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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 2259 (109th)

Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 2005

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

11 May 2005

Last action

31 May 2005 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

Sponsors

Rep. Dingell, John D. [D-MI-12], Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-11], Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5], Rep. Berry, Marion [D-AR-1], Rep. Andrews, Robert E. [D-NJ-1], Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15], Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-11], Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH], Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13], Rep. Waxman, Henry A. [D-CA-33], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Rep. Capps, Lois [D-CA-24], Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-14], Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Solis, Hilda L. [D-CA-32], Rep. Davis, Jim [D-FL-11], Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Towns, Edolphus [D-NY-10], Rep. Strickland, Ted [D-OH-6], Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6], Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16], Rep. Boucher, Rick [D-VA-9], Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Tierney, John F. [D-MA-6], Rep. Owens, Major R. [D-NY-11], Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn [D-NY-4], Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12], Rep. Kildee, Dale E. [D-MI-5], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6], Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Rep. McNulty, Michael R. [D-NY-23], Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Rep. Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22], Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40], Rep. Honda, Michael M. [D-CA-15], Rep. Abercrombie, Neil [D-HI-1], Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20], Rep. Wexler, Robert [D-FL-19], ROBERT BRADY, Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

Subjects

Healthcare, Taxation

Source updated

23 March 2026

Healthcare · Taxation

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 2005 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to set forth requirements for health plans or issuers of health insurance coverage, including requirements for: (1) utilization review activities; (2) procedures for claims benefits processing, prior authorization determinations, appeals, and internal reviews; and (3) access for an independent, external review. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Health Care Consumer Assistance Fund to award grants to States for consumer assistance activities designed to provide information, assistance, and referrals to consumers of health insurance products. Sets forth requirements for managed care programs and their access to care, including requiring such programs to: (1) offer coverage that allows for non-network coverage through another plan or issuer; (2) provide access to out-of-network emergency care without prior authorization; and (3) provide timely access to specialists. Requires certain annual disclosures from health plans or issuers, including disclosures of covered benefits, cost-sharing requirements, and participating providers. Prohibits a plan or issuer from: (1) restricting a health care professional's ability to advise a patient on the health of an individual or on medical care or treatment for the individual's condition or disease; and (2) operating any physician incentive plan. Establishes a cause of action against a plan or issuer that fails to exercise ordinary care in making a decision that results in a personal injury or death to a participant or beneficiary. Provides a tax credit to small businesses for expenses paid by the business for health insurance coverage of employees.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 11 May 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 11 May 2005

    Introduced

    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.

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 11 May 2005

    Introduced

    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.

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 11 May 2005

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E937)

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 11 May 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  6. 17 May 2005

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Source: Committee

  7. 23 May 2005

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Source: Committee

  8. 31 May 2005

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 11 May 2005

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 11 May 2005

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 11 May 2005

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Sponsors

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Sources

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