HR 1409 — Cancer Drug Parity Act of 2017

(a) Choice of health care professional If a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage, requires or provides for designation by a participant, beneficiary, or enrollee of a participating primary care provider, then the plan or issuer shall permit each participant, beneficiary, and enrollee to designate any participating primary care provider who is available to accept such individual. (b) Coverage of emergency services (1) In general If a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance issuer,1 provides or covers any benefits with respect to services in an emergency department of a hospital, the plan or issuer shall cover emergency services (as defined in paragraph (2)(B))— (A) without the need for any prior authorization determination; (B) whether the health care provider furnishing such services is a participating provider with respect to such services; (C) in a manner so that, if such services are provided to a participant, beneficiary, or enrollee— (i) by a nonparticipating health care provider with or without prior authorization; or (ii) (I) such services will be provided without imposing any requirement under the plan for prior authorization of services or any limitation on coverage where the provider of services does not have a contractual relationship with the plan for the providing of services that is more restrictive than the requirements or limitations that apply to emergency department services received from providers who do have such a contractual relationship with the plan; and (II) if such services are provided out-of-network, the cost-sharing requirement (expressed as a copayment amount or coinsurance rate) is the same requirement that would apply if such services were provided in-network; 2 (D) without regard to any other term or condition of such coverage (other than exclusion or coordination of benefits, or an affiliation or waiting period, permitted under section 2701 3 of this Act, section 1181 of title 29, or section 9801 of title 26, and other than applicable cost-sharing). (2) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Emergency medical condition The term “emergency medical condition” means a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that a prudent layperson, who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine, could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in a condition described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of section 1395dd(e)(1)(A) of this title. (B) Emergency services The term “emergency services” means, with respect to an emergency medical condition— (i) a medical screening examination (as required under section 1395dd of this title) that is within the capability of the emergency department of a hospital, including ancillary services routinely available to the emergency department to evaluate such emergency medical condition, and (ii) within the capabilities of the staff and facilities available at the hospital, such further medical examination and treatment as are required under section 1395dd of this title to stabilize the patient. (C) Stabilize The term “to stabilize”, with respect to an emergency medical condition (as defined in subparagraph (A)), has the meaning give 4 in section 1395dd(e)(3) of this title. (c) Access to pediatric care (1) Pediatric care In the case of a person who has a child who is a participant, beneficiary, or enrollee under a group health plan, or health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in the group or individual market, if the plan or issuer requires or provides for the designation of a participating primary care provider for the child, the plan or issuer shall permit such person to designate a physician (allopathic or osteopathic) who specializes in pediatrics as the child’s primary care provider if such provider participates in the network of t...

(a) Continued applicability of State law with respect to health insurance issuers (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2) and except as provided in subsection (b), this part, part D, and part C insofar as it relates to this part or part D shall not be construed to supersede any provision of State law which establishes, implements, or continues in effect any standard or requirement solely relating to health insurance issuers in connection with individual or group health insurance coverage except to the extent that such standard or requirement prevents the application of a requirement of this part or part D. (2) Continued preemption with respect to group health plans Nothing in this part or part D shall be construed to affect or modify the provisions of section 1144 of title 29 with respect to group health plans. (b) Special rules in case of portability requirements (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the provisions of this part relating to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer supersede any provision of State law which establishes, implements, or continues in effect a standard or requirement applicable to imposition of a preexisting condition exclusion specifically governed by section 701 1 which differs from the standards or requirements specified in such section. (2) Exceptions Only in relation to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer, the provisions of this part do not supersede any provision of State law to the extent that such provision— (i) substitutes for the reference to “6-month period” in section 2701(a)(1) 1 a reference to any shorter period of time; (ii) substitutes for the reference to “12 months” and “18 months” in section 2701(a)(2) 1 a reference to any shorter period of time; (iii) substitutes for the references to “63” days in sections 2701(c)(2)(A) 1 and 2701(d)(4)(A) 1 a reference to any greater number of days; (iv) substitutes for the reference to “30-day period” in sections 2701(b)(2) 1 and 2701(d)(1) 1 a reference to any greater period; (v) prohibits the imposition of any preexisting condition exclusion in cases not described in section 2701(d) 1 or expands the exceptions described in such section; (vi) requires special enrollment periods in addition to those required under section 2701(f) 1; or (vii) reduces the maximum period permitted in an affiliation period under section 2701(g)(1)(B) 1. (c) Rules of construction Nothing in this part (other than section 2704) 1 or part D shall be construed as requiring a group health plan or health insurance coverage to provide specific benefits under the terms of such plan or coverage. (d) Definitions For purposes of this section— (1) State law The term “State law” includes all laws, decisions, rules, regulations, or other State action having the effect of law, of any State. A law of the United States applicable only to the District of Columbia shall be treated as a State law rather than a law of the United States. (2) State The term “State” includes a State (including the Northern Mariana Islands), any political subdivisions of a State or such Islands, or any agency or instrumentality of either.

(a) No changes to existing coverage (1) In general Nothing in this Act (or an amendment made by this Act) shall be construed to require that an individual terminate coverage under a group health plan or health insurance coverage in which such individual was enrolled on March 23, 2010. (2) Continuation of coverage Except as provided in paragraph (3), with respect to a group health plan or health insurance coverage in which an individual was enrolled on March 23, 2010, this subtitle and subtitle A (and the amendments made by such subtitles) shall not apply to such plan or coverage, regardless of whether the individual renews such coverage after March 23, 2010. (3) Application of certain provisions The provisions of sections 2715 [42 U.S.C. 300gg–15] and 2718 [42 U.S.C. 300gg–18] of the Public Health Service Act (as added by subtitle A) shall apply to grandfathered health plans for plan years beginning on or after March 23, 2010. (4) Application of certain provisions (A) In general The following provisions of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.] (as added by this title) 1 shall apply to grandfathered health plans for plan years beginning with the first plan year to which such provisions would otherwise apply: (i) Section 2708 [42 U.S.C. 300gg–7] (relating to excessive waiting periods). (ii) Those provisions of section 2711 [42 U.S.C. 300gg–11] relating to lifetime limits. (iii) Section 2712 [42 U.S.C. 300gg–12] (relating to rescissions). (iv) Section 2714 [42 U.S.C. 300gg–14] (relating to extension of dependent coverage). (B) Provisions applicable only to group health plans (i) Provisions described Those provisions of section 2711 [42 U.S.C. 300gg–11] relating to annual limits and the provisions of section 2704 [42 U.S.C. 300gg–3] (relating to pre-existing condition exclusions) of the Public Health Service Act (as added by this subtitle) shall apply to grandfathered health plans that are group health plans for plan years beginning with the first plan year to which such provisions otherwise apply. (ii) Adult child coverage For plan years beginning before January 1, 2014, the provisions of section 2714 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 300gg–14] (as added by this subtitle) shall apply in the case of an adult child with respect to a grandfathered health plan that is a group health plan only if such adult child is not eligible to enroll in an eligible employer-sponsored health plan (as defined in section 5000A(f)(2) of title 26) other than such grandfathered health plan. (5) Application of additional provisions Sections 300gg–111, 300gg–112, and 300gg–117 of this title shall apply to grandfathered health plans for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2022. (b) Allowance for family members to join current coverage With respect to a group health plan or health insurance coverage in which an individual was enrolled on March 23, 2010, and which is renewed after such date, family members of such individual shall be permitted to enroll in such plan or coverage if such enrollment is permitted under the terms of the plan in effect as of March 23, 2010. (c) Allowance for new employees to join current plan A group health plan that provides coverage on March 23, 2010, may provide for the enrolling of new employees (and their families) in such plan, and this subtitle and subtitle A (and the amendments made by such subtitles) shall not apply with respect to such plan and such new employees (and their families). (d) Effect on collective bargaining agreements In the case of health insurance coverage maintained pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements between employee representatives and one or more employers that was ratified before March 23, 2010, the provisions of this subtitle and subtitle A (and the amendments made by such subtitles) shall not apply until the date on which the last of the collective bargaining agreements relating to the coverage terminates. Any coverage amendment made pursuan...