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Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Repeal Act of 1989

Public Law 101-234 · H.R. 3607 · 101st Congress · began in the House

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Dec 13, 1989 · Health

Sponsor: Rep. Brian Donnelly (D-MA-11)

Cosponsors (4): Rep. Martin Russo,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 55 yea, 346 nay55–346
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Repeal Act of 1989 - Title I: Provisions Relating to Part A of Medicare Program and Supplemental Medicare Premium - Repeals provisions of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 (the Act) expanding coverage under part A (Hospital Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act. Excepts reductions of the deductible for blood from such repeal.

Repeals provisions of the Act imposing an annual supplemental Medicare premium on part A beneficiaries whose tax liability equals or exceeds $150 and establishes the Federal Hospital Insurance Catastrophic Coverage Reserve Fund. Delays, from November 30, 1988, to May 31, 1990, the date by which the Secretary of the Treasury must report to the Congress on Federal tax policies to promote private financing of long-term care.

Title II: Provisions Relating to Part B of the Medicare Program - Repals the Act's amendments to part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of the Medicare program, including the financing mechanisms created to support the Act's expansion of part B benefits. Excepts from such repeal the requirement that physician payment requests include diagnostic coding information.

Requires the revision of Medicare supplemental health insurance policy standards to relect this Act's enactment. Directs such policies to inform policyholders who are Medicare beneficiaries of the changes made by this Act's enactment and their effect on the policy. Requires Medicare supplemental insurance policies from which an individual terminated his or her coverage prior to this Act's enactment to offer such individual policy terms which: (1) impose no waiting period for the treatment of preexisting conditions; (2) offer coverage substantially equivalent to the old coverage; and (3) classify premiums at least as favorably for the individual as did the old policy.

Requires the continued provision of certain part B benefits otherwise repealed by this Act to health maintenance organization enrollees through 1990.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to notify Medicare beneficiaries of changes made by this Act's enactment.

Title III: Miscellaneous Amendments - Repeals the Act's extension of: (1) certain waiver of liability provisions applicable to hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies; and (2) the prohibition of new Medicare cost-saving regulations. Abolishes the Advisory Committee on Medicare Home Health Claims and Medicare catastrophic illness case management demonstration projects.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 101st Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 55 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

55 yea346 nay32 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(34)

  • Rep. Gus SavageD-IL-2
  • Rep. Mervyn DymallyD-CA-31
  • Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
  • Rep. Theodore WeissD-NY-17
  • Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
  • Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
  • Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
  • Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
  • Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
  • Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
  • Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
  • Rep. Joseph KennedyD-MA-8
  • Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
  • Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
  • Rep. Kweisi MfumeD-MD-7
  • Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
  • Rep. James JontzD-IN-5
  • Rep. Robert WiseD-WV-3
  • Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-28
  • Rep. Jim MoodyD-WI-5
  • Rep. Leon PanettaD-CA-16
  • Rep. Joseph BrennanD-ME-1
  • Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
  • Rep. Beryl AnthonyD-AR-4
  • Rep. Donald PeaseD-OH-13
  • Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
  • Rep. Douglas OwensD-UT-2
  • Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
  • Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
  • Rep. Jill Long ThompsonD-IN-4
  • Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
  • Rep. James SlatteryD-KS-2
  • Rep. Austin MurphyD-PA-22
  • Rep. Earl HuttoD-FL-1

Republicans who voted yea(21)

  • Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
  • Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
  • Rep. Bill GreenR-NY-15
  • Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-22
  • Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
  • Rep. Sidney MorrisonR-WA-4
  • Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
  • Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-34
  • Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
  • Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
  • Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-2
  • Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
  • Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
  • Rep. Paul HenryR-MI-5
  • Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
  • Rep. Mike DeWineR-OH-7
  • Rep. Robert WhittakerR-KS-5
  • Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
  • Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
  • Rep. Steve BartlettR-TX-3
  • Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 367 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 50 actions.

  1. Dec 13, 1989Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-234.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Dec 7, 1989PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Nov 22, 1989Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate receded from its amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Nov 21, 1989Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate receded from its amendment by Voice Vote.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
  8. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Donnelly moved that the House disagree to the Senate amendment.
  9. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House concur in the Senate amendment Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 55 - 346 (Roll no. 378).House roll call 378
  10. Resolving differencesResolving differences · The previous question was ordered without objection.
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Rostenkowski moved that the House concur in the Senate amendment.
  12. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion to further insist on disagreement to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 352 - 63 (Roll no. 376).House roll call 376
  13. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Rostenkowski asked unanimous consent that the House further insist on its disagreement to the Senate amendment.
  14. FloorFloor · Amendment SP 1198 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
  15. FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  16. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion to concur in the Senate amendment. The Senate amendment sought to avoid a complete repeal of the Medicare Catastrophic Health Care Program.
  17. FloorFloor · Message on House action received in Senate and held at desk:. House further insist on its disagreement to amendment of the Senate.
  18. OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House concur in the Senate amendment Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 55 - 346 (Roll no. 378).House roll call 378
  19. OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion to further insist on disagreement to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 352 - 63 (Roll no. 376).House roll call 376
  20. Nov 19, 1989Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate disagreed to conference report by Unanimous Consent.
  21. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate further insisted on its amendments and asked for a conference. By Unanimous Consent.
  22. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate appointed conferees. Bentsen; Matsunaga; Moynihan; Baucus; Mitchell; Riegle; Rockefeller; Bradley; Packwood; Dole; Roth; Chafee; Heinz; Durenberger; McCain.
  23. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report disagreed to in Senate: Senate disagreed to conference report by Unanimous Consent.
  24. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  25. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 349 - 57 (Roll no. 371).House roll call 371
  26. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 349 - 57 (Roll no. 371).House roll call 371
  27. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Rostenkowski brought up conference report H.Rept. 101-378 for consideration as a privileged matter.
  28. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report H. Rept. 101-378 filed.
  29. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 101-378 filed.
  30. FloorFloor · The previous question was ordered without objection.
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.