United States 118th Congress Status: In Committee 6 D cosponsors

HR 7641 — Justice for Patients Act

Last action — Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

In plain language

The bill prohibits mandatory arbitration clauses and class action limitations in health insurance contracts.

The Justice for Patients Act aims to ensure that health insurance contracts cannot include clauses that require arbitration before disputes can be resolved or that limit the ability of participants to file class action lawsuits. This allows individuals more options for seeking legal recourse regarding their health insurance agreements.

What this means for you
  • Consumers: This means you can pursue legal action more easily if you have disputes with your health insurance.

Summary

To prohibit the inclusion of mandatory predispute arbitration clauses and clauses limiting class action lawsuits in health insurance contracts.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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

The bill adds prohibitions against mandatory predispute arbitration clauses and limitations on class action lawsuits in health insurance contracts.

  • Part D of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg-111 et seq.)

    SEC. 2799A-11. PROHIBITION ON INCLUSION OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS IN HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRACTS. (a) Prohibition on Mandatory Predispute Arbitration.--A group health plan or a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage may not include in any plan provision, agreement, or arrangement, any predispute arbitration clause that requires the arbitration of any claim relating to such plan or coverage that otherwise may be brought by a participant or beneficiary under State or Federal law. Any such provisions requiring predispute arbitration shall have no force or effect. (b) Prohibition on Limitation of Class Actions.--A group health plan or issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage may not include in any plan provision, agreement, or arrangement, any limitation on the ability of a participant or beneficiary of such plan or coverage to engage in a class action lawsuit relating to the administration of such plan or coverage that otherwise may be brought by a participant or beneficiary under State or Federal law..

    This adds new requirements to prohibit mandatory arbitration and limit class action lawsuit provisions in health insurance contracts.

  • Subpart B of part 7 of subtitle B of title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1185 et seq.)

    SEC. 726. PROHIBITION ON INCLUSION OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS IN HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRACTS. (a) Prohibition on Mandatory Predispute Arbitration.--A group health plan or a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage may not include in any plan provision, agreement, or arrangement, any predispute arbitration clause that requires the arbitration of any claim relating to such plan or coverage that otherwise may be brought by a participant or beneficiary under State or Federal law. Any such provisions requiring predispute arbitration shall have no force or effect. (b) Prohibition on Limitation of Class Actions.--A group or individual health plan or a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage may not include any limitation on the ability of a participant or beneficiary of such plan or coverage to engage in a class action lawsuit relating to the administration of such plan or coverage that otherwise may be brought by a participant or beneficiary under State or Federal law.

    This adds new prohibitions on mandatory arbitration and restrictions on class actions in ERISA health plans.

  • Subchapter B of chapter 100 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986

    SEC. 9826. PROHIBITION ON INCLUSION OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS IN HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRACTS. (a) Prohibition on Mandatory Predispute Arbitration.--A group health plan or health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage may not include in any plan provision, agreement, or arrangement, any predispute arbitration clause that requires the arbitration of any claim relating to such plan or coverage that otherwise may be brought by a participant or beneficiary under State or Federal law. Any such provisions requiring predispute arbitration shall have no force or effect. (b) Prohibition on Limitation of Class Actions.--A group health plan or a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage may not include any limitation on the ability of a participant or beneficiary of such plan or coverage to engage in a class action lawsuit relating to the administration of such plan or coverage that otherwise may be brought by a participant or beneficiary under State or Federal law.

    This establishes the same prohibitions on arbitration and class action limitations in the tax code related to health insurance.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, 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. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, 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. Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, 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.

  6. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  7. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 541 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (541)

541 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 541 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights healthcare health-insurance
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 7641 do?
To prohibit the inclusion of mandatory predispute arbitration clauses and clauses limiting class action lawsuits in health insurance contracts.
Who sponsors HR 7641?
HR 7641 is sponsored by Porter, Katie (Democratic), Doggett, Lloyd (Democratic), Schakowsky, Janice D. (Democratic), DeLauro, Rosa L. (Democratic), Chu, Judy (Democratic), and Pocan, Mark (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 7641?
This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 7641?
Track HR 7641 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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