Home > 106th Congressional Bills > H.R. 4629 (ih) To amend title 23, United States Code, to require States to providing Federal highway funds for projects in high priority corridors, and for other purposes. [Introduced in House] ...

H.R. 4629 (ih) To amend title 23, United States Code, to require States to providing Federal highway funds for projects in high priority corridors, and for other purposes. [Introduced in House] ...


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108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4628

To amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to protect 
       consumers in managed care plans and other health coverage.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 21, 2004

  Mr. Dingell (for himself, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Berry, Mr. Stenholm, Mr. 
  George Miller of California, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Stark, Mr. Rangel, Mr. 
  Brown of Ohio, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Frost, Mr. 
 Sandlin, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Davis of Florida, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Lampson, 
  Mr. Holden, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Bell, Mr. Moore, Mr. Turner of 
Texas, Mr. Pallone, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Meeks of New York, Ms. Schakowsky, 
 Mrs. Maloney, Ms. DeLauro, Ms. Waters, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. 
 Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Kennedy of Rhode Island, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. 
Serrano, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Etheridge, Mr. Boswell, Mr. Strickland, Mr. 
 Holt, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. McNulty, Mr. Gordon, 
Ms. DeGette, Ms. Kilpatrick, Mr. Spratt, Mr. Skelton, Mr. Conyers, Mr. 
  Doyle, Mr. Oberstar, Mr. Stupak, Mr. Sherman, Mrs. McCarthy of New 
York, Ms. Linda T. Sanchez of California, and Mrs. Tauscher) introduced 
 the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
   Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the 
     Workforce and Ways and Means, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to protect 
       consumers in managed care plans and other health coverage.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Patients' Bill of 
Rights Act of 2004''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                    TITLE I--IMPROVING MANAGED CARE

   Subtitle A--Utilization review; claims; and internal and external 
                                appeals

Sec. 101. Utilization review activities.
Sec. 102. Procedures for initial claims for benefits and prior 
                            authorization determinations.
Sec. 103. Internal appeals of claims denials.
Sec. 104. Independent external appeals procedures.
Sec. 105. Health Care Consumer Assistance Fund.
                       Subtitle B--Access to care

Sec. 111. Consumer choice option.
Sec. 112. Choice of health care professional.
Sec. 113. Access to emergency care.
Sec. 114. Timely access to specialists.
Sec. 115. Patient access to obstetrical and gynecological care.
Sec. 116. Access to pediatric care.
Sec. 117. Continuity of care.
Sec. 118. Access to needed prescription drugs.
Sec. 119. Coverage for individuals participating in approved clinical 
                            trials.
Sec. 120. Required coverage for minimum hospital stay for mastectomies 
                            and lymph node dissections for the 
                            treatment of breast cancer and coverage for 
                            secondary consultations.
                   Subtitle C--Access to information

Sec. 121. Patient access to information.
         Subtitle D--Protecting the doctor-patient relationship

Sec. 131. Prohibition of interference with certain medical 
                            communications.
Sec. 132. Prohibition of discrimination against providers based on 
                            licensure.
Sec. 133. Prohibition against improper incentive arrangements.
Sec. 134. Payment of claims.
Sec. 135. Protection for patient advocacy.
                        Subtitle E--Definitions

Sec. 151. Definitions.
Sec. 152. Preemption; State flexibility; construction.
Sec. 153. Exclusions.
Sec. 154. Treatment of excepted benefits.
Sec. 155. Regulations.
Sec. 156. Incorporation into plan or coverage documents.
Sec. 157. Preservation of protections.
 TITLE II--APPLICATION OF QUALITY CARE STANDARDS TO GROUP HEALTH PLANS 
   AND HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT

Sec. 201. Application to group health plans and group health insurance 
                            coverage.
Sec. 202. Application to individual health insurance coverage.
Sec. 203. Cooperation between Federal and State authorities.
   TITLE III--APPLICATION OF PATIENT PROTECTION STANDARDS TO FEDERAL 
                       HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMS

Sec. 301. Application of patient protection standards to Federal health 
                            insurance programs.
TITLE IV--AMENDMENTS TO THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 
                                  1974

Sec. 401. Application of patient protection standards to group health 
                            plans and group health insurance coverage 
                            under the Employee Retirement Income 
                            Security Act of 1974.
Sec. 402. Availability of civil remedies.
Sec. 403. Cooperation between Federal and State authorities.
        TITLE V--AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986

        Subtitle A--Application of patient protection provisions

Sec. 501. Application to group health plans under the Internal Revenue 
                            Code of 1986.
Sec. 502. Conforming enforcement for women's health and cancer rights.
         Subtitle B--Health care coverage access tax incentives

Sec. 511. Credit for health insurance expenses of small businesses.
Sec. 512. Certain grants by private foundations to qualified health 
                            benefit purchasing coalitions.
Sec. 513. State grant program for market innovation.
Sec. 514. Grant program to facilitate health benefits information for 
                            small employers.
Sec. 515. State grant program for market innovation.
       TITLE VI--EFFECTIVE DATES; COORDINATION IN IMPLEMENTATION

Sec. 601. Effective dates.
Sec. 602. Coordination in implementation.
Sec. 603. Severability.
                  TITLE VII--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 701. No impact on Social Security Trust Fund.

                    TITLE I--IMPROVING MANAGED CARE

   Subtitle A--Utilization Review; Claims; and Internal and External 
                                Appeals

SEC. 101. UTILIZATION REVIEW ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Compliance With Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--A group health plan, and a health 
        insurance issuer that provides health insurance coverage, shall 
        conduct utilization review activities in connection with the 
        provision of benefits under such plan or coverage only in 
        accordance with a utilization review program that meets the 
        requirements of this section and section 102.
            (2) Use of outside agents.--Nothing in this section shall 
        be construed as preventing a group health plan or health 
        insurance issuer from arranging through a contract or otherwise 
        for persons or entities to conduct utilization review 
        activities on behalf of the plan or issuer, so long as such 
        activities are conducted in accordance with a utilization 
        review program that meets the requirements of this section.
            (3) Utilization review defined.--For purposes of this 
        section, the terms ``utilization review'' and ``utilization 
        review activities'' mean procedures used to monitor or evaluate 
        the use or coverage, clinical necessity, appropriateness, 
        efficacy, or efficiency of health care services, procedures or 
        settings, and includes prospective review, concurrent review, 
        second opinions, case management, discharge planning, or 
        retrospective review.
    (b) Written Policies and Criteria.--
            (1) Written policies.--A utilization review program shall 
        be conducted consistent with written policies and procedures 
        that govern all aspects of the program.
            (2) Use of written criteria.--
                    (A) In general.--Such a program shall utilize 
                written clinical review criteria developed with input 
                from a range of appropriate actively practicing health 
                care professionals, as determined by the plan, pursuant 
                to the program. Such criteria shall include written 
                clinical review criteria that are based on valid 
                clinical evidence where available and that are directed 
                specifically at meeting the needs of at-risk 
                populations and covered individuals with chronic 
                conditions or severe illnesses, including gender-
                specific criteria and pediatric-specific criteria where 
                available and appropriate.
                    (B) Continuing use of standards in retrospective 
                review.--If a health care service has been specifically 
                pre-authorized or approved for a participant, 
                beneficiary, or enrollee under such a program, the 
                program shall not, pursuant to retrospective review, 
                revise or modify the specific standards, criteria, or 
                procedures used for the utilization review for 
                procedures, treatment, and services delivered to the 
                enrollee during the same course of treatment.
                    (C) Review of sample of claims denials.--Such a 
                program shall provide for a periodic evaluation of the 
                clinical appropriateness of at least a sample of 
                denials of claims for benefits.
    (c) Conduct of Program Activities.--
            (1) Administration by health care professionals.--A 
        utilization review program shall be administered by qualified 
        health care professionals who shall oversee review decisions.
            (2) Use of qualified, independent personnel.--
                    (A) In general.--A utilization review program shall 
                provide for the conduct of utilization review 
                activities only through personnel who are qualified and 
                have received appropriate training in the conduct of 
                such activities under the program.
                    (B) Prohibition of contingent compensation 
                arrangements.--Such a program shall not, with respect 
                to utilization review activities, permit or provide 
                compensation or anything of value to its employees, 
                agents, or contractors in a manner that encourages 
                denials of claims for benefits.
                    (C) Prohibition of conflicts.--Such a program shall 
                not permit a health care professional who is providing 
                health care services to an individual to perform 
                utilization review activities in connection with the 
                health care services being provided to the individual.
            (3) Accessibility of review.--Such a program shall provide 
        that appropriate personnel performing utilization review 
        activities under the program, including the utilization review 
        administrator, are reasonably accessible by toll-free telephone 
        during normal business hours to discuss patient care and allow 
        response to telephone requests, and that appropriate provision 
        is made to receive and respond promptly to calls received 
        during other hours.
            (4) Limits on frequency.--Such a program shall not provide 
        for the performance of utilization review activities with 
        respect to a class of services furnished to an individual more 
        frequently than is reasonably required to assess whether the 
        services under review are medically necessary and appropriate.

SEC. 102. PROCEDURES FOR INITIAL CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS AND PRIOR 
              AUTHORIZATION DETERMINATIONS.

    (a) Procedures of Initial Claims for Benefits.--
            (1) In general.--A group health plan, and a health 
        insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage, shall--
                    (A) make a determination on an initial claim for 
                benefits by a participant, beneficiary, or enrollee (or 
                authorized representative) regarding payment or 
                coverage for items or services under the terms and 
                conditions of the plan or coverage involved, including 
                any cost-sharing amount that the participant, 
                beneficiary, or enrollee is required to pay with 
                respect to such claim for benefits; and
                    (B) notify a participant, beneficiary, or enrollee 
                (or authorized representative) and the treating health 
                care professional involved regarding a determination on 
                an initial claim for benefits made under the terms and 
                conditions of the plan or coverage, including any cost-
                sharing amounts that the participant, beneficiary, or 
                enrollee may be required to make with respect to such 
                claim for benefits, and of the right of the 
                participant, beneficiary, or enrollee to an internal 
                appeal under section 103.
            (2) Access to information.--
                    (A) Timely provision of necessary information.--
                With respect to an initial claim for benefits, the 
                participant, beneficiary, or enrollee (or authorized 
                representative) and the treating health care 
                professional (if any) shall provide the plan or issuer 
                with access to information requested by the plan or 
                issuer that is necessary to make a determination 
                relating to the claim. Such access shall be provided 
                not later than 5 days after the date on which the 
                request for information is received, or, in a case 
                described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection 
                (b)(1), by such earlier time as may be necessary to 
                comply with the applicable timeline under such 
                subparagraph.
                    (B) Limited effect of failure on plan or issuer's 
                obligations.--Failure of the participant, beneficiary, 
                or enrollee to comply with the requirements of 
                subparagraph (A) shall not remove the obligation of the 
                plan or issuer to make a decision in accordance with 
                the medical exigencies of the case and as soon as 
                possible, based on the available information, and 
                failure to comply with the time limit established by 
                this paragraph shall not remove the obligation of the 
                plan or issuer to comply with the requirements of this 

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