Plain English summary not yet available
The full original text is available below. Check back soon as we process this bill.
I
116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 5121
To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act and chapter 89
of title 5, United States Code, to require health insurance issuers to
maintain a price comparison tool, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 15, 2019
Mr. BEYER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight
and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act
and chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to require
health insurance issuers to maintain a price comparison
tool, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Healthcare Cost
4
Transparency Act’’.
5
VerDate Sep 11 2014
20:02 Nov 25, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5121.IH
H5121
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2
•HR 5121 IH
SEC. 2. REQUIRING HEALTH INSURANCE ISSUERS TO MAIN-
1
TAIN A PRICE COMPARISON TOOL.
2
(a) PHSA.—Section 2709 of the Public Health Serv-
3
ice Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–9) is amended by adding at the
4
end the following new subsection:
5
‘‘(c) MAINTENANCE OF PRICE COMPARISON TOOL.—
6
In connection with the offering of any health insurance
7
coverage in a geographic area for a plan year beginning
8
on or after January 1, 2020, a health insurance issuer
9
shall employ an individual to offer price comparison guid-
10
ance or make available on an Internet website a price com-
11
parison tool that (to the extent practicable) allows an indi-
12
vidual enrolled under such coverage, with respect to such
13
plan year and such geographic area, to compare the
14
amount (determined by historic claims data of partici-
15
pating providers with respect to such coverage) of cost-
16
sharing (including deductibles, copayments, and coinsur-
17
ance) that the individual would be responsible for paying
18
under such plan with respect to the furnishing of a specific
19
item or service by any of such providers.’’.
20
(b) FEHB.—
21
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 8902 of title 5,
22
United States Code, is amended by adding at the
23
end the following new subsection:
24
‘‘(p) A contract for a plan under this chapter, chapter
25
89A, or 89B shall require the applicable carrier to make
26
VerDate Sep 11 2014
20:02 Nov 25, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5121.IH
H5121
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3
•HR 5121 IH
available on an Internet website an individual to offer
1
price comparison guidance or the price comparison tool,
2
as described under subsection (c) of section 2709 of Public
3
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–9).’’.
4
(2) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by
5
paragraph (1) shall apply to contract years begin-
6
ning in 2020.
7
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
20:02 Nov 25, 2019
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5121.IH
H5121
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS