I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5551 

To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act and title 5, United 

States Code, to require group health plans, health insurance issuers 

offering group or individual health insurance coverage, and Federal Employees Health Benefits Program health benefits plans to meet certain 

requirements with respect to medical child support orders, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 7, 2020 

Ms. NORTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on 

Oversight and Reform, 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 title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act 

and title 5, United States Code, to require group health 

plans, health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage, and Federal Employees 

Health Benefits Program health benefits plans to meet 

certain requirements with respect to medical child support orders, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ensuring Child Health 

3 Coverage Compensation in Divorce Act of 2020’’. 

4 SEC. 2. MEDICAL CHILD SUPPORT ORDER REQUIREMENTS. 

5 (a) PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT REQUIRE6 MENTS.—Subpart II of part A of title XXVII of the Public 

7 Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–11 et seq.) is 

8 amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

9 ‘‘SEC. 2730. COVERAGE PURSUANT TO MEDICAL CHILD SUP10 PORT ORDERS. 

11 ‘‘In any case in which a child has benefits under the 

12 group health plan or health insurance coverage of a non13 custodial parent (including a stepparent), such plan or the 

14 issuer offering such coverage shall— 

15 ‘‘(1) provide such information to the custodial 

16 parent as may be necessary for the child to obtain 

17 benefits through such plan or such coverage; 

18 ‘‘(2) permit the custodial parent (or provider, 

19 with the custodial parent’s approval) to submit 

20 claims for covered services without the approval of 

21 the noncustodial parent; and 

22 ‘‘(3) make payment on claims submitted in ac23 cordance with paragraph (2) directly to such custo24 dial parent or the provider.’’. 

25 (b) FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PRO26 GRAM REQUIREMENTS.—Section 8904 of title 5, United 


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1 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol2 lowing new section: 

3 ‘‘(c) In any case in which a child has health coverage 

4 through the carrier of a noncustodial parent (including a 

5 stepparent) under the program established under this 

6 chapter, such carrier shall— 

7 ‘‘(1) provide such information to the custodial 

8 parent as may be necessary for the child to obtain 

9 benefits through such coverage; 

10 ‘‘(2) permit the custodial parent (or provider, 

11 with the custodial parent’s approval) to submit 

12 claims for covered services without the approval of 

13 the noncustodial parent; and 

14 ‘‘(3) make payment on claims submitted in ac15 cordance with paragraph (2) directly to such custo16 dial parent or the provider.’’. 

17 (c) FEDERAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS.—Part A of 

18 title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) 

19 is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 

20 ‘‘SEC. 1150C. COVERAGE PURSUANT TO MEDICAL CHILD 

21 SUPPORT ORDERS. 

22 ‘‘In any case in which a child has benefits under a 

23 Federal health care program through a noncustodial par24 ent (including a stepparent), such program shall— 


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•HR 5551 IH

1 ‘‘(1) provide such information to the custodial 

2 parent as may be necessary for the child to obtain 

3 benefits through such program; 

4 ‘‘(2) permit the custodial parent (or provider, 

5 with the custodial parent’s approval) to submit 

6 claims for covered services without the approval of 

7 the noncustodial parent; and 

8 ‘‘(3) make payment on claims submitted in ac9 cordance with paragraph (2) directly to such custo10 dial parent, or State agency (if applicable).’’. 

11 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

12 this section shall apply with respect to plan years begin13 ning on or after January 1, 2020. 

Æ 


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