HR 1424 PCS
For purposes of subparagraph (A), any plan amend-
ment made pursuant to a collective bargaining 
agreement relating to the plan which amends the 
plan solely to conform to any requirement added by 
this section shall not be treated as a termination of 
such collective bargaining agreement. 
(k) DOL ANNUAL SAMPLE COMPLIANCE.—The Sec-
retary of Labor shall annually sample and conduct random 
audits of group health plans (and health insurance cov-
erage offered in connection with such plans) in order to 
determine their compliance with the amendments made by 
this division and shall submit to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress an annual report on such compliance with 
such amendments. The Secretary shall share the results 
of such audits with the Secretaries of Health and Human 
Services and of the Treasury. 
(l) ASSISTANCE
TO
PARTICIPANTS
AND
BENE-
FICIARIES.—The Secretary of Labor shall provide assist-
ance to participants and beneficiaries of group health 
plans with any questions or problems with compliance with 
the requirements of this division. The Secretary shall no-
tify participants and beneficiaries how they can obtain as-
sistance from State consumer and insurance agencies and 
the Secretary shall coordinate with State agencies to en-
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HR 1424 PCS
sure that participants and beneficiaries are protected and 
afforded the rights provided under this division. 
SEC. 103. AMENDMENTS TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE 
ACT RELATING TO THE GROUP MARKET. 
(a) EXTENSION OF PARITY TO TREATMENT LIMITS 
AND BENEFICIARY FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS.—Section 
2705 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg– 
5) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraphs: 
‘‘(3) TREATMENT
LIMITS.—In the case of a 
group health plan that provides both medical and 
surgical benefits and mental health or substance-re-
lated disorder benefits— 
‘‘(A) NO TREATMENT LIMIT.—If the plan 
or coverage does not include a treatment limit 
(as defined in subparagraph (D)) on substan-
tially all medical and surgical benefits in any 
category of items or services (specified in sub-
paragraph (C)), the plan or coverage may not 
impose any treatment limit on mental health or 
substance-related disorder benefits that are 
classified in the same category of items or serv-
ices. 
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‘‘(B) TREATMENT LIMIT.—If the plan or 
coverage includes a treatment limit on substan-
tially all medical and surgical benefits in any 
category of items or services, the plan or cov-
erage may not impose such a treatment limit on 
mental health or substance-related disorder 
benefits for items and services within such cat-
egory that is more restrictive than the predomi-
nant treatment limit that is applicable to med-
ical and surgical benefits for items and services 
within such category. 
‘‘(C) CATEGORIES
OF
ITEMS
AND
SERV-
ICES FOR APPLICATION OF TREATMENT LIMITS 
AND
BENEFICIARY
FINANCIAL
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—For purposes of this paragraph and 
paragraph (4), there shall be the following five 
categories of items and services for benefits, 
whether medical and surgical benefits or mental 
health and substance-related disorder benefits, 
and all medical and surgical benefits and all 
mental health and substance related benefits 
shall be classified into one of the following cat-
egories: 
‘‘(i) INPATIENT, IN-NETWORK.—Items 
and services not described in clause (v) 
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