HR 9257 — Primary and Behavioral Health Care Access Act of 2026

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html June 11, 2026

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill adds new requirements for coverage of primary care and behavioral health care visits without cost-sharing to existing law.

• 29 U.S.C. 1185

  SEC. 727. COVERAGE OF CERTAIN PRIMARY CARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE VISITS. (a) In General.--In addition to any item or service described in section 2713(a) of the Public Health Service Act, a group health plan, and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage, shall at a minimum provide coverage for and shall not impose any cost-sharing requirements for, with respect to a plan year-- (1) 3 primary care visits; and (2) 3 behavioral health care visits.

  This establishes a new requirement for group health plans to cover three primary care visits and three behavioral health visits per year without cost-sharing.

• 29 U.S.C. 1185

  The table of contents in section 1 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 726 the following new item: "Sec. 727. Coverage of certain primary care and behavioral health care visits."

  This adds a new section header to the existing tables of contents in ERISA referring to the new coverage requirements.

• 42 U.S.C. 300gg

  SEC. 2799A-12. COVERAGE OF CERTAIN PRIMARY CARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE VISITS. (a) In General.--In addition to any item or service described in section 2713(a), a group health plan, and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage, shall at a minimum provide coverage for and shall not impose any cost-sharing requirements for, with respect to a plan year-- (1) 3 primary care visits; and (2) 3 behavioral health care visits.

  This imposes similar coverage requirements for primary care and behavioral health visits on group health plans under the Public Health Service Act.

• 42 U.S.C. 300gg

  A group health plan, and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage, shall ensure that-- (1) the treatment limitations applicable to the 3 primary care visits described in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and the 3 behavioral health care visits described in paragraph (2) of such subsection are no more restrictive than the treatment limitations applied to any other primary care visit or behavioral health care visit covered by the plan or coverage and that there are no separate treatment limitations that are applicable only with respect to such 3 primary or such 3 behavioral health care visits;

  This ensures that the treatment limitations for the new covered visits are consistent with existing visit coverage.

Action History

1. June 11, 2026

   Introduced in House

2. June 11, 2026

   Introduced in House

3. June 11, 2026

   Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and 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.

4. June 11, 2026

   Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and 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.

5. June 11, 2026

   Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and 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.

Sponsors

• Lauren Underwood · Primary
• Kim Schrier · Cosponsor

Subjects