Helping America Hear Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-4241
Sponsor: Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-9]
Introduced: 2004-04-28 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Employee health benefits
Federal employees
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government employees' health insurance
Health insurance
Hearing aids
Labor and Employment

Summary:
action_date: 2004-04-28
text: 
Helping America Hear Act of 2004 - Requires each Federal health benefits plan to include coverage for the provision of at least two hearing aids every three years, except that this provision shall not be construed as requiring the payment under such plan in any three-year period of more than $2,000 on hearing aids with respect to any individual.
 
Amends: (1) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide that if a group health plan provides benefits with respect to hospital and surgical expenses, the plan (and any health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with such a plan) shall provide coverage for the provision of at least two hearing aids every three years, except that this provision shall not be construed as requiring the payment under such plan in any three-year period of more than $2,000 on hearing aids with respect to any individual; and (2) the Public Health Service Act to make the above ERISA provision applicable to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in the individual market in the same manner as they apply to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in connection with a group health plan in the small or large group market.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization.
action_date: 2004-05-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
action_date: 2004-05-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
action_date: 2004-04-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
action_date: 2004-04-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
action_date: 2004-04-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
action_date: 2004-04-28
text: Referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
action_date: 2004-04-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-04-28
text: Introduced in House