I 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6170 
To prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from precluding 
patients from entering into any contract with their health care providers. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 22, 2010 
Mr. PRICE of Georgia (for himself, Mr. GINGREY of Georgia, Mr. FLEMING, 
Mr. PAUL, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, 
Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado, Mr. ROONEY, Mr. POSEY, and 
Mr. ROE of Tennessee) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
from precluding patients from entering into any contract 
with their health care providers. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Patient-Doctor Free-
dom Act of 2010’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
06:05 Sep 23, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6170.IH
H6170
jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. RIGHT OF CONTRACT WITH HEALTH CARE PRO-
VIDERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall not preclude an enrollee, partici-
pant, or beneficiary in a health benefits plan from entering 
into any contract or arrangement for health care with any 
health care provider. 
(b) HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN DEFINED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In this section, subject to 
paragraph (2), the term ‘‘health benefits plan’’ 
means any of the following: 
(A) Group health plan (as defined in sec-
tion 2791 of the Public Health Service Act). 
(B) Health insurance coverage (as defined 
in section 2791 of such Act). 
(C) A health benefits plan under chapter 
89 of title 5, United States Code. 
(D) A multi-State qualified health plan 
under section 1334 of the Patient Protection 
and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18044). 
(E) A health plan offered under the Con-
sumer Operated and Oriented Plan program 
under section 1322 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
18042). 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
06:05 Sep 23, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6170.IH
H6170
jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS
(F) A basic health program established 
under section 1331 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
18051). 
(G) A qualified health plan offered under 
a health care choice compact under section 
1333 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 18053). 
(H) Another health plan offered under title 
I of such Act. 
(2) EXCLUSION OF MEDICAID AND TRICARE.— 
Such term does not include a health plan partici-
pating in— 
(A) the Medicaid program under title XIX 
of the Social Security Act; or 
(B) the TRICARE program under chapter 
55 of title 10, United States Code. 
(c) HEALTH CARE PROVIDER DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘‘health care provider’’ means— 
(1) a physician, as defined in paragraphs (1), 
(2), (3), and (4) of section 1861(r) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(r)); and 
(2) a health care practitioner described in sec-
tion 1842(b)(18)(C) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395u(b)(18)(C)). 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
06:05 Sep 23, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6170.IH
H6170
jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with BILLS