1. Prohibition of inclusion of Social Security account numbers on Medicare cards (a) In general Section 205(c)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause: (xiv) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security, shall establish cost-effective procedures to ensure that a Social Security account number (or derivative thereof) is not displayed, coded, or embedded on the Medicare card issued to an individual who is entitled to benefits under part A of title XVIII or enrolled under part B of title XVIII and that any other identifier displayed on such card is not identifiable as a Social Security account number (or derivative thereof). . (b) Implementation In implementing clause (xiv) of section 205(c)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C) ), as added by subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall do the following: (1) In general Establish a cost-effective process that involves the least amount of disruption to, as well as necessary assistance for, Medicare beneficiaries and health care providers, such as a process that provides such beneficiaries with access to assistance through a toll-free telephone number and provides outreach to providers. (2) Consideration of medicare beneficiary identified Consider implementing a process, similar to the process involving Railroad Retirement Board beneficiaries, under which a Medicare beneficiary identifier which is not a Social Security account number (or derivative thereof) is used external to the Department of Health and Human Services and is convertible over to a Social Security account number (or derivative thereof) for use internal to such Department and the Social Security Administration. (c) Effective date (1) In general Clause (xiv) of section 205(c)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C) ), as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to Medicare cards issued on and after an