.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/4756

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1994-07-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr4756/BILLS-103hr4756ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-06-03T16:29:19Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4756 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.