‘‘SEC. 713. CHILDREN’S HEALTH ACCOUNTABILITY STAND-
ARDS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), the
provisions of part C of title XXVII of the Public Health
Service Act shall apply under this subpart and part to a
group health plan (and group health insurance coverage
offered in connection with a group health plan) as if such
part were incorporated in this section.
‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—In applying subsection (a)
under this subpart and part, and reference in such part
C—
‘‘(1) to health insurance coverage is deemed to
be a reference only to group health insurance cov-
erage offered in connection with a group health plan
and to also be a reference to coverage under a group
health plan;
‘‘(2) to a health insurance issuer is deemed to
be a reference only to such an issuer in relation to
group health insurance coverage or, with respect to
a group health plan, to the plan;
‘‘(3) to the Secretary is deemed to be a ref-
erence to the Secretary of Labor; and
‘‘(4) to an enrollee with respect to health insur-
ance coverage is deemed to include a reference to a
participant or beneficiary with respect to a group
health plan.’’.
(b) MODIFICATION OF PREEMPTION STANDARDS.—
Section 731 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1191) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘subsection
(b)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (b) and (c)’’;
(2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as
subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the follow-
ing new subsection:
‘‘(c) SPECIAL RULES
IN CASE
OF PATIENT AC-
COUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS.—Subject to subsection
(a)(2), the provisions of section 713, shall not prevent a
State from establishing requirements relating to the sub-
ject matter of such provisions so long as such require-
ments are at least as stringent on group health plans and
health insurance issuers in connection with group health
insurance coverage as the requirements imposed under
such provisions.’’.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) Section 732(a) of such Act (29 U.S.C.
1185(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘section 711’’ and
inserting ‘‘sections 711 and 713’’.
(2) The table of contents in section 1 of such
Act is amended by inserting after the item relating
to section 712 the following new item:
‘‘Sec. 713. Children’s health accountability standards.’’.
SEC. 4. STUDIES.
(a) BY SECRETARY.—Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall conduct a study, and prepare and
submit to Congress a report, concerning—
(1) the unique characteristics of patterns of ill-
ness, disability, and injury in children;
(2) the development of measures of quality of
care and outcomes related to the health care of chil-
dren; and
(3) the access of children to primary mental
health services and the coordination of managed be-
havioral health services.
(b) BY GAO.—
(1) MANAGED CARE.—Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the General
Accounting Office shall conduct a study, and pre-
pare and submit to the Committee on Labor and
Human Resources of the Senate and the Committee
on Commerce of the House of Representatives a re-
port, concerning—
(A) an assessment of the structure and
performance of non-governmental health plans,
medicaid managed care organizations, plans
under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), and the program under
title XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1397aa et seq.) serving the needs of children
with special health care needs;
(B) an assessment of the structure and
performance of non-governmental plans in serv-
ing the needs of children as compared to medic-
aid managed care organizations under title XIX
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et
seq.); and
(C) the emphasis that private managed
care health plans place on primary care and the
control of services as it relates to care and serv-
ices provided to children with special health
care needs.
(2) PLAN SURVEY.—Not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act, the General Ac-
counting Office shall prepare and submit to the
Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the
Senate and the Committee on Commerce of the
House of Representatives a report that contains a
survey of health plan activities that address the
unique health needs of adolescents, including quality
measures for adolescents and innovative practice ar-
rangement.
Æ