Ensuring Child Health Coverage Compensation in Divorce Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.7922 | Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes (D-DC)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Ensuring Child Health Coverage Compensation in Divorce Act of 2022
This bill requires health insurance plans to permit custodial parents of children covered by the plan of a noncustodial parent, including a stepparent, to access such plan, including to submit payments and claims, without the approval of the noncustodial plan-holder parent.

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.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ensuring Child Health Coverage 
Compensation in Divorce Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. MEDICAL CHILD SUPPORT ORDER REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Public Health Service Act Requirements.--Subpart II of part A 
of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg-11 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 2730. COVERAGE PURSUANT TO MEDICAL CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS.

    ``In any case in which a child has benefits under the group health 
plan or health insurance coverage of a noncustodial parent (including a 
stepparent), such plan or the issuer offering such coverage shall--
            ``(1) provide such information to the custodial parent as 
        may be necessary for the child to obtain benefits through such 
        plan or such coverage;
            ``(2) permit the custodial parent (or provider, with the 
        custodial parent's approval) to submit claims for covered 
        services without the approval of the noncustodial parent; and
            ``(3) make payment on claims submitted in accordance with 
        paragraph (2) directly to such custodial parent or the 
        provider.''.
    (b) Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Requirements.--
Section 8904 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) In any case in which a child has health coverage through the 
carrier of a noncustodial parent (including a stepparent) under the 
program established under this chapter, such carrier shall--
            ``(1) provide such information to the custodial parent as 
        may be necessary for the child to obtain benefits through such 
        coverage;
            ``(2) permit the custodial parent (or provider, with the 
        custodial parent's approval) to submit claims for covered 
        services without the approval of the noncustodial parent; and
            ``(3) make payment on claims submitted in accordance with 
        paragraph (2) directly to such custodial parent or the 
        provider.''.
    (c) Federal Health Care Programs.--Part A of title XI of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section:

``SEC. 1150C. COVERAGE PURSUANT TO MEDICAL CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS.

    ``In any case in which a child has benefits under a Federal health 
care program through a noncustodial parent (including a stepparent), 
such program shall--
            ``(1) provide such information to the custodial parent as 
        may be necessary for the child to obtain benefits through such 
        program;
            ``(2) permit the custodial parent (or provider, with the 
        custodial parent's approval) to submit claims for covered 
        services without the approval of the noncustodial parent; and
            ``(3) make payment on claims submitted in accordance with 
        paragraph (2) directly to such custodial parent, or State 
        agency (if applicable).''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2022.
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