Empowering Patients First Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-2519
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2016-02-09
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Abortion

Administrative remedies

Alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration

Civil actions and liability

Competition and antitrust

Congressional oversight

Disability and health-based discrimination

Disability and paralysis

Employee benefits and pensions

Evidence and witnesses

Federal preemption

Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Government studies and investigations

Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Health care quality

Health information and medical records

Health personnel

Health programs administration and funding

Health promotion and preventive care

Income tax credits

Income tax deductions

Insurance industry and regulation

Intergovernmental relations

Licensing and registrations

Medicaid

Medical research

Medicare

Military medicine

Prescription drugs

Religion

Small business

State and local government operations

Tax-exempt organizations

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2016-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S740-741)

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-02-09
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Empowering Patients First Act of 2015</b></p> <p>This bill repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and&nbsp;the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of their enactment. This bill replaces those provisions with amendments to the Internal Revenue Code, the Public Health Service Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to address health care coverage.</p> <p>The bill provides for refundable tax credits for health insurance coverage and health savings account (HSA) contributions.</p> <p>The bill raises the annual HSA contribution limit, expands eligibility for tax-deductible HSA contributions, and allows HSAs to be used to pay periodic or capitated primary care fees.</p> <p>A limit is placed on the amount of an employer's contribution to health coverage that can be excluded from the employee's taxable income.</p> <p>The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must provide a grant to each state for high-risk pools or reinsurance pools to subsidize health insurance for high-risk populations and individuals.</p> <p>Funds authorized, tax credits, and tax deductions under this Act may not be used to pay for an abortion or health coverage that includes abortion, with exceptions.</p> <p>This bill provides for the establishment and governance of independent health pools, entities that form risk pools to offer health insurance coverage to their members.</p> <p><i>Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2015</i></p> <p>This bill provides for the establishment and governance of association health plans, which are group health plans sponsored by business associations that meet certain ERISA certification requirements. </p> <p>Health insurers offering individual coverage may deny coverage to an individual, outside of open enrollment periods. Preexisting conditions may be excluded from coverage under certain conditions. </p> <p>Individual health insurance coverage is governed by the laws of a state designated by the health insurance issuer.</p> <p>HHS must issue clinical practice guidelines. The bill specifies how these guidelines may be used in a health care lawsuit.</p> <p>HHS may not use comparative effectiveness research or patient-centered outcomes research to deny coverage of an item or service under a federal health care program. <p>This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to permit Medicare beneficiaries to contract with a physician or practitioner for covered health care and submit a claim for payment under Medicare. <p> Health care professionals are exempted from federal and state antitrust laws in connection with negotiations with a health plan to provide health care items or services.

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2519 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 9, 2016 Mr. McCain (for himself and Mr. Perdue ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Empowering Patients First Act of 2015 . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Repeal of PPACA and health care-related HCERA provisions. Sec. 3. No mandate of guaranteed issue or community rating. Title I—Tax incentives for maintaining health insurance coverage Subtitle A—Tax credit for health insurance coverage Sec. 101. Refundable tax credit for health insurance coverage. Sec. 102. Election of tax credit instead of alternative government or group plan benefits. Subtitle B—Health savings accounts Sec. 111. Refundable tax credit for health savings account contributions. Sec. 112. Allowing HSA rollover to child or parent of account holder. Sec. 113. Maximum contribution limit to HSA coordinated with retirement savings account limitation. Sec. 114. Transfer of required minimum distribution from retirement plan to health savings account. Sec. 115. Equivalent bankruptcy protections for health savings accounts as retirement funds. Sec. 116. Allow both spouses to make catch-up contributions to the same HSA account. Sec. 117. Provisions relating to Medicare. Sec. 118. Individuals eligible for veterans benefits for a service-connected disability. Sec. 119. Individuals eligible for Indian Health Service assistance. Sec. 120. Individuals eligible for TRICARE coverage. Sec. 121. FSA and HRA interaction with HSAs. Sec. 122. Special rule for certain medical expenses incurred before establishment of account. Sec. 123. Preventive care prescription drug clarification. Sec. 124. Administrative error correction before due date of return. Sec. 125. Members of health care sharing ministries eligible to establish health savings accounts. Sec. 126. High deductible health plans renamed HSA qualified plans. Sec. 127. Treatment of direct primary care service arrangements. Sec. 128. Certain provider fees to be treated as medical care. Sec. 129. Clarification of treatment of capitated primary care payments as amounts paid for medical care. Subtitle C—Other provisions Sec. 131. Limitation on employer-provided health care coverage. Sec. 132. Limitation on abortion funding. Sec. 133. No government discrimination against certain health care entities. Sec. 134. Equal employer contribution rule to promote choice. Sec. 135. Limitations on State restrictions on employer auto-enrollment. Sec. 136. Credit for small employers adopting auto-enrollment and defined contribution options. Title II—Health Care Access and Availability Subtitle A—Health Insurance Pooling Mechanisms for Individuals Sec. 201. Federal grants for State insurance expenditures. Sec. 202. Pool reform for individual membership expansion. Subtitle B—Small Business Health Fairness Sec. 211. Short title. Sec. 212. Rules governing association health plans. Sec. 213. Clarification of treatment of single employer arrangements. Sec. 214. Enforcement provisions relating to association health plans. Sec. 215. Cooperation between Federal and State authorities. Sec. 216. Effective date and transitional and other rules. Subtitle C—Health Insurance Reforms Sec. 221. Requirements for individual health insurance. Title III—Interstate Market for Health Insurance Sec. 301. Cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage. Title IV—Lawsuit Abuse Reforms Sec. 401. Change in burden of proof based on compliance with clinical practice guidelines. Sec. 402. State grants to create expert panels and administrative health care tribunals. Sec. 403. Payment of damages and recovery of costs in health care lawsuits. Sec. 404. Definitions. Sec. 405. Effect on other laws. Sec. 406. Applicability; effective date. Title V—Wellness and Prevention Sec. 501. Providing financial incentives for treatment compliance. Title VI—Transparency and Insurance Reform Measures Sec. 601. Receipt and response to requests for claim information. Title VII—Quality Sec. 701. Prohibition on certain uses of data obtained from comparative effectiveness research or from patient-centered outcomes research; accounting for personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response. Sec. 702. Establishment of performance-based quality measures. Title VIII—State Transparency Plan Portal Sec. 801. Providing information on health coverage options and health care providers. Title IX—Patient Freedom of Choice Sec. 901. Guaranteeing freedom of choice and contracting for patients under Medicare. Sec. 902. Preemption of State laws limiting charges for eligible professional services. Sec. 903. Health care provider licensure cannot be conditioned on participation in a health plan. Sec. 904. Bad debt deduction for doctors to partially offset the cost of providing uncompensated care required to be provided under amendments made by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. Sec. 905. Right of contract with health care providers. Title X—Quality Health Care Coalition Sec. 1001. Quality Health Care Coalition. 2. Repeal of PPACA and health care-related HCERA provisions (a) PPACA Effective as of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( Public Law 111–148 ), such Act is repealed, and the provisions of law amended or repealed by such Act are restored or revived as if such Act had not been enacted. (b) Health Care-Related Provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 Effective as of the enactment of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 ( Public Law 111–152 ), title I and subtitle B of title II of such Act are repealed, and the provisions of law amended or repealed by such title or subtitle, respectively, are restored or revived as if such title and subtitle had not been enacted. 3. No mandate of guaranteed issue or community rating Nothing in this Act shall be construed to provide a mandate for guaranteed issue or community rating in the private insurance market. I Tax incentives for maintaining health insurance coverage A Tax credit for health insurance coverage 101. Refundable tax credit for health insurance coverage (a) In general Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 2, is amended by inserting after section 36A the following new section: 36B. Health insurance coverage (a) In general In the case of an individual, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by subtitle A an amount equal to the aggregate monthly credit amounts determined under subsection (b) with respect to the taxpayer and the taxpayer’s qualifying family members for eligible coverage months beginning during the taxable year. (b) Monthly credit amounts (1) In general The monthly credit amount with respect to any individual for any eligible coverage month is 1/12 of— (A) $900 in the case of an individual who has not attained age 18 as of the beginning of such month, (B) $1,200 in the case of an individual who has so attained age 18 but who has not so attained age 35, (C) $2,100 in the case of an individual who has so attained age 35, but who has not so attained age 50, and (D) $3,000 in the case of an individual who has so attained age 50. (2) Inflation adjustment In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2016, each of the dollar amounts in paragraph (1) shall be increased by an amount equal to— (A) such dollar amount, multiplied by (B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting calendar year 2015 for calendar year 1992 in subparagraph (B) thereof. Any increase determined under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $50. (c) Eligible coverage month For purposes of this section, the term eligible coverage month means, with respect to any individual, any month if, as of the first day of such month, the individual— (1) is covered by qualified health insurance, (2) does not have other specified coverage, and (3) is not imprisoned under Federal, State, or local authority. (d) Qualifying family member For purposes of this section, the term qualifying family member means— (1) in the case of a joint return, the taxpayer’s spouse, and (2) any dependent of the taxpayer. (e) Qualified health insurance For purposes of this section, the term qualified health insurance means health insurance coverage (other than excepted benefits as defined in section 9832(c)) which constitutes medical care. (f) Other specified coverage For purposes of this section, an individual has other specified coverage for any month if, as of the first day of such month— (1) Coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP Such individual— (A) is entitled to benefits under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act or is enrolled under part B of such title, or (B) is enrolled in the program under title XIX or XXI of such Act (other than under section 1928 of such Act). (2) Certain other coverage Such individual— (A) is enrolled in a health benefits plan under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, (B) is entitled to receive benefits under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, (C) is entitled to receive benefits under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, (D) is enrolled in a group health plan (within the meaning of section 5000(b)(1)) which is subsidized by the employer, or (E) is a member of a health care sharing ministry. (3) Health care sharing ministry For purposes of this subsection, the term health care sharing ministry means an organization— (A) which is described in section 501(c)(3) and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a), (B) members of which share a common set of ethical or religious beliefs and share medical expenses among members in accordance with those beliefs and without regard to the State in which a member resides or is employed, (C) members of which retain membership even after they develop a medical condition, (D) which (or a predecessor of which) has been in existence at all times since December 31, 1999, and medical expenses of the members of which have been shared continuously and without interruption since at least December 31, 1999, and (E) which conducts an annual audit which is performed by an independent certified public accounting firm in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and which is made available to the public upon request. (g) Special rules (1) Credit in excess of premiums only payable to a health savings account (A) In general If the credit determined under subsection (a) (determined without regard to clause (ii)) for any taxable year exceeds the amount of premiums paid by the taxpayer for coverage of the taxpayer and the taxpayer’s qualifying family members under qualified health insurance for eligible coverage months beginning in the taxable year— (i) at the request of the taxpayer, the Secretary shall pay the amount of such excess to one or more health savings accounts of the taxpayer or of any qualifying family member of the taxpayer, and (ii) the amount of such excess shall not be treated as a credit against the tax imposed by subtitle A for such taxable year. (B) Medical and health savings accounts Amounts distributed from an Archer MSA (as defined in section 220(d)) or from a health savings account (as defined in section 223(d)) shall not be taken into account under subparagraph (A) as premiums paid for coverage. (C) Insurance which covers other individuals For purposes of this paragraph, rules similar to the rules of section 213(d)(6) shall apply with respect to any contract for qualified health insurance under which amounts are payable for coverage of an individual other than the taxpayer and qualifying family members. (D) Contributions treated as rollovers, etc (i) In general Any amount paid by the Secretary to a health savings account under this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this title in the same manner as a rollover contribution to such an account described in section 223(f)(5), except that the limitation under section 223(f)(5)(B) shall not apply to such a contribution and such contribution shall not be taken into account in applying such limitation to any other amounts contributed. (ii) Coordination with HSAs Nothing in any provision of law shall be construed— (I) to prevent an individual from establishing a health savings account (as defined in section 223(d)) merely because such individual is not an eligible individual (as defined in section 223(c)), or (II) to prevent such an account from being treated as a health savings account merely because all or a substantial portion of the contributions to such account are described in this paragraph. (2) Coordination with advance payments of credit With respect to any taxable year— (A) the amount which would (but for this subsection) be allowed as a credit to the taxpayer under subsection (a) shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the aggregate amount paid on behalf of such taxpayer under section 7529 for months beginning in such taxable year, and (B) the tax imposed by section 1 for such taxable year shall be increased by the excess (if any) of— (i) the aggregate amount paid on behalf of such taxpayer under section 7529 for months beginning in such taxable year, over (ii) the amount which would (but for this subsection) be allowed as a credit to the taxpayer under subsection (a). (3) Coordination with other provisions For purposes of any deduction allowed under section 162(l), 213, or 224, and any credit allowed under section 35, any health insurance premiums which would (but for this paragraph) be taken into account shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of the credit allowed under this section (determined without regard to paragraphs (1) and (2)). (4) Denial of credit to dependents and nonpermanent resident alien individuals No credit shall be allowed under this section to any individual who is— (A) not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, or (B) a dependent with respect to another taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the calendar year in which such individual’s taxable year begins. (5) Regulations The Secretary may prescribe such regulations and other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out this section, section 6050W, and section 7529. . (b) Advance payment of credit (1) In general Chapter 77 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following: 7529. Advance payment of credit for health insurance coverage (a) General rule Not later than January 1, 2016, the Secretary shall establish a program for making payments to— (1) providers of qualified health insurance (as defined in section 36B(e)), and (2) as provided in subsection (c), health savings accounts, on behalf of taxpayers eligible for the credit under section 36B. (b) Amount of payments The aggregate payments made under this section with respect to any taxpayer, determined as of any time during any calendar year, shall not exceed the monthly credit amounts determined with respect to such taxpayer under section 36B for months during such calendar year which have ended as of such time. (c) Application of rule that credits in excess of premiums only payable to a health savings account Under rules similar to the rules of section 36B(g)(1), any amount otherwise payable on behalf of the taxpayer under subsection (b) with respect to any eligible coverage month which is in excess of the amount of premiums paid by the taxpayer for coverage of the taxpayer and the taxpayer’s qualifying family members under qualified health insurance for such month shall be payable only to one or more health savings accounts of the taxpayer or of any qualifying family member of the taxpayer. (d) Certification process and proof of coverage The Secretary shall establish a process under which individuals are certified as eligible for payment under this section. Such process shall include an initial application by the taxpayer to determine eligibility and thereafter continued eligibility shall be determined, to the maximum extent feasible, by the Secretary on the basis of information provided under section 6050X. (e) Definitions For purposes of this section, terms used in this section which are also used in section 36B shall have the same meaning as when used in section 36B. . (2) Information reporting (A) In general Subpart B of part III of subchapter A of chapter 61 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 6050X. Returns relating to credit for health insurance coverage (a) Requirement of reporting Every person who provides qualified health insurance for any month of any calendar year with respect to any individual shall, at such time as the Secretary may prescribe, make the return described in subsection (b) with respect to each such individual. With respect to any individual with respect to whom payments under section 7529 are made by the Secretary, the Secretary may require that reporting under subsection (b) be made on a monthly basis. (b) Form and manner of returns A return is described in this subsection if such return— (1) is in such form as the Secretary may prescribe, and (2) contains, with respect to each policy of qualified health insurance— (A) the name, address, and TIN of each individual covered under such policy, (B) the premiums paid with respect to such policy, and (C) such other information as the Secretary may prescribe. (c) Statements To be furnished to individuals with respect to whom information is required Every person required to make a return under subsection (a) shall furnish to each individual whose name is required to be set forth in such return a written statement showing— (1) the name and address of the person required to make such return and the phone number of the information contact for such person, and (2) the information required to be shown on the return with respect to such individual. The written statement required under the preceding sentence shall be furnished on or before January 31 of the year following the calendar year to which such statement relates. (d) Definitions For purposes of this section, terms used in this section which are also used in section 36B shall have the same meaning as when used in section 36B. . (B) Assessable penalties (i) Subparagraph (B) of section 6724(d)(1) of such Code, as amended by section 2, is amended by striking or at the end of clause (xxii), by striking and at the end of clause (xxiii) and inserting or , and by inserting after clause (xxiii) the following new clause: (xxiv) section 6050X (relating to returns relating to credit for health insurance coverage), and . (ii) Paragraph (2) of section 6724(d) of such Code, as amended by section 2, is amended by striking or at the end of subparagraph (EE), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (FF) and inserting , or , and by adding after subparagraph (FF) the following new subparagraph: (GG) section 6050X (relating to returns relating to credit for health insurance coverage). . (3) Disclosure of return information for purposes of advance payment of credit as premiums for qualified health insurance (A) In general Subsection (l) of section 6103 of such Code, as amended by section 2, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (21) Disclosure of return information related to payments of the health insurance coverage credit The Secretary may, on behalf of taxpayers eligible for the credit under section 36B, disclose to a provider of qualified health insurance (as defined in section 36(e)) or a trustee of a health savings account (and persons acting on behalf of such provider or such trustee), return information with respect to any such taxpayer only to the extent necessary (as prescribed by regulations issued by the Secretary) to carry out sections 36B(g)(1) (relating to credit in excess of premiums only payable to a health savings account) and 7529 (relating to advance payment of credit for health insurance coverage). . (B) Confidentiality of information Paragraph (3) of section 6103(a) of such Code, as amended by section 2, is amended by striking or (20) and inserting (20), or (21) . (C) Unauthorized disclosure Paragraph (2) of section 7213(a) of such Code, as amended by section 2, is amended by striking or (20) and inserting (20), or (21) . (4) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Conforming amendments (1) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United States Code, as amended by section 2, is amended by inserting 36B, after 36A, . (2) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 2, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 36A the following new item: Sec. 36B. Health insurance coverage. . (3) The table of sections for subpart B of part III of subchapter A of chapter 61 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item: Sec. 6050X. Returns relating to credit for health insurance coverage. . (4) The table of sections for chapter 77 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item: Sec. 7529. Advance payment of credit for health insurance coverage. . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015. 102. Election of tax credit instead of alternative government or group plan benefits (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual who is otherwise eligible for benefits under a health program (as defined in subsection (c)) may elect, in a form and manner specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, to receive a tax credit described in section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (which shall be used for the purpose of health insurance coverage) in lieu of receiving any benefits under such program. (b) Effective date An election under subsection (a) may first be made for calendar year 2016 and any such election shall be effective for such period (not less than one calendar year) as the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall specify, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury. (c) Health program defined For purposes of this section, the term health program means any of the following: (1) Medicare The Medicare program under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act. (2) Medicaid The Medicaid program under title XIX of such Act (including such a program operating under a Statewide waiver under section 1115 of such Act). (3) SCHIP The State children’s health insurance program under title XXI of such Act. (4) TRICARE The TRICARE program under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code. (5) Veterans benefits Coverage for benefits under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code. (6) FEHBP Coverage under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code. (7) Subsidized group health plans Coverage under a group health plan (within the meaning of section 5000(b)(1)) which is subsidized by the employer. (d) Other Social Security benefits not waived An election to waive the benefits described in subsection (c)(1) shall not result in the waiver of any other benefits under the Social Security Act. B Health savings accounts 111. Refundable tax credit for health savings account contributions (a) In general Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is amended by inserting after section 36B the following new section: 36C. Health savings account contributions (a) In general In the case of an individual who is allowed a deduction under section 223(a) for any taxable year, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by subtitle A for such taxable year, the lesser of— (1) the amount so allowed as a deduction, or (2) $1,000. (b) Limitation The credit allowed under subsection (a) with respect to any individual for any taxable year shall not exceed the excess (if any) of— (1) $1,000, over (2) the aggregate credits allowed with respect to such individual under subsection (a) for all prior taxable years. . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Paragraph (2) of section 1324(b) of title 31, United States Code, as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is amended by inserting 36C, after 36B, . (2) The table of sections for subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 36B the following new item: Sec. 36C. Health savings account contributions. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 112. Allowing HSA rollover to child or parent of account holder (a) In general Section 223(f)(8)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— (1) by inserting child, parent, or grandparent after surviving spouse , (2) by inserting child, parent, or grandparent, as the case may be, after the spouse , (3) by inserting , child, parent, or grandparent after spouse in the heading thereof, and (4) by adding at the end the following: In the case of a child who acquires such beneficiary’s interest and with respect to whom a deduction under section 151 is allowable to another taxpayer for a taxable year beginning in the calendar year in which such individual’s taxable year begins, such health savings account shall be treated as a child health savings account of the child. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 113. Maximum contribution limit to HSA coordinated with retirement savings account limitation (a) Self-Only coverage Section 223(b)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking $2,250 and inserting the amount in effect under section 219(b)(5)(A) . (b) Family coverage Section 223(b)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking $4,500 and inserting twice the amount in effect under subparagraph (A) . (c) Conforming amendments Section 223(g)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking subsections (b)(2) and (c)(2)(A) and inserting subsection (c)(2)(A) , (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking by substituting and all that follows through the end of clause (ii) and inserting by substituting calendar year 2003 for calendar year 1992 in subparagraph (B) thereof. , and (3) in the matter following subparagraph (B), by striking subsections (b)(2) and (c)(2)(A) and inserting subsection (c)(2)(A) . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 114. Transfer of required minimum distribution from retirement plan to health savings account (a) Transfer from retirement plan (1) Individual retirement accounts Section 408(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (10) Required minimum distribution transferred to health savings account (A) In general In the case of an individual who has attained the age of 70 ½ and who elects the application of this paragraph for a taxable year, gross income of the individual for the taxable year does not include a qualified HSA transfer to the extent such transfer is otherwise includible in gross income. (B) Qualified HSA transfer For purposes of this paragraph, the term qualified HSA transfer means any distribution from an individual retirement plan— (i) to a health savings account of the individual in a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer, and (ii) to the extent such distribution does not exceed the required minimum distribution determined under section 401(a)(9) for the distribution calendar year ending during the taxable year. (C) Application of section 72 Notwithstanding section 72, in determining the extent to which an amount is treated as otherwise includible in gross for purposes of subparagraph (A), the aggregate amount distributed from an individual retirement plan shall be treated as includible in gross income to the extent that such amount does not exceed the aggregate amount which would have been so includible if all amounts from all individual retirement plans were distributed. Proper adjustments shall be made in applying section 72 to other distributions in such taxable year and subsequent taxable years. (D) Coordination An election may not be made under subparagraph (A) for a taxable year for which an election is in effect under paragraph (9). . (2) Other retirement plans Section 402 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (m) Required minimum distribution transferred to health savings account (1) In general In the case of an individual who has attained the age of 70 ½ and who elects the application of this subsection for a taxable year, gross income of the individual for the taxable year does not include a qualified HSA transfer to the extent such transfer is otherwise includible in gross income. (2) Qualified HSA transfer For purposes of this subsection, the term qualified HSA transfer means any distribution from a retirement plan— (A) to a health savings account of the individual in a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer, and (B) to the extent such distribution does not exceed the required minimum distribution determined under section 401(a)(9) for the distribution calendar year ending during the taxable year. (3) Application of section 72 Notwithstanding section 72, in determining the extent to which an amount is treated as otherwise includible in gross for purposes of paragraph (1), the aggregate amount distributed from an individual retirement plan shall be treated as includible in gross income to the extent that such amount does not exceed the aggregate amount which would have been so includible if all amounts from all individual retirement plans were distributed. Proper adjustments shall be made in applying section 72 to other distributions in such taxable year and subsequent taxable years. (4) Eligible retirement plan For purposes of this subsection, the term eligible retirement plan has the meaning given such term by subsection (c)(8)(B) (determined without regard to clauses (i) and (ii) thereof). . (b) Transfer to health savings account (1) In general Section 223(d)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking or at the end of clause (i), by striking the period at the end of clause (ii)(II) and inserting , or , and by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) unless it is a qualified HSA transfer described in section 408(d)(10) or 402(m). . (2) Excise tax inapplicable to qualified HSA transfer Section 4973(g)(1) of such Code is amended by inserting or a qualified HSA transfer described in section 408(d)(10) or 402(m) after or 223(f)(5) . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to distributions made after the date of the enactment of this Act. 115. Equivalent bankruptcy protections for health savings accounts as retirement funds (a) In general Section 522 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (r) Treatment of health savings accounts For purposes of this section, any health savings account (as described in section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) shall be treated in the same manner as an individual retirement account described in section 408 of such Code. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to cases commencing under title 11, United States Code, after the date of enactment of this Act. 116. Allow both spouses to make catch-up contributions to the same HSA account (a) In general Section 223(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) Special rule where both spouses are eligible individuals with 1 account If— (i) an individual and the individual's spouse have both attained age 55 before the close of the taxable year, and (ii) the spouse is not an account beneficiary of a health savings account as of the close of such year, the additional contribution amount shall be twice the amount otherwise determined under subparagraph (B). . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 117. Provisions relating to Medicare (a) Individuals over age 65 only enrolled in Medicare Part A Section 223(b)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following: This paragraph shall not apply to any individual during any period for which the individual's only entitlement to such benefits is an entitlement to hospital insurance benefits under part A of title XVIII of such Act pursuant to an enrollment for such hospital insurance benefits under section 226(a)(1) of such Act. . (b) Medicare beneficiaries participating in Medicare advantage MSA may contribute their own money to their MSA (1) In general Section 138(b) of such Code is amended by striking paragraph (2) and by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively. (2) Conforming amendment Section 138(c)(4) of such Code is amended by striking and paragraph (2) . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 118. Individuals eligible for veterans benefits for a service-connected disability (a) In general Subparagraph (C) of section 223(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows: (C) Special rule for individuals eligible for certain veterans benefits For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), an individual shall not be treated as covered under a health plan described in such subparagraph merely because the individual receives periodic hospital care or medical services for a service-connected disability under any law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs but only if the individual is not eligible to receive such care or services for any condition other than a service-connected disability. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 119. Individuals eligible for Indian Health Service assistance (a) In general Section 223(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (D) Special rule for individuals eligible for assistance under Indian Health Service programs For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), an individual shall not be treated as covered under a health plan described in such subparagraph merely because the individual receives hospital care or medical services under a medical care program of the Indian Health Service or of a tribal organization. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 120. Individuals eligible for TRICARE coverage (a) In general Section 223(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (E) Special rule for individuals eligible for assistance under tricare For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), an individual shall not be treated as covered under a health plan described in such subparagraph merely because the individual is eligible to receive hospital care, medical services, or prescription drugs under TRICARE Extra or TRICARE Standard and such individual is not enrolled in TRICARE Prime. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 121. FSA and HRA interaction with HSAs (a) Eligible individuals include FSA and HRA participants Section 223(c)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— (1) by striking and at the end of clause (ii), (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (iii) and inserting , and , and (3) by inserting after clause (iii) the following new clause: (iv) for months during a plan year in which a qualified HSA distribution (as defined in section 106(e)(2)) is made on behalf of an individual, coverage under a health flexible spending arrangement or a health reimbursement arrangement if, after the qualified HSA distribution is made and for the remaining duration of the plan year, the coverage provided under the health flexible spending arrangement or health reimbursement arrangement is converted to coverage which— (I) does not pay or reimburse any medical expense incurred before the minimum annual deductible under paragraph (2)(A)(i) (prorated for the period occurring after the qualified HSA distribution is made) is satisfied, (II) does not pay or reimburse any medical expense incurred after the qualified HSA distribution is made other than preventive care as defined in paragraph (2)(C), (III) pays or reimburses benefits for coverage described in clause (ii) (but not through insurance or for long-term care services), (IV) pays or reimburses benefits for permitted insurance or coverage described in clause (ii) (but not for long-term care services), (V) pays or reimburses only those medical expenses incurred after an individual’s retirement (and no expenses incurred before retirement), or (VI) is suspended, pursuant to an election made on or before the date the individual elects the qualified HSA distribution or, if later, on the date of the individual enrolls in a high deductible health plan, and which does not pay or reimburse, at any time, any medical expense incurred during the suspension period except as defined in the preceding subclauses of this clause. . (b) Qualified HSA distribution shall not affect flexible spending arrangement Section 106(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows: (1) In general A plan shall not fail to be treated as a health flexible spending arrangement under this section, section 105, or section 125, or as a health reimbursement arrangement under this section or section 105, merely because such plan provides for a qualified HSA distribution. . (c) FSA balances at year end shall not forfeit Section 125(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (E) Exception for qualified HSA distributions Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to the extent that there is an amount remaining in a health flexible spending account at the end of a plan year that an individual elects to contribute to a health savings account pursuant to a qualified HSA distribution (as defined in section 106(e)(2)). . (d) Simplification of limitations on FSA and HRA rollovers Section 106(e)(2) of such Code is amended to read as follows: (2) Qualified HSA distribution (A) In general The term qualified HSA distribution means a distribution from a health flexible spending arrangement or health reimbursement arrangement to the extent that such distribution does not exceed the lesser of— (i) the balance in such arrangement as of the date of such distribution, or (ii) the amount determined under subparagraph (B). Such term shall not include more than 1 distribution with respect to any arrangement. (B) Dollar limitations (i) Distributions from a health flexible spending arrangement A qualified HSA distribution from a health flexible spending arrangement shall not exceed the applicable amount. (ii) Distributions from a health reimbursement arrangement A qualified HSA distribution from a health reimbursement arrangement shall not exceed— (I) the applicable amount divided by 12, multiplied by (II) the number of months during which the individual is a participant in the health reimbursement arrangement. (iii) Applicable amount For purposes of this subparagraph, the applicable amount is— (I) the dollar amount in effect under section 223(b)(2)(A) in the case of an eligible individual who has self-only coverage under a high deductible health plan at the time of such distribution, and (II) twice the dollar amount in effect under subclause (I) in the case of an eligible individual who has family coverage under a high deductible health plan at the time of such distribution. . (e) Elimination of additional tax for failure To maintain high deductible health plan coverage Section 106(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— (1) by striking paragraph (3) and redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively, and (2) by striking subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3), as so redesignated, and redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) of such paragraph as subparagraphs (A) and (B) thereof, respectively. (f) Limited purpose FSAs and HRAs Section 106(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by this section, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) Limited purpose FSAs and HRAs A plan shall not fail to be a health flexible spending arrangement or health reimbursement arrangement under this section or section 105 merely because the plan converts coverage for individuals who enroll in a high deductible health plan described in section 223(c)(2) to coverage described in section 223(c)(1)(B)(iv). Coverage for such individuals may be converted as of the date of enrollment in the high deductible health plan, without regard to the period of coverage under the health flexible spending arrangement or health reimbursement arrangement, and without requiring any change in coverage to individuals who do not enroll in a high deductible health plan. . (g) Disclaimer of disqualifying coverage Section 223(c)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by this section, is amended— (1) by striking and at the end of clause (iii), (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (iv) and inserting , and , and (3) by inserting after clause (iv) the following new clause: (v) coverage (including prospective coverage) under a health plan that is not a high deductible health plan which is disclaimed in writing, at the time of the creation or organization of the health savings account, including by execution of a trust described in subsection (d)(1) through a governing instrument that includes such a disclaimer, or by acceptance of an amendment to such a trust that includes such a disclaimer. . (h) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 122. Special rule for certain medical expenses incurred before establishment of account (a) In general Section 223(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (D) Certain medical expenses incurred before establishment of account treated as qualified An expense shall not fail to be treated as a qualified medical expense solely because such expense was incurred before the establishment of the health savings account if such expense was incurred— (i) during either— (I) the taxable year in which the health savings account was established, or (II) the preceding taxable year in the case of a health savings account established after the taxable year in which such expense was incurred but before the time prescribed by law for filing the return for such taxable year (not including extensions thereof), and (ii) for medical care of an individual during a period that such individual was covered by a high deductible health plan and met the requirements of subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii) (after application of subsection (c)(1)(B)). . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 123. Preventive care prescription drug clarification (a) Clarify use of drugs in preventive care Section 223(c)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following: For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term preventative care includes prescription and over-the-counter drugs and medicines which have the primary purpose of preventing the onset of, further deterioration from, or complications associated with chronic conditions, illnesses, or diseases. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2003. 124. Administrative error correction before due date of return (a) In general Section 223(f)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (D) Exception for administrative errors corrected before due date of return Subparagraph (A) shall not apply if any payment or distribution is made to correct an administrative, clerical or payroll contribution error and if— (i) such distribution is received by the individual on or before the last day prescribed by law (including extensions of time) for filing such individual's return for such taxable year, and (ii) such distribution is accompanied by the amount of net income attributable to such contribution. Any net income described in clause (ii) shall be included in the gross income of the individual for the taxable year in which it is received. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. 125. Members of health care sharing ministries eligible to establish health savings accounts (a) In general Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (i) Application to health care sharing ministries For purposes of this section, membership in a health care sharing ministry (as defined in section 5000A(d)(2)(B)(ii)) shall be treated as coverage under a high deductible health plan. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 126. High deductible health plans renamed HSA qualified plans (a) In general Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by this Act, is amended by striking high deductible health plan each place it appears and inserting HSA qualified health plan . (b) Conforming amendments (1) Section 106(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by this Act, is amended by striking high deductible health plan each place it appears and inserting HSA qualified health plan . (2) The heading for section 223(c)(2) of such Code is amended by striking High deductible health plan and inserting HSA qualified health plan . (3) Section 408(d)(9) of such Code is amended— (A) by striking high deductible health plan each place it appears in subparagraph (C) and inserting HSA qualified health plan , and (B) by striking High deductible health plan in the heading of subparagraph (D) and inserting HSA qualified health plan . 127. Treatment of direct primary care service arrangements (a) In general Section 223(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (6) Treatment of direct primary care service arrangements An arrangement under which an individual is provided coverage restricted to primary care services in exchange for a fixed periodic fee— (A) shall not be treated as a health plan for purposes of paragraph (1)(A)(ii), and (B) shall not be treated as insurance for purposes of subsection (d)(2)(B). . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 128. Certain provider fees to be treated as medical care (a) In general Section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (12) Periodic provider fees The term medical care includes periodic fees paid to a primary care physician for the right to receive medical services on an as-needed basis. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 129. Clarification of treatment of capitated primary care payments as amounts paid for medical care (a) In general Section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (13) Treatment of capitated primary care payments Capitated primary care payments shall be treated as amounts paid for medical care. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. C Other provisions 131. Limitation on employer-provided health care coverage (a) In general Section 106 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by the preceding provisions of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f) Limitation on employer-Provided health care coverage (1) In general The amount of any exclusion under subsection (a) for any taxable year with respect to— (A) any employer-provided coverage under an accident or health plan which constitutes medical care, and (B) any employer contribution to an Archer MSA or a health savings account which is treated by subsection (b) or (d) as employer-provided coverage for medical expenses under an accident or health plan, shall not exceed $8,000 per employee for self-only coverage and $20,000 for family coverage. (2) Inflation adjustment In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2016, each of the dollar amounts in paragraph (1) shall be increased by an amount equal to— (A) such dollar amount, multiplied by (B) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting calendar year 2015 for calendar year 1992 in subparagraph (B) thereof. Any increase determined under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $50. (3) Medical care For purposes of paragraph (1), the term medical care has the meaning given to such term in section 213(d) determined without regard to— (A) paragraph (1)(C) thereof, and (B) so much of paragraph (1)(D) thereof as relates to qualified long-term care insurance. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015. 132. Limitation on abortion funding No funds authorized under, or credits or deductions allowed under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by reason of, this Act (or any amendment made by this Act) may be used to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion, except in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, or unless the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest. 133. No government discrimination against certain health care entities (a) Non-Discrimination A Federal agency or program, and any State or local government that receives Federal financial assistance under this Act or any amendment made by this Act (either directly or indirectly), may not subject any individual or institutional health care entity to discrimination on the basis that the health care entity does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions. (b) Health care entity defined For purposes of this section, the term health care entity includes an individual physician or other health care professional, a hospital, a provider-sponsored organization, a health maintenance organization, a health insurance plan, or any other kind of health care facility, organization, or plan. (c) Remedies (1) In general The courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to prevent and redress actual or threatened violations of this section by issuing any form of legal or equitable relief, including— (A) injunctions prohibiting conduct that violates this section; and (B) orders preventing the disbursement of all or a portion of Federal financial assistance to a State or local government, or to a specific offending agency or program of a State or local government, until such time as the conduct prohibited by this section has ceased. (2) Commencement of action An action under this subsection may be instituted by— (A) any health care entity that has standing to complain of an actual or threatened violation of this section; or (B) the Attorney General of the United States. (d) Administration The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall designate the Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services— (1) to receive complaints alleging a violation of this section; (2) subject to paragraph (3), to pursue the investigation of such complaints in coordination with the Attorney General; and (3) in the case of a complaint related to a Federal agency (other than with respect to the Department of Health and Human Services) or program administered through such other agency or any State or local government receiving Federal financial assistance through such other agency, to refer the complaint to the appropriate office of such other agency. 134. Equal employer contribution rule to promote choice (a) In general Section 5000 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (e) Health care contribution election (1) In general Subsection (a) shall not apply in the case of a group health plan with respect to which the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) are met. (2) Contribution election The requirement of this paragraph is met with respect to a group health plan if any employee of an employer (who but for this paragraph would be covered by such plan) may elect to have the employer or employee organization pay an amount which is not less than the contribution amount to any provider of health insurance coverage which constitutes medical care of the individual or individual’s spouse or dependents (other than excepted benefits as defined in section 9832(c)) in lieu of such group health plan coverage otherwise provided or contributed to by the employer with respect to such employee. (3) Pre-existing conditions (A) In general The requirement of this paragraph is met with respect to health insurance coverage provided to a participant or beneficiary by any health insurance issuer if, under such plan the requirements of section 9801 are met with respect to the participant or beneficiary. (B) Enforcement with respect to individual election For purposes of subparagraph (A), any health insurance coverage with respect to the participant or beneficiary shall be treated as health insurance coverage under a group health plan to which section 9801 applies. (4) Contribution amount For purposes of this section, the term contribution amount means, with respect to an individual under a group health plan, the portion of the applicable premium of such individual under such plan (as determined under section 4980B(f)(4)) which is not paid by the individual. In the case that the employer offers more than one group health plan, the contribution amount shall be the average amount of the applicable premiums under such plans. (5) Group health plan For purposes of this subsection, subsection (d) shall not apply. (6) Application to FEHBP Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Office of Personnel Management shall carry out the health benefits program under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, consistent with the requirements of this subsection. . (b) Requirement of equal contributions to all FEHBP plans Section 8906 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (j) Notwithstanding subsections (a) through (i), the Office of Personnel Management shall revise the amount of the Government contribution made under this section in a manner so that— (1) the amount of such contribution does not change based on the health benefits plan in which the individual is enrolled; and (2) the aggregate amount of such contributions is estimated to be equal to the aggregate amount of such contributions if this subsection did not apply. . (c) Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 conforming amendments (1) Exception from HIPAA requirements for benefits provided under health care contribution election Section 732 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1191a ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (e) Health care contribution election (1) In general The requirements of this part shall not apply in the case of health insurance coverage (other than excepted benefits as defined in section 9832(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986)— (A) which is provided to a participant or beneficiary by a health insurance issuer under a group health plan, and (B) with respect to which the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) are met. (2) Contribution election The requirement of this paragraph is met with respect to health insurance coverage provided to a participant or beneficiary by any health insurance issuer under a group health plan if, under such plan— (A) the participant may elect such coverage for any period of coverage in lieu of health insurance coverage otherwise provided under such plan for such period, and (B) in the case of such an election, the plan sponsor is required to pay to such issuer for the elected coverage for such period an amount which is not less than the contribution amount for such health insurance coverage otherwise provided under such plan for such period. (3) Pre-existing conditions (A) In general The requirement of this paragraph is met with respect to health insurance coverage provided to a participant or beneficiary by any health insurance issuer if, under such plan the requirements of section 701 are met with respect to the participant or beneficiary. (B) Enforcement with respect to individual election For purposes of subparagraph (A), any health insurance coverage with respect to the participant or beneficiary shall be treated as health insurance coverage under a group health plan to which section 701 applies. (4) Contribution amount (A) In general For purposes of this section, the term contribution amount means, with respect to any period of health insurance coverage offered to a participant or beneficiary, the portion of the applicable premium of such participant or beneficiary under such plan which is not paid by such participant or beneficiary. In the case that the employer offers more than one group health plan, the contribution amount shall be the average amount of the applicable premiums under such plans. (B) Applicable premium For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term applicable premium means, with respect to any period of health insurance coverage of a participant or beneficiary under a group health plan, the cost to the plan for such period of such coverage for similarly situated beneficiaries (without regard to whether such cost is paid by the plan sponsor or the participant or beneficiary). . (2) Exemption from fiduciary liability Section 404 of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 1104 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (e) The plan sponsor of a group health plan (as defined in section 733(a)) shall not be treated as breaching any of the responsibilities, obligations, or duties imposed upon fiduciaries by this title in the case of any individual who is a participant or beneficiary under such plan solely because of the extent to which the plan sponsor provides, in the case of such individual, some or all of such benefits by means of payment of contribution amounts pursuant to a contribution election under section 732(e), irrespective of the amount or type of benefits that would otherwise be provided to such individual under such plan. . (d) Exception from HIPAA requirements under IRC for benefits provided under health care contribution election Section 9831 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (d) Health care contribution election (1) In general The requirements of this chapter shall not apply in the case of health insurance coverage (other than excepted benefits as defined in section 9832(c))— (A) which is provided to a participant or beneficiary by a health insurance issuer under a group health plan, and (B) with respect to which the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) are met. (2) Contribution election The requirement of this paragraph is met with respect to health insurance coverage provided to a participant or beneficiary by any health insurance issuer under a group health plan if, under such plan— (A) the participant may elect such coverage for any period of coverage in lieu of health insurance coverage otherwise provided under such plan for such period, and (B) in the case of such an election, the plan sponsor is required to pay to such issuer for the elected coverage for such period an amount which is not less than the contribution amount for such health insurance coverage otherwise provided under such plan for such period. (3) Pre-existing conditions (A) In general The requirement of this paragraph is met with respect to health insurance coverage provided to a participant or beneficiary by any health insurance issuer if, under such plan the requirements of section 9801 are met with respect to the participant or beneficiary. (B) Enforcement with respect to individual election For purposes of subparagraph (A), any health insurance coverage with respect to the participant or beneficiary shall be treated as health insurance coverage under a group health plan to which section 9801 applies. (4) Contribution amount (A) In general For purposes of this subsection, the term contribution amount means, with respect to any period of health insurance coverage offered to a participant or beneficiary, the portion of the applicable premium of such participant or beneficiary under such plan which is not paid by such participant or beneficiary. In the case that the employer offers more than one group health plan, the contribution amount shall be the average amount of the applicable premiums under such plans. (B) Applicable premium For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term applicable premium means, with respect to any period of health insurance coverage of a participant or beneficiary under a group health plan, the cost to the plan for such period of such coverage for similarly situated beneficiaries (without regard to whether such cost is paid by the plan sponsor or the participant or beneficiary). . (e) Exception from HIPAA requirements under the PHSA for benefits provided under health care contribution election Section 2721 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–21 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new subsection: (e) Health care contribution election (1) In general The requirements of subparts 1 through 3 shall not apply in the case of health insurance coverage (other than excepted benefits as defined in section 9832(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986)— (A) which is provided to a participant or beneficiary by a health insurance issuer under a group health plan, and (B) with respect to which the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) are met. (2) Contribution election The requirement of this paragraph is met with respect to health insurance coverage provided to a participant or beneficiary by any health insurance issuer under a group health plan if, under such plan— (A) the participant may elect such coverage for any period of coverage in lieu of health insurance coverage otherwise provided under such plan for such period, and (B) in the case of such an election, the plan sponsor is required to pay to such issuer for the elected coverage for such period an amount which is not less than the contribution amount for such health insurance coverage otherwise provided under such plan for such period. (3) Pre-existing conditions (A) In general The requirement of this paragraph is met with respect to health insurance coverage provided to a participant or beneficiary by any health insurance issuer if, under such plan the requirements of section 2701 are met with respect to the participant or beneficiary. (B) Enforcement with respect to individual election For purposes of subparagraph (A), any health insurance coverage with respect to the participant or beneficiary shall be treated as health insurance coverage under a group health plan to which section 2701 applies. (4) Contribution amount (A) In general For purposes of this section, the term contribution amount means, with respect to any period of health insurance coverage offered to a participant or beneficiary, the portion of the applicable premium of such participant or beneficiary under such plan which is not paid by such participant or beneficiary. In the case that the employer offers more than one group health plan, the contribution amount shall be the average amount of the applicable premiums under such plans. (B) Applicable premium For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term applicable premium means, with respect to any period of health insurance coverage of a participant or beneficiary under a group health plan, the cost to the plan for such period of such coverage for similarly situated beneficiaries (without regard to whether such cost is paid by the plan sponsor or the participant or beneficiary). . 135. Limitations on State restrictions on employer auto-enrollment (a) In general No State shall establish a law that prevents an employer that is allowed an exclusion from gross income, a deduction, or a credit for Federal income tax purposes for health benefits furnished to a participant or beneficiary from instituting auto-enrollment which meets the requirements of subsection (b) for coverage of a participant or beneficiary under a group health plan, or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan, so long as the participant or beneficiary has the option of declining such coverage. (b) Automatic enrollment for employer-Sponsored health benefits (1) In general The requirement of this subsection with respect to an employer and an employee is that the employer automatically enroll such employee into the employment-based health benefits plan for individual coverage under the plan option with the lowest applicable employee premium. (2) Opt-out In no case may an employer automatically enroll an employee in a plan under paragraph (1) if such employee makes an affirmative election to opt-out of such plan or to elect coverage under an employment-based health benefits plan offered by such employer. An employer shall provide an employee with a 30-day period to make such an affirmative election before the employer may automatically enroll the employee in such a plan. (3) Notice requirements (A) In general Each employer described in paragraph (1) who automatically enrolls an employee into a plan as described in such paragraph shall provide the employees, within a reasonable period before the beginning of each plan year (or, in the case of new employees, within a reasonable period before the end of the enrollment period for such a new employee), written notice of the employees’ rights and obligations relating to the automatic enrollment requirement under such paragraph. Such notice must be comprehensive and understood by the average employee to whom the automatic enrollment requirement applies. (B) Inclusion of specific information The written notice under subparagraph (A) must explain an employee’s right to opt out of being automatically enrolled in a plan and in the case that more than one level of benefits or employee premium level is offered by the employer involved, the notice must explain which level of benefits and employee premium level the employee will be automatically enrolled in the absence of an affirmative election by the employee. (c) Construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede State law which establishes, implements, or continues in effect any standard or requirement relating to employers in connection with payroll or the sponsoring of employer-sponsored health insurance coverage except to the extent that such standard or requirement prevents an employer from instituting the auto-enrollment described in subsection (a). (d) Non-Application to excepted benefits For purposes of this section, the term group health plan does not include excepted benefits (as defined in section 2781(c) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–91(c) )). 136. Credit for small employers adopting auto-enrollment and defined contribution options (a) In general Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 2, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 45R. Auto-enrollment and defined contribution option for health benefits plans of small employers (a) In general For purposes of section 38, in the case of a small employer, the health benefits plan implementation credit determined under this section for the taxable year is an amount equal to the amount paid or incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year for qualified health benefits expenses. (b) Limitation The credit determined under subsection (a) with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed the excess of— (1) $1,500, over (2) sum of the credits determined under subsection (a) with respect to such taxpayer for all preceding taxable years. (c) Qualified health benefits expenses For purposes of this section, the term qualified health benefits expenses means, with respect to any taxable year, amounts paid or incurred by the taxpayer during such taxable year for— (1) establishing auto-enrollment which meets the requirements of section x of the short title for coverage of a participant or beneficiary under a group health plan, or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan, and (2) implementing the employer contribution option for health insurance coverage pursuant to section 5000(e)(2). (d) Qualified small employer For purposes of this section, the term qualified small employer means any employer for any taxable year if the number of employees employed by such employer during such taxable year does not exceed 50. All employers treated as a single employer under subsection (a) or (b) of section 52 shall be treated as a single employer for purposes of this section. (e) No double benefit No deduction or credit shall be allowed under any other provision of this chapter with respect to the amount of the credit determined under this section. (f) Termination Subsection (a) shall not apply to any taxable year beginning after the date which is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section. . (b) Credit To be part of general business credit Subsection (b) of section 38 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 2, is amended by striking plus at the end of paragraph (34), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (35) and inserting , plus , and by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (36) in the case of a small employer (as defined in section 45R(d)), the health benefits plan implementation credit determined under section 45R(a). . (c) Clerical amendment The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by section 2, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 45Q the following new item: Sec. 45R. Auto-enrollment and defined contribution option for health benefits plans of small employers. . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. II Health Care Access and Availability A Health Insurance Pooling Mechanisms for Individuals 201. Federal grants for State insurance expenditures (a) In General Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, each State shall receive from the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this subtitle referred to as the Secretary ) a grant for the State’s providing for the use, in connection with providing health benefits coverage, of a qualifying high-risk pool or a reinsurance pool or other risk-adjustment mechanism used for the purpose of subsidizing the purchase of private health insurance. (b) Funding amount (1) In general There are hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016, 2017, and 2018 for grants under this section. Such amount shall be divided among the States as determined by the Secretary. (2) Construction Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a State from using funding under section 2745 of the Public Health Service Act for purposes of funding reinsurance or other risk mechanisms. (c) Limitation Funding under subsection (a) may only be used for the following: (1) Qualifying high-risk pools (A) Current pools A qualifying high-risk pool created before the date of the enactment of this Act that only covers high-risk populations and individuals (and their spouse and dependents) receiving a health care tax credit under section 35 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for a limited period of time as determined by the Secretary or under section 2741 of Public Health Service Act. (B) New pools A qualifying high-risk pool created on or after such date that only covers populations and individuals described in subparagraph (A) if the pool— (i) offers at least the option of one or more high-deductible plan options, in combination with a contribution into a health savings account; (ii) offers multiple competing health plan options; and (iii) covers only high-risk populations. (2) Risk insurance pool or other risk-adjustment mechanisms (A) Current reinsurance A reinsurance pool, or other risk-adjustment mechanism, created before the date of the enactment of this Act that only covers populations and individuals described in paragraph (1)(A). (B) New pools A reinsurance pool or other risk-adjustment mechanism created on or after such date that provides reinsurance only covers populations and individuals described in paragraph (1)(A) and only on a prospective basis under which a health insurance issuer cedes covered lives to the pool in exchange for payment of a reinsurance premium. (3) Transition Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a State from using funds available to transition from an existing high-risk pool to a reinsurance pool. (d) Bonus payments With respect to any amounts made available to the States under this section, the Secretary shall set aside a portion of such amounts that shall only be available for the following activities by such States: (1) Providing guaranteed availability of individual health insurance coverage to certain individuals with prior group coverage under part B of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act. (2) A reduction in premium trends, actual premiums, or other cost-sharing requirements. (3) An expansion or broadening of the pool of high-risk individuals eligible for coverage. (4) States that adopt the Model Health Plan for Uninsurable Individuals Act of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (if and when updated by such Association). The Secretary may request such Association to update such Model Health Plan as needed by 2015. (e) Requirements for receipt of bonus payments The requirements of this subsection, for the availability of bonus payments to a State under subsection (d), are as follows, in the case of an individual who is covered under a high-risk pool or other pool or mechanism described in subsection (b) operating in the State for which funds under this section may be applied: (1) Limitation on annual premiums for each individual based on adjusted gross family income The premiums imposed for coverage of each individual under health insurance coverage offered through such pool or mechanism may not exceed (on an annual basis) the following: (A) If the adjusted gross income (as defined in section 62 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) of all individuals in the individual’s family does not exceed the poverty line (as defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9902(2) ), including any revision required by such section) applicable to a family of the size involved, 2 percent of such income. (B) If such adjusted gross income for all individuals in the individual’s family exceeds such applicable poverty line, the sum of— (i) 2 percent of such applicable poverty line; and (ii) 10 percent of the amount of such income that exceeds such applicable poverty line. (2) Limitation on annual out-of-pocket costs for each individual There shall be a limit on the annual out-of-pocket expenditures (including annual premiums) for each individual for coverage under such pool or mechanism equal to twice the maximum allowable premiums for such individual permitted under paragraph (1). (f) Administration The Secretary shall provide for the administration of this section and may establish such terms and conditions, including the requirement of an application, as may be appropriate to carry out this section. (g) Construction Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a State to operate a reinsurance pool (or other risk-adjustment mechanism) under this section or as preventing a State from operating such a pool or mechanism through one or more private entities. (h) Definitions In this section: (1) Qualifying high-risk pool The term qualifying high-risk pool means any qualified high-risk pool (as defined in subsection (g)(1)(A) of section 2745 of the Public Health Service Act ) that meets the conditions to receive a grant under section (b)(1) of such section. (2) Reinsurance pool or other risk-Adjustment mechanism defined The term reinsurance pool or other risk-adjustment mechanism means any State-based risk spreading mechanism to subsidize the purchase of private health insurance for the high-risk population. (3) High-Risk population The term high-risk population means— (A) individuals who, by reason of the existence or history of a medical condition, are able to acquire health coverage only at rates which are at least 150 percent of the standard risk rates for such coverage (in a non-community-rated non-guaranteed issue State), and (B) individuals who are provided health coverage by a high-risk pool. (4) State defined The term State includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. (i) Extending funding Section 2745(d)(2) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–45(d)(2) ) is amended— (1) in the heading, by inserting and 2016 through 2018 after 2010 ; and (2) by inserting and for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2018 after for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2010 . (j) Sunset Funds made available under this section shall not be used for the purpose of subsidizing the purchase of private health insurance on or after October 1, 2018. 202. Pool reform for individual membership expansion The Public Health Service Act , as amended by section 2, is further amended by inserting after title XXX the following new title: XXXI Pool Reform for Individual Membership Expansion 3100. Purpose The purpose of this title is to provide, through the establishment of independent health pools (referred to in this title as IHP ), for the reform of, and expansion of enrollment in, health insurance coverage for individuals and small employers. 3101. Definition of independent health pool (a) In General For purposes of this title, the terms individual health pool and IHP mean a legal nonprofit entity that meets the following requirements: (1) Organization The IHP— (A) has been formed and maintained in good faith for a purpose that includes the formation of a risk pool in order to offer health insurance coverage to its members; (B) does not condition membership in the IHP on any health status-related factor relating to an individual (including an employee of an employer or a dependent of an employee); (C) does not make health insurance coverage offered through the IHP available other than in connection with a member of the IHP; (D) is not a health insurance issuer; and (E) does not receive any consideration directly or indirectly from any health insurance issuer in connection with the enrollment of any individuals, or employees of employers, in any health insurance coverage, except in conjunction with services offered through the IHP. (2) Offering health benefits coverage (A) Different groups The IHP, in conjunction with those health insurance issuers that offer health benefits coverage through the IHP, makes available health benefits coverage in the manner described in subsection (b) to all members of the IHP and the dependents of such members (and, in the case of small employers, employees and their dependents) in the manner described in subsection (c)(2) at rates that are established by the health insurance issuer on a policy or product specific basis and that may vary for individuals covered through an IHP. (B) Nondiscrimination in coverage offered (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), the IHP may not offer health benefits coverage to a member of an IHP unless the same coverage is offered to all such members of the IHP. (ii) Construction Nothing in this title shall be construed as requiring or permitting a health insurance issuer to provide coverage outside the service area of the issuer, as approved under State law, or preventing a health insurance issuer from underwriting or from excluding or limiting the coverage on any individual, subject to the requirement of section 2741 (relating to guaranteed availability of individual health insurance coverage to certain individuals with prior group coverage). (C) No assumption of insurance risk by IHP The IHP provides health benefits coverage only through contracts with health insurance issuers and does not assume insurance risk with respect to such coverage. (3) Geographic areas Nothing in this title shall be construed as preventing the establishment and operation of more than one IHP in a geographic area or as limiting the number of IHPs that may operate in any area. (4) Provision of administrative services to purchasers The IHP may provide administrative services for members. Such services may include accounting, billing, and enrollment information. (b) Health benefits coverage requirements (1) Compliance with consumer protection requirements Except as provided in section 3102, any health benefits coverage offered through an IHP— (A) shall be issued by a health insurance issuer that meets all applicable State standards relating to consumer protection; (B) shall be approved or otherwise permitted to be offered under State law; and (C) may not impose any exclusion of a specific disease from such coverage. (2) Wellness bonuses for health promotion Nothing in this title shall be construed as precluding a health insurance issuer offering health benefits coverage through an IHP from establishing premium discounts or rebates for members or from modifying otherwise applicable copayments or deductibles in return for adherence to programs of health promotion and disease prevention so long as such programs are agreed to in advance by the IHP and comply with all other provisions of this title and do not discriminate among similarly situated members. (c) Members; health insurance issuers (1) Members (A) In general Under rules established to carry out this title, with respect to an individual or small employer who is a member of an IHP, the individual may enroll for health benefits coverage (including coverage for dependents of such individual) or employer may enroll employees for health benefits coverage (including coverage for dependents of such employees) offered by a health insurance issuer through the IHP. (B) Rules for enrollment Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude an IHP from establishing rules of enrollment and reenrollment of members. Such rules shall be applied consistently to all members within the IHP and shall not be based in any manner on health status-related factors. (2) Health insurance issuers The contract between an IHP and a health insurance issuer shall provide, with respect to a member enrolled with health benefits coverage offered by the issuer through the IHP, for the payment to the issuer of the premiums (if any) collected by the IHP for health insurance coverage offered by the issuer. 3102. Application of certain laws and requirements (a) Preemption of State laws restricting formation of IHPs Any State law or regulation relating to the composition or organization of an IHP is preempted to the extent the law or regulation is inconsistent with the provisions of this title. (b) Preemption of State requirements relating to health benefit coverage (1) Benefit requirements (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), State laws are superseded, and shall not apply to health benefits coverage made available through an IHP, insofar as such laws impose benefit requirements for such coverage, including requirements relating to coverage of specific providers, specific services or conditions, or the amount, duration, or scope of benefits. (B) Exception for Federally imposed requirements and for requirements prohibiting disease-specific exclusions Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to a requirement to the extent the requirement— (i) implements title XXVII or other Federal law; or (ii) prohibits imposition of an exclusion of a specific disease from health benefits coverage. (2) Other requirements preventing offering of coverage through an IHP State laws are superseded, and shall not apply to health benefits coverage made available through an IHP, insofar as such laws impose any other requirements (including limitations on compensation arrangements) that, directly or indirectly, preclude (or have the effect of precluding) the offering of such coverage through an IHP, if the IHP meets the requirements of this title. (c) Preemption of State premium rating requirements State laws are superseded, and shall not apply to the premiums imposed for health benefits coverage made available through an IHP, insofar as such laws impose restrictions on the variation of premiums among such coverage offered to members of the IHP. 3103. Definitions For purposes of this title: (1) Dependent The term dependent , as applied to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer licensed (or otherwise regulated) in a State, shall have the meaning applied to such term with respect to such coverage under the laws of the State relating to such coverage and such an issuer. Such term may include the spouse and children of the individual involved. (2) Health benefits coverage The term health benefits coverage has the meaning given the term health insurance coverage in section 2791(b)(1), and does not include excepted benefits (as defined in section 2791(c)). (3) Health insurance issuer The term health insurance issuer has the meaning given such term in section 2791(b)(2). (4) Health status-related factor The term health status-related factor has the meaning given such term in section 2791(d)(9). (5) Member The term member means, with respect to an IHP, an individual or small employer who is a member of the legal entity described in section 3101(a)(1) to which the IHP is offering coverage. (6) Small employer The term small employer has the meaning given such term in section 712(c)(1)(B) of the Employee Retirement and Income Security Act of 1974. . B Small Business Health Fairness 211. Short title This subtitle may be cited as the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2015 . 212. Rules governing association health plans (a) In General Subtitle B of title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 is amended by adding after part 7 the following new part: 8 RULES GOVERNING ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS 801. Association health plans (a) In General For purposes of this part, the term association health plan means a group health plan whose sponsor is (or is deemed under this part to be) described in subsection (b). (b) Sponsorship The sponsor of a group health plan is described in this subsection if such sponsor— (1) is organized and maintained in good faith, with a constitution and bylaws specifically stating its purpose and providing for periodic meetings on at least an annual basis, as a bona fide trade association, a bona fide industry association (including a rural electric cooperative association or a rural telephone cooperative association), a bona fide professional association, or a bona fide chamber of commerce (or similar bona fide business association, including a corporation or similar organization that operates on a cooperative basis (within the meaning of section 1381 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986)), for substantial purposes other than that of obtaining or providing medical care; (2) is established as a permanent entity which receives the active support of its members and requires for membership payment on a periodic basis of dues or payments necessary to maintain eligibility for membership in the sponsor; and (3) does not condition membership, such dues or payments, or coverage under the plan on the basis of health status-related factors with respect to the employees of its members (or affiliated members), or the dependents of such employees, and does not condition such dues or payments on the basis of group health plan participation. Any sponsor consisting of an association of entities which meet the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) shall be deemed to be a sponsor described in this subsection. 802. Certification of association health plans (a) In General The applicable authority shall prescribe by regulation a procedure under which, subject to subsection (b), the applicable authority shall certify association health plans which apply for certification as meeting the requirements of this part. (b) Standards Under the procedure prescribed pursuant to subsection (a), in the case of an association health plan that provides at least one benefit option which does not consist of health insurance coverage, the applicable authority shall certify such plan as meeting the requirements of this part only if the applicable authority is satisfied that the applicable requirements of this part are met (or, upon the date on which the plan is to commence operations, will be met) with respect to the plan. (c) Requirements Applicable to Certified Plans An association health plan with respect to which certification under this part is in effect shall meet the applicable requirements of this part, effective on the date of certification (or, if later, on the date on which the plan is to commence operations). (d) Requirements for Continued Certification The applicable authority may provide by regulation for continued certification of association health plans under this part. (e) Class Certification for Fully Insured Plans The applicable authority shall establish a class certification procedure for association health plans under which all benefits consist of health insurance coverage. Under such procedure, the applicable authority shall provide for the granting of certification under this part to the plans in each class of such association health plans upon appropriate filing under such procedure in connection with plans in such class and payment of the prescribed fee under section 807(a). (f) Certification of Self-Insured Association Health Plans An association health plan which offers one or more benefit options which do not consist of health insurance coverage may be certified under this part only if such plan consists of— (1) a plan which offered such coverage on the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2015 ; (2) a plan under which the sponsor does not restrict membership to one or more trades and businesses or industries and whose eligible participating employers represent a broad cross-section of trades and businesses or industries; or (3) a plan whose eligible participating employers represent one or more trades or businesses, or one or more industries, consisting of any of the following: agriculture; equipment and automobile dealerships; barbering and cosmetology; certified public accounting practices; child care; construction; dance, theatrical and orchestra productions; disinfecting and pest control; financial services; fishing; food service establishments; hospitals; labor organizations; logging; manufacturing (metals); mining; medical and dental practices; medical laboratories; professional consulting services; sanitary services; transportation (local and freight); warehousing; wholesaling/distributing; or any other trade or business or industry which has been indicated as having average or above-average risk or health claims experience by reason of State rate filings, denials of coverage, proposed premium rate levels, or other means demonstrated by such plan in accordance with regulations. 803. Requirements relating to sponsors and boards of trustees (a) Sponsor The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to an association health plan if the sponsor has met (or is deemed under this part to have met) the requirements of section 801(b) for a continuous period of not less than 3 years ending with the date of the application for certification under this part. (b) Board of Trustees The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to an association health plan if the following requirements are met: (1) Fiscal control The plan is operated, pursuant to a trust agreement, by a board of trustees which has complete fiscal control over the plan and which is responsible for all operations of the plan. (2) Rules of operation and financial controls The board of trustees has in effect rules of operation and financial controls, based on a 3-year plan of operation, adequate to carry out the terms of the plan and to meet all requirements of this title applicable to the plan. (3) Rules governing relationship to participating employers and to contractors (A) Board membership (i) In general Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), the members of the board of trustees are individuals selected from individuals who are the owners, officers, directors, or employees of the participating employers or who are partners in the participating employers and actively participate in the business. (ii) Limitation (I) General rule Except as provided in subclauses (II) and (III), no such member is an owner, officer, director, or employee of, or partner in, a contract administrator or other service provider to the plan. (II) Limited exception for providers of services solely on behalf of the sponsor Officers or employees of a sponsor which is a service provider (other than a contract administrator) to the plan may be members of the board if they constitute not more than 25 percent of the membership of the board and they do not provide services to the plan other than on behalf of the sponsor. (III) Treatment of providers of medical care In the case of a sponsor which is an association whose membership consists primarily of providers of medical care, subclause (I) shall not apply in the case of any service provider described in subclause (I) who is a provider of medical care under the plan. (iii) Certain plans excluded Clause (i) shall not apply to an association health plan which is in existence on the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2015 . (B) Sole authority The board has sole authority under the plan to approve applications for participation in the plan and to contract with a service provider to administer the day-to-day affairs of the plan. (c) Treatment of Franchise Networks In the case of a group health plan which is established and maintained by a franchiser for a franchise network consisting of its franchisees— (1) the requirements of subsection (a) and section 801(a) shall be deemed met if such requirements would otherwise be met if the franchiser were deemed to be the sponsor referred to in section 801(b), such network were deemed to be an association described in section 801(b), and each franchisee were deemed to be a member (of the association and the sponsor) referred to in section 801(b); and (2) the requirements of section 804(a)(1) shall be deemed met. The Secretary may by regulation define for purposes of this subsection the terms franchiser , franchise network , and franchisee . 804. Participation and coverage requirements (a) Covered Employers and Individuals The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to an association health plan if, under the terms of the plan— (1) each participating employer must be— (A) a member of the sponsor; (B) the sponsor; or (C) an affiliated member of the sponsor with respect to which the requirements of subsection (b) are met, except that, in the case of a sponsor which is a professional association or other individual-based association, if at least one of the officers, directors, or employees of an employer, or at least one of the individuals who are partners in an employer and who actively participates in the business, is a member or such an affiliated member of the sponsor, participating employers may also include such employer; and (2) all individuals commencing coverage under the plan after certification under this part must be— (A) active or retired owners (including self-employed individuals), officers, directors, or employees of, or partners in, participating employers; or (B) the beneficiaries of individuals described in subparagraph (A). (b) Coverage of Previously Uninsured Employees In the case of an association health plan in existence on the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2015 , an affiliated member of the sponsor of the plan may be offered coverage under the plan as a participating employer only if— (1) the affiliated member was an affiliated member on the date of certification under this part; or (2) during the 12-month period preceding the date of the offering of such coverage, the affiliated member has not maintained or contributed to a group health plan with respect to any of its employees who would otherwise be eligible to participate in such association health plan. (c) Individual Market Unaffected The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to an association health plan if, under the terms of the plan, no participating employer may provide health insurance coverage in the individual market for any employee not covered under the plan which is similar to the coverage contemporaneously provided to employees of the employer under the plan, if such exclusion of the employee from coverage under the plan is based on a health status-related factor with respect to the employee and such employee would, but for such exclusion on such basis, be eligible for coverage under the plan. (d) Prohibition of Discrimination Against Employers and Employees Eligible To Participate The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to an association health plan if— (1) under the terms of the plan, all employers meeting the preceding requirements of this section are eligible to qualify as participating employers for all geographically available coverage options, unless, in the case of any such employer, participation or contribution requirements of the type referred to in section 2711 of the Public Health Service Act are not met; (2) upon request, any employer eligible to participate is furnished information regarding all coverage options available under the plan; and (3) the applicable requirements of sections 701, 702, and 703 are met with respect to the plan. 805. Other requirements relating to plan documents, contribution rates, and benefit options (a) In General The requirements of this section are met with respect to an association health plan if the following requirements are met: (1) Contents of governing instruments The instruments governing the plan include a written instrument, meeting the requirements of an instrument required under section 402(a)(1), which— (A) provides that the board of trustees serves as the named fiduciary required for plans under section 402(a)(1) and serves in the capacity of a plan administrator (referred to in section 3(16)(A)); (B) provides that the sponsor of the plan is to serve as plan sponsor (referred to in section 3(16)(B)); and (C) incorporates the requirements of section 806. (2) Contribution rates must be nondiscriminatory (A) The contribution rates for any participating small employer do not vary on the basis of any health status-related factor in relation to employees of such employer or their beneficiaries and do not vary on the basis of the type of business or industry in which such employer is engaged. (B) Nothing in this title or any other provision of law shall be construed to preclude an association health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with an association health plan, from— (i) setting contribution rates based on the claims experience of the plan; or (ii) varying contribution rates for small employers in a State to the extent that such rates could vary using the same methodology employed in such State for regulating premium rates in the small group market with respect to health insurance coverage offered in connection with bona fide associations (within the meaning of section 2791(d)(3) of the Public Health Service Act ), subject to the requirements of section 702(b) relating to contribution rates. (3) Floor for number of covered individuals with respect to certain plans If any benefit option under the plan does not consist of health insurance coverage, the plan has as of the beginning of the plan year not fewer than 1,000 participants and beneficiaries. (4) Marketing requirements (A) In general If a benefit option which consists of health insurance coverage is offered under the plan, State-licensed insurance agents shall be used to distribute to small employers coverage which does not consist of health insurance coverage in a manner comparable to the manner in which such agents are used to distribute health insurance coverage. (B) State-licensed insurance agents For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term State-licensed insurance agents means one or more agents who are licensed in a State and are subject to the laws of such State relating to licensure, qualification, testing, examination, and continuing education of persons authorized to offer, sell, or solicit health insurance coverage in such State. (5) Regulatory requirements Such other requirements as the applicable authority determines are necessary to carry out the purposes of this part, which shall be prescribed by the applicable authority by regulation. (b) Ability of Association Health Plans To Design Benefit Options Subject to section 514(d), nothing in this part or any provision of State law (as defined in section 514(c)(1)) shall be construed to preclude an association health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with an association health plan, from exercising its sole discretion in selecting the specific items and services consisting of medical care to be included as benefits under such plan or coverage, except (subject to section 514) in the case of (1) any law to the extent that it is not preempted under section 731(a)(1) with respect to matters governed by section 711, 712, or 713, or (2) any law of the State with which filing and approval of a policy type offered by the plan was initially obtained to the extent that such law prohibits an exclusion of a specific disease from such coverage. 806. Maintenance of reserves and provisions for solvency for plans providing health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage (a) In General The requirements of this section are met with respect to an association health plan if— (1) the benefits under the plan consist solely of health insurance coverage; or (2) if the plan provides any additional benefit options which do not consist of health insurance coverage, the plan— (A) establishes and maintains reserves with respect to such additional benefit options, in amounts recommended by the qualified health actuary, consisting of— (i) a reserve sufficient for unearned contributions; (ii) a reserve sufficient for benefit liabilities which have been incurred, which have not been satisfied, and for which risk of loss has not yet been transferred, and for expected administrative costs with respect to such benefit liabilities; (iii) a reserve sufficient for any other obligations of the plan; and (iv) a reserve sufficient for a margin of error and other fluctuations, taking into account the specific circumstances of the plan; and (B) establishes and maintains aggregate and specific excess/stop loss insurance and solvency indemnification, with respect to such additional benefit options for which risk of loss has not yet been transferred, as follows: (i) The plan shall secure aggregate excess/stop loss insurance for the plan with an attachment point which is not greater than 125 percent of expected gross annual claims. The applicable authority may by regulation provide for upward adjustments in the amount of such percentage in specified circumstances in which the plan specifically provides for and maintains reserves in excess of the amounts required under subparagraph (A). (ii) The plan shall secure specific excess/stop loss insurance for the plan with an attachment point which is at least equal to an amount recommended by the plan’s qualified health actuary. The applicable authority may by regulation provide for adjustments in the amount of such insurance in specified circumstances in which the plan specifically provides for and maintains reserves in excess of the amounts required under subparagraph (A). (iii) The plan shall secure indemnification insurance for any claims which the plan is unable to satisfy by reason of a plan termination. Any person issuing to a plan insurance described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (B) shall notify the Secretary of any failure of premium payment meriting cancellation of the policy prior to undertaking such a cancellation. Any regulations prescribed by the applicable authority pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (B) may allow for such adjustments in the required levels of excess/stop loss insurance as the qualified health actuary may recommend, taking into account the specific circumstances of the plan. (b) Minimum Surplus in Addition to Claims Reserves In the case of any association health plan described in subsection (a)(2), the requirements of this subsection are met if the plan establishes and maintains surplus in an amount at least equal to— (1) $500,000; or (2) such greater amount (but not greater than $2,000,000) as may be set forth in regulations prescribed by the applicable authority, considering the level of aggregate and specific excess/stop loss insurance provided with respect to such plan and other factors related to solvency risk, such as the plan’s projected levels of participation or claims, the nature of the plan’s liabilities, and the types of assets available to assure that such liabilities are met. (c) Additional Requirements In the case of any association health plan described in subsection (a)(2), the applicable authority may provide such additional requirements relating to reserves, excess/stop loss insurance, and indemnification insurance as the applicable authority considers appropriate. Such requirements may be provided by regulation with respect to any such plan or any class of such plans. (d) Adjustments for Excess/Stop Loss Insurance The applicable authority may provide for adjustments to the levels of reserves otherwise required under subsections (a) and (b) with respect to any plan or class of plans to take into account excess/stop loss insurance provided with respect to such plan or plans. (e) Alternative Means of Compliance The applicable authority may permit an association health plan described in subsection (a)(2) to substitute, for all or part of the requirements of this section (except subsection (a)(2)(B)(iii)), such security, guarantee, hold-harmless arrangement, or other financial arrangement as the applicable authority determines to be adequate to enable the plan to fully meet all its financial obligations on a timely basis and is otherwise no less protective of the interests of participants and beneficiaries than the requirements for which it is substituted. The applicable authority may take into account, for purposes of this subsection, evidence provided by the plan or sponsor which demonstrates an assumption of liability with respect to the plan. Such evidence may be in the form of a contract of indemnification, lien, bonding, insurance, letter of credit, recourse under applicable terms of the plan in the form of assessments of participating employers, security, or other financial arrangement. (f) Measures To Ensure Continued Payment of Benefits by Certain Plans in Distress (1) Payments by certain plans to association health plan fund (A) In general In the case of an association health plan described in subsection (a)(2), the requirements of this subsection are met if the plan makes payments into the Association Health Plan Fund under this subparagraph when they are due. Such payments shall consist of annual payments in the amount of $5,000, and, in addition to such annual payments, such supplemental payments as the Secretary may determine to be necessary under paragraph (2). Payments under this paragraph are payable to the Fund at the time determined by the Secretary. Initial payments are due in advance of certification under this part. Payments shall continue to accrue until a plan’s assets are distributed pursuant to a termination procedure. (B) Penalties for failure to make payments If any payment is not made by a plan when it is due, a late payment charge of not more than 100 percent of the payment which was not timely paid shall be payable by the plan to the Fund. (C) Continued duty of the secretary The Secretary shall not cease to carry out the provisions of paragraph (2) on account of the failure of a plan to pay any payment when due. (2) Payments by secretary to continue excess/stop loss insurance coverage and indemnification insurance coverage for certain plans In any case in which the applicable authority determines that there is, or that there is reason to believe that there will be: (A) a failure to take necessary corrective actions under section 809(a) with respect to an association health plan described in subsection (a)(2); or (B) a termination of such a plan under section 809(b) or 810(b)(8) (and, if the applicable authority is not the Secretary, certifies such determination to the Secretary), the Secretary shall determine the amounts necessary to make payments to an insurer (designated by the Secretary) to maintain in force excess/stop loss insurance coverage or indemnification insurance coverage for such plan, if the Secretary determines that there is a reasonable expectation that, without such payments, claims would not be satisfied by reason of termination of such coverage. The Secretary shall, to the extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, pay such amounts so determined to the insurer designated by the Secretary. (3) Association health plan fund (A) In general There is established in the Treasury a fund to be known as the Association Health Plan Fund . The Fund shall be available for making payments pursuant to paragraph (2). The Fund shall be credited with payments received pursuant to paragraph (1)(A), penalties received pursuant to paragraph (1)(B), and earnings on investments of amounts of the Fund under subparagraph (B). (B) Investment Whenever the Secretary determines that the moneys of the fund are in excess of current needs, the Secretary may request the investment of such amounts as the Secretary determines advisable by the Secretary of the Treasury in obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States. (g) Excess/Stop Loss Insurance For purposes of this section: (1) Aggregate excess/stop loss insurance The term aggregate excess/stop loss insurance means, in connection with an association health plan, a contract— (A) under which an insurer (meeting such minimum standards as the applicable authority may prescribe by regulation) provides for payment to the plan with respect to aggregate claims under the plan in excess of an amount or amounts specified in such contract; (B) which is guaranteed renewable; and (C) which allows for payment of premiums by any third party on behalf of the insured plan. (2) Specific excess/stop loss insurance The term specific excess/stop loss insurance means, in connection with an association health plan, a contract— (A) under which an insurer (meeting such minimum standards as the applicable authority may prescribe by regulation) provides for payment to the plan with respect to claims under the plan in connection with a covered individual in excess of an amount or amounts specified in such contract in connection with such covered individual; (B) which is guaranteed renewable; and (C) which allows for payment of premiums by any third party on behalf of the insured plan. (h) Indemnification Insurance For purposes of this section, the term indemnification insurance means, in connection with an association health plan, a contract— (1) under which an insurer (meeting such minimum standards as the applicable authority may prescribe by regulation) provides for payment to the plan with respect to claims under the plan which the plan is unable to satisfy by reason of a termination pursuant to section 809(b) (relating to mandatory termination); (2) which is guaranteed renewable and noncancellable for any reason (except as the applicable authority may prescribe by regulation); and (3) which allows for payment of premiums by any third party on behalf of the insured plan. (i) Reserves For purposes of this section, the term reserves means, in connection with an association health plan, plan assets which meet the fiduciary standards under part 4 and such additional requirements regarding liquidity as the applicable authority may prescribe by regulation. (j) Solvency Standards Working Group (1) In general Within 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2015 , the applicable authority shall establish a Solvency Standards Working Group. In prescribing the initial regulations under this section, the applicable authority shall take into account the recommendations of such Working Group. (2) Membership The Working Group shall consist of not more than 15 members appointed by the applicable authority. The applicable authority shall include among persons invited to membership on the Working Group at least one of each of the following: (A) A representative of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (B) A representative of the American Academy of Actuaries. (C) A representative of the State governments, or their interests. (D) A representative of existing self-insured arrangements, or their interests. (E) A representative of associations of the type referred to in section 801(b)(1), or their interests. (F) A representative of multiemployer plans that are group health plans, or their interests. 807. Requirements for application and related requirements (a) Filing Fee Under the procedure prescribed pursuant to section 802(a), an association health plan shall pay to the applicable authority at the time of filing an application for certification under this part a filing fee in the amount of $5,000, which shall be available in the case of the Secretary, to the extent provided in appropriation Acts, for the sole purpose of administering the certification procedures applicable with respect to association health plans. (b) Information To Be Included in Application for Certification An application for certification under this part meets the requirements of this section only if it includes, in a manner and form which shall be prescribed by the applicable authority by regulation, at least the following information: (1) Identifying information The names and addresses of— (A) the sponsor; and (B) the members of the board of trustees of the plan. (2) States in which plan intends to do business The States in which participants and beneficiaries under the plan are to be located and the number of them expected to be located in each such State. (3) Bonding requirements Evidence provided by the board of trustees that the bonding requirements of section 412 will be met as of the date of the application or (if later) commencement of operations. (4) Plan documents A copy of the documents governing the plan (including any bylaws and trust agreements), the summary plan description, and other material describing the benefits that will be provided to participants and beneficiaries under the plan. (5) Agreements with service providers A copy of any agreements between the plan and contract administrators and other service providers. (6) Funding report In the case of association health plans providing benefits options in addition to health insurance coverage, a report setting forth information with respect to such additional benefit options determined as of a date within the 120-day period ending with the date of the application, including the following: (A) Reserves A statement, certified by the board of trustees of the plan, and a statement of actuarial opinion, signed by a qualified health actuary, that all applicable requirements of section 806 are or will be met in accordance with regulations which the applicable authority shall prescribe. (B) Adequacy of contribution rates A statement of actuarial opinion, signed by a qualified health actuary, which sets forth a description of the extent to which contribution rates are adequate to provide for the payment of all obligations and the maintenance of required reserves under the plan for the 12-month period beginning with such date within such 120-day period, taking into account the expected coverage and experience of the plan. If the contribution rates are not fully adequate, the statement of actuarial opinion shall indicate the extent to which the rates are inadequate and the changes needed to ensure adequacy. (C) Current and projected value of assets and liabilities A statement of actuarial opinion signed by a qualified health actuary, which sets forth the current value of the assets and liabilities accumulated under the plan and a projection of the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of the plan for the 12-month period referred to in subparagraph (B). The income statement shall identify separately the plan’s administrative expenses and claims. (D) Costs of coverage to be charged and other expenses A statement of the costs of coverage to be charged, including an itemization of amounts for administration, reserves, and other expenses associated with the operation of the plan. (E) Other information Any other information as may be determined by the applicable authority, by regulation, as necessary to carry out the purposes of this part. (c) Filing Notice of Certification With States A certification granted under this part to an association health plan shall not be effective unless written notice of such certification is filed with the applicable State authority of each State in which at least 25 percent of the participants and beneficiaries under the plan are located. For purposes of this subsection, an individual shall be considered to be located in the State in which a known address of such individual is located or in which such individual is employed. (d) Notice of Material Changes In the case of any association health plan certified under this part, descriptions of material changes in any information which was required to be submitted with the application for the certification under this part shall be filed in such form and manner as shall be prescribed by the applicable authority by regulation. The applicable authority may require by regulation prior notice of material changes with respect to specified matters which might serve as the basis for suspension or revocation of the certification. (e) Reporting Requirements for Certain Association Health Plans An association health plan certified under this part which provides benefit options in addition to health insurance coverage for such plan year shall meet the requirements of section 103 by filing an annual report under such section which shall include information described in subsection (b)(6) with respect to the plan year and, notwithstanding section 104(a)(1)(A), shall be filed with the applicable authority not later than 90 days after the close of the plan year (or on such later date as may be prescribed by the applicable authority). The applicable authority may require by regulation such interim reports as it considers appropriate. (f) Engagement of Qualified Health Actuary The board of trustees of each association health plan which provides benefits options in addition to health insurance coverage and which is applying for certification under this part or is certified under this part shall engage, on behalf of all participants and beneficiaries, a qualified health actuary who shall be responsible for the preparation of the materials comprising information necessary to be submitted by a qualified health actuary under this part. The qualified health actuary shall utilize such assumptions and techniques as are necessary to enable such actuary to form an opinion as to whether the contents of the matters reported under this part— (1) are in the aggregate reasonably related to the experience of the plan and to reasonable expectations; and (2) represent such actuary’s best estimate of anticipated experience under the plan. The opinion by the qualified health actuary shall be made with respect to, and shall be made a part of, the annual report. 808. Notice requirements for voluntary termination Except as provided in section 809(b), an association health plan which is or has been certified under this part may terminate (upon or at any time after cessation of accruals in benefit liabilities) only if the board of trustees, not less than 60 days before the proposed termination date— (1) provides to the participants and beneficiaries a written notice of intent to terminate stating that such termination is intended and the proposed termination date; (2) develops a plan for winding up the affairs of the plan in connection with such termination in a manner which will result in timely payment of all benefits for which the plan is obligated; and (3) submits such plan in writing to the applicable authority. Actions required under this section shall be taken in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the applicable authority by regulation. 809. Corrective actions and mandatory termination (a) Actions To Avoid Depletion of Reserves An association health plan which is certified under this part and which provides benefits other than health insurance coverage shall continue to meet the requirements of section 806, irrespective of whether such certification continues in effect. The board of trustees of such plan shall determine quarterly whether the requirements of section 806 are met. In any case in which the board determines that there is reason to believe that there is or will be a failure to meet such requirements, or the applicable authority makes such a determination and so notifies the board, the board shall immediately notify the qualified health actuary engaged by the plan, and such actuary shall, not later than the end of the following month, make such recommendations to the board for corrective action as the actuary determines necessary to ensure compliance with section 806. Not later than 30 days after receiving from the actuary recommendations for corrective actions, the board shall notify the applicable authority (in such form and manner as the applicable authority may prescribe by regulation) of such recommendations of the actuary for corrective action, together with a description of the actions (if any) that the board has taken or plans to take in response to such recommendations. The board shall thereafter report to the applicable authority, in such form and frequency as the applicable authority may specify to the board, regarding corrective action taken by the board until the requirements of section 806 are met. (b) Mandatory Termination In any case in which— (1) the applicable authority has been notified under subsection (a) (or by an issuer of excess/stop loss insurance or indemnity insurance pursuant to section 806(a)) of a failure of an association health plan which is or has been certified under this part and is described in section 806(a)(2) to meet the requirements of section 806 and has not been notified by the board of trustees of the plan that corrective action has restored compliance with such requirements; and (2) the applicable authority determines that there is a reasonable expectation that the plan will continue to fail to meet the requirements of section 806, the board of trustees of the plan shall, at the direction of the applicable authority, terminate the plan and, in the course of the termination, take such actions as the applicable authority may require, including satisfying any claims referred to in section 806(a)(2)(B)(iii) and recovering for the plan any liability under subsection (a)(2)(B)(iii) or (e) of section 806, as necessary to ensure that the affairs of the plan will be, to the maximum extent possible, wound up in a manner which will result in timely provision of all benefits for which the plan is obligated. 810. Trusteeship by the Secretary of insolvent association health plans providing health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage (a) Appointment of Secretary as Trustee for Insolvent Plans Whenever the Secretary determines that an association health plan which is or has been certified under this part and which is described in section 806(a)(2) will be unable to provide benefits when due or is otherwise in a financially hazardous condition, as shall be defined by the Secretary by regulation, the Secretary shall, upon notice to the plan, apply to the appropriate United States district court for appointment of the Secretary as trustee to administer the plan for the duration of the insolvency. The plan may appear as a party and other interested persons may intervene in the proceedings at the discretion of the court. The court shall appoint such Secretary trustee if the court determines that the trusteeship is necessary to protect the interests of the participants and beneficiaries or providers of medical care or to avoid any unreasonable deterioration of the financial condition of the plan. The trusteeship of such Secretary shall continue until the conditions described in the first sentence of this subsection are remedied or the plan is terminated. (b) Powers as Trustee The Secretary, upon appointment as trustee under subsection (a), shall have the power— (1) to do any act authorized by the plan, this title, or other applicable provisions of law to be done by the plan administrator or any trustee of the plan; (2) to require the transfer of all (or any part) of the assets and records of the plan to the Secretary as trustee; (3) to invest any assets of the plan which the Secretary holds in accordance with the provisions of the plan, regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and applicable provisions of law; (4) to require the sponsor, the plan administrator, any participating employer, and any employee organization representing plan participants to furnish any information with respect to the plan which the Secretary as trustee may reasonably need in order to administer the plan; (5) to collect for the plan any amounts due the plan and to recover reasonable expenses of the trusteeship; (6) to commence, prosecute, or defend on behalf of the plan any suit or proceeding involving the plan; (7) to issue, publish, or file such notices, statements, and reports as may be required by the Secretary by regulation or required by any order of the court; (8) to terminate the plan (or provide for its termination in accordance with section 809(b)) and liquidate the plan assets, to restore the plan to the responsibility of the sponsor, or to continue the trusteeship; (9) to provide for the enrollment of plan participants and beneficiaries under appropriate coverage options; and (10) to do such other acts as may be necessary to comply with this title or any order of the court and to protect the interests of plan participants and beneficiaries and providers of medical care. (c) Notice of Appointment As soon as practicable after the Secretary’s appointment as trustee, the Secretary shall give notice of such appointment to— (1) the sponsor and plan administrator; (2) each participant; (3) each participating employer; and (4) if applicable, each employee organization which, for purposes of collective bargaining, represents plan participants. (d) Additional Duties Except to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of this title, or as may be otherwise ordered by the court, the Secretary, upon appointment as trustee under this section, shall be subject to the same duties as those of a trustee under section 704 of title 11, United States Code, and shall have the duties of a fiduciary for purposes of this title. (e) Other Proceedings An application by the Secretary under this subsection may be filed notwithstanding the pendency in the same or any other court of any bankruptcy, mortgage foreclosure, or equity receivership proceeding, or any proceeding to reorganize, conserve, or liquidate such plan or its property, or any proceeding to enforce a lien against property of the plan. (f) Jurisdiction of Court (1) In general Upon the filing of an application for the appointment as trustee or the issuance of a decree under this section, the court to which the application is made shall have exclusive jurisdiction of the plan involved and its property wherever located with the powers, to the extent consistent with the purposes of this section, of a court of the United States having jurisdiction over cases under chapter 11 of title 11, United States Code. Pending an adjudication under this section such court shall stay, and upon appointment by it of the Secretary as trustee, such court shall continue the stay of, any pending mortgage foreclosure, equity receivership, or other proceeding to reorganize, conserve, or liquidate the plan, the sponsor, or property of such plan or sponsor, and any other suit against any receiver, conservator, or trustee of the plan, the sponsor, or property of the plan or sponsor. Pending such adjudication and upon the appointment by it of the Secretary as trustee, the court may stay any proceeding to enforce a lien against property of the plan or the sponsor or any other suit against the plan or the sponsor. (2) Venue An action under this section may be brought in the judicial district where the sponsor or the plan administrator resides or does business or where any asset of the plan is situated. A district court in which such action is brought may issue process with respect to such action in any other judicial district. (g) Personnel In accordance with regulations which shall be prescribed by the Secretary, the Secretary shall appoint, retain, and compensate accountants, actuaries, and other professional service personnel as may be necessary in connection with the Secretary’s service as trustee under this section. 811. State assessment authority (a) In General Notwithstanding section 514, a State may impose by law a contribution tax on an association health plan described in section 806(a)(2), if the plan commenced operations in such State after the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2015 . (b) Contribution Tax For purposes of this section, the term contribution tax imposed by a State on an association health plan means any tax imposed by such State if— (1) such tax is computed by applying a rate to the amount of premiums or contributions, with respect to individuals covered under the plan who are residents of such State, which are received by the plan from participating employers located in such State or from such individuals; (2) the rate of such tax does not exceed the rate of any tax imposed by such State on premiums or contributions received by insurers or health maintenance organizations for health insurance coverage offered in such State in connection with a group health plan; (3) such tax is otherwise nondiscriminatory; and (4) the amount of any such tax assessed on the plan is reduced by the amount of any tax or assessment otherwise imposed by the State on premiums, contributions, or both received by insurers or health maintenance organizations for health insurance coverage, aggregate excess/stop loss insurance (as defined in section 806(g)(1)), specific excess/stop loss insurance (as defined in section 806(g)(2)), other insurance related to the provision of medical care under the plan, or any combination thereof provided by such insurers or health maintenance organizations in such State in connection with such plan. 812. Definitions and rules of construction (a) Definitions For purposes of this part— (1) Group health plan The term group health plan has the meaning provided in section 733(a)(1) (after applying subsection (b) of this section). (2) Medical care The term medical care has the meaning provided in section 733(a)(2). (3) Health insurance coverage The term health insurance coverage has the meaning provided in section 733(b)(1). (4) Health insurance issuer The term health insurance issuer has the meaning provided in section 733(b)(2). (5) Applicable authority The term applicable authority means the Secretary, except that, in connection with any exercise of the Secretary’s authority regarding which the Secretary is required under section 506(d) to consult with a State, such term means the Secretary, in consultation with such State. (6) Health status-related factor The term health status-related factor has the meaning provided in section 733(d)(2). (7) Individual market (A) In general The term individual market means the market for health insurance coverage offered to individuals other than in connection with a group health plan. (B) Treatment of very small groups (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), such term includes coverage offered in connection with a group health plan that has fewer than 2 participants as current employees or participants described in section 732(d)(3) on the first day of the plan year. (ii) State exception Clause (i) shall not apply in the case of health insurance coverage offered in a State if such State regulates the coverage described in such clause in the same manner and to the same extent as coverage in the small group market (as defined in section 2791(e)(5) of the Public Health Service Act ) is regulated by such State. (8) Participating employer The term participating employer means, in connection with an association health plan, any employer, if any individual who is an employee of such employer, a partner in such employer, or a self-employed individual who is such employer (or any dependent, as defined under the terms of the plan, of such individual) is or was covered under such plan in connection with the status of such individual as such an employee, partner, or self-employed individual in relation to the plan. (9) Applicable state authority The term applicable State authority means, with respect to a health insurance issuer in a State, the State insurance commissioner or official or officials designated by the State to enforce the requirements of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act for the State involved with respect to such issuer. (10) Qualified health actuary The term qualified health actuary means an individual who is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries with expertise in health care. (11) Affiliated member The term affiliated member means, in connection with a sponsor— (A) a person who is otherwise eligible to be a member of the sponsor but who elects an affiliated status with the sponsor, (B) in the case of a sponsor with members which consist of associations, a person who is a member of any such association and elects an affiliated status with the sponsor, or (C) in the case of an association health plan in existence on the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2015 , a person eligible to be a member of the sponsor or one of its member associations. (12) Large employer The term large employer means, in connection with a group health plan with respect to a plan year, an employer who employed an average of at least 51 employees on business days during the preceding calendar year and who employs at least 2 employees on the first day of the plan year. (13) Small employer The term small employer means, in connection with a group health plan with respect to a plan year, an employer who is not a large employer. (b) Rules of Construction (1) Employers and employees For purposes of determining whether a plan, fund, or program is an employee welfare benefit plan which is an association health plan, and for purposes of applying this title in connection with such plan, fund, or program so determined to be such an employee welfare benefit plan— (A) in the case of a partnership, the term employer (as defined in section 3(5)) includes the partnership in relation to the partners, and the term employee (as defined in section 3(6)) includes any partner in relation to the partnership; and (B) in the case of a self-employed individual, the term employer (as defined in section 3(5)) and the term employee (as defined in section 3(6)) shall include such individual. (2) Plans, funds, and programs treated as employee welfare benefit plans In the case of any plan, fund, or program which was established or is maintained for the purpose of providing medical care (through the purchase of insurance or otherwise) for employees (or their dependents) covered thereunder and which demonstrates to the Secretary that all requirements for certification under this part would be met with respect to such plan, fund, or program if such plan, fund, or program were a group health plan, such plan, fund, or program shall be treated for purposes of this title as an employee welfare benefit plan on and after the date of such demonstration. (3) Exception for certain benefits The requirements of this part shall not apply to a group health plan in relation to its provision of excepted benefits, as defined in section 706(c). . (b) Conforming Amendments to Preemption Rules (1) Section 514(b)(6) of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 1144(b)(6) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (E) The preceding subparagraphs of this paragraph do not apply with respect to any State law in the case of an association health plan which is certified under part 8. . (2) Section 514 of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 1144 ) is amended— (A) in subsection (b)(4), by striking Subsection (a) and inserting Subsections (a) and (d) ; (B) in subsection (b)(5), by striking subsection (a) in subparagraph (A) and inserting subsection (a) of this section and subsections (a)(2)(B) and (b) of section 805 , and by striking subsection (a) in subparagraph (B) and inserting subsection (a) of this section or subsection (a)(2)(B) or (b) of section 805 ; (C) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and (D) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection: (d) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b)(4), the provisions of this title shall supersede any and all State laws insofar as they may now or hereafter preclude, or have the effect of precluding, a health insurance issuer from offering health insurance coverage in connection with an association health plan which is certified under part 8. (2) Except as provided in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (b) of this section— (A) In any case in which health insurance coverage of any policy type is offered under an association health plan certified under part 8 to a participating employer operating in such State, the provisions of this title shall supersede any and all laws of such State insofar as they may preclude a health insurance issuer from offering health insurance coverage of the same policy type to other employers operating in the State which are eligible for coverage under such association health plan, whether or not such other employers are participating employers in such plan. (B) In any case in which health insurance coverage of any policy type is offered in a State under an association health plan certified under part 8 and the filing, with the applicable State authority (as defined in section 812(a)(9)), of the policy form in connection with such policy type is approved by such State authority, the provisions of this title shall supersede any and all laws of any other State in which health insurance coverage of such type is offered, insofar as they may preclude, upon the filing in the same form and manner of such policy form with the applicable State authority in such other State, the approval of the filing in such other State. (3) Nothing in subsection (b)(6)(E) or the preceding provisions of this subsection shall be construed, with respect to health insurance issuers or health insurance coverage, to supersede or impair the law of any State— (A) providing solvency standards or similar standards regarding the adequacy of insurer capital, surplus, reserves, or contributions, or (B) relating to prompt payment of claims. (4) For additional provisions relating to association health plans, see subsections (a)(2)(B) and (b) of section 805. (5) For purposes of this subsection, the term association health plan has the meaning provided in section 801(a), and the terms health insurance coverage , participating employer , and health insurance issuer have the meanings provided such terms in section 812, respectively. . (3) Section 514(b)(6)(A) of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 1144(b)(6)(A) ) is amended— (A) in clause (i)(II), by striking and at the end; (B) in clause (ii)— (i) by inserting and which does not provide medical care (within the meaning of section 733(a)(2)), after arrangement, ; and (ii) by striking title. and inserting title, and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) subject to subparagraph (E), in the case of any other employee welfare benefit plan which is a multiple employer welfare arrangement and which provides medical care (within the meaning of section 733(a)(2)), any law of any State which regulates insurance may apply. . (4) Section 514(e) of such Act (as redesignated by paragraph (2)(C)) is amended— (A) by striking Nothing and inserting (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), nothing ; and (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) Nothing in any other provision of law enacted on or after the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2015 shall be construed to alter, amend, modify, invalidate, impair, or supersede any provision of this title, except by specific cross-reference to the affected section. . (c) Plan Sponsor Section 3(16)(B) of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 102(16)(B) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: Such term also includes a person serving as the sponsor of an association health plan under part 8. . (d) Disclosure of Solvency Protections Related to Self-Insured and Fully Insured Options Under Association Health Plans Section 102(b) of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 1022(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: An association health plan shall include in its summary plan description, in connection with each benefit option, a description of the form of solvency or guarantee fund protection secured pursuant to this Act or applicable State law, if any. . (e) Savings Clause Section 731(c) of such Act is amended by inserting or part 8 after this part . (f) Report to the Congress Regarding Certification of Self-Insured Association Health Plans Not later than January 1, 2018, the Secretary of Labor shall report to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate the effect association health plans have had, if any, on reducing the number of uninsured individuals. (g) Clerical Amendment The table of contents in section 1 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 734 the following new items: Part 8—Rules Governing Association Health Plans 801. Association health plans. 802. Certification of association health plans. 803. Requirements relating to sponsors and boards of trustees. 804. Participation and coverage requirements. 805. Other requirements relating to plan documents, contribution rates, and benefit options. 806. Maintenance of reserves and provisions for solvency for plans providing health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage. 807. Requirements for application and related requirements. 808. Notice requirements for voluntary termination. 809. Corrective actions and mandatory termination. 810. Trusteeship by the Secretary of insolvent association health plans providing health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage. 811. State assessment authority. 812. Definitions and rules of construction. . 213. Clarification of treatment of single employer arrangements Section 3(40)(B) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1002(40)(B) ) is amended— (1) in clause (i), by inserting after control group, the following: except that, in any case in which the benefit referred to in subparagraph (A) consists of medical care (as defined in section 812(a)(2)), 2 or more trades or businesses, whether or not incorporated, shall be deemed a single employer for any plan year of such plan, or any fiscal year of such other arrangement, if such trades or businesses are within the same control group during such year or at any time during the preceding 1-year period, ; (2) in clause (iii), by striking (iii) the determination and inserting the following: (iii) (I) in any case in which the benefit referred to in subparagraph (A) consists of medical care (as defined in section 812(a)(2)), the determination of whether a trade or business is under common control with another trade or business shall be determined under regulations of the Secretary applying principles consistent and coextensive with the principles applied in determining whether employees of 2 or more trades or businesses are treated as employed by a single employer under section 4001(b), except that, for purposes of this paragraph, an interest of greater than 25 percent may not be required as the minimum interest necessary for common control, or (II) in any other case, the determination ; (3) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (v) and (vi), respectively; and (4) by inserting after clause (iii) the following new clause: (iv) in any case in which the benefit referred to in subparagraph (A) consists of medical care (as defined in section 812(a)(2)), in determining, after the application of clause (i), whether benefits are provided to employees of 2 or more employers, the arrangement shall be treated as having only one participating employer if, after the application of clause (i), the number of individuals who are employees and former employees of any one participating employer and who are covered under the arrangement is greater than 75 percent of the aggregate number of all individuals who are employees or former employees of participating employers and who are covered under the arrangement, . 214. Enforcement provisions relating to association health plans (a) Criminal Penalties for Certain Willful Misrepresentations Section 501 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1131 ) is amended— (1) by inserting (a) after Sec. 501. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (b) Any person who willfully falsely represents, to any employee, any employee’s beneficiary, any employer, the Secretary, or any State, a plan or other arrangement established or maintained for the purpose of offering or providing any benefit described in section 3(1) to employees or their beneficiaries as— (1) being an association health plan which has been certified under part 8; (2) having been established or maintained under or pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements which are reached pursuant to collective bargaining described in section 8(d) of the National Labor Relations Act ( 29 U.S.C. 158(d) ) or paragraph Fourth of section 2 of the Railway Labor Act ( 45 U.S.C. 152 , paragraph Fourth) or which are reached pursuant to labor-management negotiations under similar provisions of State public employee relations laws; or (3) being a plan or arrangement described in section 3(40)(A)(i), shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned not more than 5 years, be fined under title 18, United States Code, or both. . (b) Cease Activities Orders Section 502 of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 1132 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (n) Association Health Plan Cease and Desist Orders (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), upon application by the Secretary showing the operation, promotion, or marketing of an association health plan (or similar arrangement providing benefits consisting of medical care (as defined in section 733(a)(2))) that— (A) is not certified under part 8, is subject under section 514(b)(6) to the insurance laws of any State in which the plan or arrangement offers or provides benefits, and is not licensed, registered, or otherwise approved under the insurance laws of such State; or (B) is an association health plan certified under part 8 and is not operating in accordance with the requirements under part 8 for such certification, a district court of the United States shall enter an order requiring that the plan or arrangement cease activities. (2) Exception Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case of an association health plan or other arrangement if the plan or arrangement shows that— (A) all benefits under it referred to in paragraph (1) consist of health insurance coverage; and (B) with respect to each State in which the plan or arrangement offers or provides benefits, the plan or arrangement is operating in accordance with applicable State laws that are not superseded under section 514. (3) Additional equitable relief The court may grant such additional equitable relief, including any relief available under this title, as it deems necessary to protect the interests of the public and of persons having claims for benefits against the plan. . (c) Responsibility for Claims Procedure Section 503 of such Act ( 29 U.S.C. 1133 ) is amended— (1) by inserting (a) In general .— before In accordance ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (b) Association Health Plans The terms of each association health plan which is or has been certified under part 8 shall require the board of trustees or the named fiduciary (as applicable) to ensure that the requirements of this section are met in connection with claims filed under the plan. . 215. Cooperation between Federal and State authorities Section 506 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1136 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (d) Consultation With States With Respect to Association Health Plans (1) Agreements with states The Secretary shall consult with the State recognized under paragraph (2) with respect to an association health plan regarding the exercise of— (A) the Secretary’s authority under sections 502 and 504 to enforce the requirements for certification under part 8; and (B) the Secretary’s authority to certify association health plans under part 8 in accordance with regulations of the Secretary applicable to certification under part 8. (2) Recognition of primary domicile state In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that only one State will be recognized, with respect to any particular association health plan, as the State with which consultation is required. In carrying out this paragraph— (A) in the case of a plan which provides health insurance coverage (as defined in section 812(a)(3)), such State shall be the State with which filing and approval of a policy type offered by the plan was initially obtained; and (B) in any other case, the Secretary shall take into account the places of residence of the participants and beneficiaries under the plan and the State in which the trust is maintained. . 216. Effective date and transitional and other rules (a) Effective Date The amendments made by this subtitle shall take effect 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Labor shall first issue all regulations necessary to carry out the amendments made by this subtitle within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Treatment of Certain Existing Health Benefits Programs (1) In general In any case in which, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, an arrangement is maintained in a State for the purpose of providing benefits consisting of medical care for the employees and beneficiaries of its participating employers, at least 200 participating employers make contributions to such arrangement, such arrangement has been in existence for at least 10 years, and such arrangement is licensed under the laws of one or more States to provide such benefits to its participating employers, upon the filing with the applicable authority (as defined in section 812(a)(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (as amended by this subtitle)) by the arrangement of an application for certification of the arrangement under part 8 of subtitle B of title I of such Act— (A) such arrangement shall be deemed to be a group health plan for purposes of title I of such Act; (B) the requirements of sections 801(a) and 803(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 shall be deemed met with respect to such arrangement; (C) the requirements of section 803(b) of such Act shall be deemed met, if the arrangement is operated by a board of directors which— (i) is elected by the participating employers, with each employer having one vote; and (ii) has complete fiscal control over the arrangement and which is responsible for all operations of the arrangement; (D) the requirements of section 804(a) of such Act shall be deemed met with respect to such arrangement; and (E) the arrangement may be certified by any applicable authority with respect to its operations in any State only if it operates in such State on the date of certification. The provisions of this subsection shall cease to apply with respect to any such arrangement at such time after the date of the enactment of this Act as the applicable requirements of this subsection are not met with respect to such arrangement. (2) Definitions For purposes of this subsection, the terms group health plan , medical care , and participating employer shall have the meanings provided in section 812 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 , except that the reference in paragraph (7) of such section to an association health plan shall be deemed a reference to an arrangement referred to in this subsection. C Health Insurance Reforms 221. Requirements for individual health insurance (a) In general Section 2741 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–41 ), as restored and revived by section 2 of this Act, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in the heading, by striking to certain individuals with prior group coverage ; (B) in paragraph (1), by striking and section 2744 ; (C) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting unless such exclusion complies with paragraph (2) before the period; and (D) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following new paragraphs: (2) Limitation on preexisting condition exclusion period (A) Limitation A health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in the individual market may not, with respect to an enrollee in such coverage, impose any preexisting condition exclusion if such enrollee has at least 18 months of continuous creditable coverage (as defined in section 2701(c)(1)) immediately preceding the enrollment date. (B) Imposition of exclusion Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(B), a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in the individual market may, with respect to an enrollee in such coverage who is not described in subparagraph (A), impose a preexisting condition exclusion only if— (i) such exclusion relates to a condition (whether physical or mental), regardless of the cause of the condition, for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received within the 6-month period ending on the enrollment date; (ii) such exclusion extends for a period of not more than 18 months after the enrollment date; and (iii) the period of any such preexisting condition exclusion is reduced by the aggregate of the periods of creditable coverage (if any, as defined in section 2701(c)(1)) applicable to the enrollee as of the enrollment date. (C) Premium surcharge Notwithstanding paragraph (6), with respect to an enrollee described in subparagraph (B), a health insurance issuer may charge a premium for the coverage involved that does not exceed 150 percent of the applicable standard rate, for not to exceed 2 years (or 3 years if the health insurance issuer does not impose any preexisting condition exclusion with respect to such enrollee), reduced by the aggregate of the periods of creditable coverage (if any, as defined in section 2701(c)(1)) applicable to the enrollee as of the enrollment date. For purposes of this subsection, the term applicable standard rate means the standard premium rate that the issuer charges for the coverage involved with respect to an individual described in subparagraph (A) with the same rating characteristics or rating factors as the enrollee described in subparagraph (B), provided that any variations in standard premium rates are based on the uniform application of rating characteristics or rating factors that are permitted by State law and are not otherwise prohibited by paragraph (6). (3) Exceptions Notwithstanding paragraph (2), and subject to subparagraph (D), a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in the individual market, may not impose any of the following preexisting condition exclusion: (A) Exclusion not applicable to certain newborns In the case of an individual who, as of the last day of the 30-day period beginning with the date of birth, is a dependent of an enrollee in such coverage. (B) Exclusion not applicable to certain adopted children In the case of a child who is adopted or placed for adoption before attaining 18 years of age and who, as of the last day of the 30-day period beginning on the date of the adoption or placement for adoption, is a dependent of an enrollee in such coverage. The previous sentence shall not apply to coverage before the date of such adoption or placement for adoption. (C) Exclusion not applicable to pregnancy Relating to pregnancy as a preexisting condition. (D) Loss if break in coverage Subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall no longer apply to an individual after the end of the first 63-day period during all of which the individual was not covered under any creditable coverage. (4) Open enrollment periods A health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in the individual market may limit the applicability of the provisions of paragraph (1) to scheduled open enrollment periods, provided that— (A) any such open enrollment period shall not be less than 30 days; (B) any period between scheduled open enrollment periods shall not exceed 24 months; and (C) such limitation shall not apply to any individual who qualifies for a special enrollment period under paragraph (5). (5) Special enrollment periods (A) In general Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in the individual market shall permit an individual who is an eligible individual or a dependent to enroll in coverage during a special enrollment period if the individual experiences any of the following qualifying events: (i) For dependent beneficiaries The individual becomes, by reason of marriage, birth, adoption or placement for adoption, a dependent of an individual enrolled in a plan offered by the health insurance issuer and such individual otherwise qualifies, under the terms of the plan, as eligible for coverage as a dependent of such enrollee. (ii) Loss of group coverage The individual loses coverage under a group health plan as a result of— (I) loss of eligibility for the coverage (including as a result of legal separation, divorce, death, attaining an age at which eligibility terminates, termination of employment, or reduction in the number of hours of employment); or (II) termination of the coverage by the plan sponsor. (iii) Loss of individual coverage The individual loses individual market coverage as a result of— (I) discontinuation of a plan as a result of a health insurance issuer ceasing to offer coverage in the individual market in accordance with section 2742(c)(2); (II) expiration of COBRA, or other, continuation coverage; (III) ceasing to qualify, under the terms of the coverage, as a dependent (including as a result of legal separation, divorce, death, or attaining an age at which eligibility terminates); or (IV) permanently moving outside the State in which the coverage was issued, or in the case of a network plan, outside the plan’s service area. (iv) Loss of eligibility for a government coverage program The individual loses coverage by ceasing to be eligible for coverage under any of the following: (I) Part A or part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act. (II) Title XIX of the Social Security Act, other than coverage consisting solely of benefits under section 1928 of such title. (III) Title XXI of the Social Security Act. (IV) Chapter 55 of title 10. (V) Chapter 89 of title 5. (VI) A State health benefits risk pool. (B) Loss of coverage defined For purposes of this paragraph, loss of coverage shall not include any of the following: (i) Voluntary termination of coverage by an individual, except if such termination is the result of circumstances described in clause (iii)(IV). (ii) Termination of coverage by the issuer or the plan sponsor of the coverage for any reason described in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 2742(b). (iii) Loss of any coverage that consists solely of coverage of excepted benefits (as defined in section 2791). (C) Special enrollment period Any special enrollment period shall not be less than 60 days and shall begin on the date of the qualifying event. (6) Standard premium rates With respect to the premium rate charged by a health insurance issuer for health insurance coverage offered in the individual market, such rate, with respect to the particular plan or coverage involved, shall not vary based on any of the following health status-related factors in relation to an eligible individual or dependent: (A) Health status. (B) Medical condition (including physical and mental illnesses). (C) Claims experience. (D) Receipt of health care. (E) Medical history. (F) Genetic information. (G) Evidence of insurability (including conditions arising out of acts of domestic violence). (H) Disability. ; (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: (b) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) Eligible individual The term eligible individual means an individual who is eligible under applicable State law to purchase individual health insurance coverage in the State. (2) Dependent The term dependent means an individual who, under the terms of the coverage and applicable State law, qualifies to enroll in such coverage as a dependent of an individual described in paragraph (1). ; (3) by striking subsection (c); and (4) by redesignating subsection (d) and the first subsection (e) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively. (b) Conforming amendment Section 2744 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–44 ), as restored and revived by section 2 of this Act, is repealed. (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to health insurance coverage offered for plan years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. III Interstate Market for Health Insurance 301. Cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage (a) In General Title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg et seq. ), as restored by section 2, is amended by adding at the end the following new part: D Cooperative Governing of Individual Health Insurance Coverage 2795. Definitions In this part: (1) Primary state The term primary State means, with respect to individual health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer, the State designated by the issuer as the State whose covered laws shall govern the health insurance issuer in the sale of such coverage under this part. An issuer, with respect to a particular policy, may only designate one such State as its primary State with respect to all such coverage it offers. Such an issuer may not change the designated primary State with respect to individual health insurance coverage once the policy is issued, except that such a change may be made upon renewal of the policy. With respect to such designated State, the issuer is deemed to be doing business in that State. (2) Secondary state The term secondary State means, with respect to individual health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer, any State that is not the primary State. In the case of a health insurance issuer that is selling a policy in, or to a resident of, a secondary State, the issuer is deemed to be doing business in that secondary State. (3) Health insurance issuer The term health insurance issuer has the meaning given such term in section 2791(b)(2), except that such an issuer must be licensed in the primary State and be qualified to sell individual health insurance coverage in that State. (4) Individual health insurance coverage The term individual health insurance coverage means health insurance coverage offered in the individual market, as defined in section 2791(e)(1), but does not include excepted benefits described in section 2791(c). (5) Applicable state authority The term applicable State authority means, with respect to a health insurance issuer in a State, the State insurance commissioner or official or officials designated by the State to enforce the requirements of this title for the State with respect to the issuer. (6) Hazardous financial condition The term hazardous financial condition means that, based on its present or reasonably anticipated financial condition, a health insurance issuer is unlikely to be able— (A) to meet obligations to policyholders with respect to known claims and reasonably anticipated claims; or (B) to pay other obligations in the normal course of business. (7) Covered laws (A) In general The term covered laws means the laws, rules, regulations, agreements, and orders governing the insurance business pertaining to— (i) individual health insurance coverage issued by a health insurance issuer; (ii) the offer, sale, rating (including medical underwriting), renewal, and issuance of individual health insurance coverage to an individual; (iii) the provision to an individual in relation to individual health insurance coverage of health care and insurance related services; (iv) the provision to an individual in relation to individual health insurance coverage of management, operations, and investment activities of a health insurance issuer; and (v) the provision to an individual in relation to individual health insurance coverage of loss control and claims administration for a health insurance issuer with respect to liability for which the issuer provides insurance. (B) Exception Such term does not include any law, rule, regulation, agreement, or order governing the use of care or cost management techniques, including any requirement related to provider contracting, network access or adequacy, health care data collection, or quality assurance. (8) State The term State means only the 50 States and the District of Columbia. (9) Unfair claims settlement practices The term unfair claims settlement practices means only the following practices: (A) Knowingly misrepresenting to claimants and insured individuals relevant facts or policy provisions relating to coverage at issue. (B) Failing to acknowledge with reasonable promptness pertinent communications with respect to claims arising under policies. (C) Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigation and settlement of claims arising under policies. (D) Failing to effectuate prompt, fair, and equitable settlement of claims submitted in which liability has become reasonably clear. (E) Refusing to pay claims without conducting a reasonable investigation. (F) Failing to affirm or deny coverage of claims within a reasonable period of time after having completed an investigation related to those claims. (G) A pattern or practice of compelling insured individuals or their beneficiaries to institute suits to recover amounts due under its policies by offering substantially less than the amounts ultimately recovered in suits brought by them. (H) A pattern or practice of attempting to settle or settling claims for less than the amount that a reasonable person would believe the insured individual or his or her beneficiary was entitled by reference to written or printed advertising material accompanying or made part of an application. (I) Attempting to settle or settling claims on the basis of an application that was materially altered without notice to, or knowledge or consent of, the insured. (J) Failing to provide forms necessary to present claims within 15 calendar days of a requests with reasonable explanations regarding their use. (K) Attempting to cancel a policy in less time than that prescribed in the policy or by the law of the primary State. (10) Fraud and abuse The term fraud and abuse means an act or omission committed by a person who, knowingly and with intent to defraud, commits, or conceals any material information concerning, one or more of the following: (A) Presenting, causing to be presented or preparing with knowledge or belief that it will be presented to or by an insurer, a reinsurer, broker or its agent, false information as part of, in support of or concerning a fact material to one or more of the following: (i) An application for the issuance or renewal of an insurance policy or reinsurance contract. (ii) The rating of an insurance policy or reinsurance contract. (iii) A claim for payment or benefit pursuant to an insurance policy or reinsurance contract. (iv) Premiums paid on an insurance policy or reinsurance contract. (v) Payments made in accordance with the terms of an insurance policy or reinsurance contract. (vi) A document filed with the commissioner or the chief insurance regulatory official of another jurisdiction. (vii) The financial condition of an insurer or reinsurer. (viii) The formation, acquisition, merger, reconsolidation, dissolution or withdrawal from one or more lines of insurance or reinsurance in all or part of a State by an insurer or reinsurer. (ix) The issuance of written evidence of insurance. (x) The reinstatement of an insurance policy. (B) Solicitation or acceptance of new or renewal insurance risks on behalf of an insurer, reinsurer, or other person engaged in the business of insurance by a person who knows or should know that the insurer or other person responsible for the risk is insolvent at the time of the transaction. (C) Transaction of the business of insurance in violation of laws requiring a license, certificate of authority or other legal authority for the transaction of the business of insurance. (D) Attempt to commit, aiding or abetting in the commission of, or conspiracy to commit the acts or omissions specified in this paragraph. 2796. Application of law (a) In General The covered laws of the primary State shall apply to individual health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in the primary State and in any secondary State, but only if the coverage and issuer comply with the conditions of this section with respect to the offering of coverage in any secondary State. (b) Exemptions From Covered Laws in a Secondary State Except as provided in this section, a health insurance issuer with respect to its offer, sale, rating (including medical underwriting), renewal, and issuance of individual health insurance coverage in any secondary State is exempt from any covered laws of the secondary State (and any rules, regulations, agreements, or orders sought or issued by such State under or related to such covered laws) to the extent that such laws would— (1) make unlawful, or regulate, directly or indirectly, the operation of the health insurance issuer operating in the secondary State, except that any secondary State may require such an issuer— (A) to pay, on a nondiscriminatory basis, applicable premium and other taxes (including high-risk pool assessments) which are levied on insurers and surplus lines insurers, brokers, or policyholders under the laws of the State; (B) to register with and designate the State insurance commissioner as its agent solely for the purpose of receiving service of legal documents or process; (C) to submit to an examination of its financial condition by the State insurance commissioner in any State in which the issuer is doing business to determine the issuer’s financial condition, if— (i) the State insurance commissioner of the primary State has not done an examination within the period recommended by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; and (ii) any such examination is conducted in accordance with the examiners’ handbook of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and is coordinated to avoid unjustified duplication and unjustified repetition; (D) to comply with a lawful order issued— (i) in a delinquency proceeding commenced by the State insurance commissioner if there has been a finding of financial impairment under subparagraph (C); or (ii) in a voluntary dissolution proceeding; (E) to comply with an injunction issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, upon a petition by the State insurance commissioner alleging that the issuer is in hazardous financial condition; (F) to participate, on a nondiscriminatory basis, in any insurance insolvency guaranty association or similar association to which a health insurance issuer in the State is required to belong; (G) to comply with any State law regarding fraud and abuse (as defined in section 2795(10)), except that if the State seeks an injunction regarding the conduct described in this subparagraph, such injunction must be obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction; (H) to comply with any State law regarding unfair claims settlement practices (as defined in section 2795(9)); or (I) to comply with the applicable requirements for independent review under section 2799 with respect to coverage offered in the State; (2) require any individual health insurance coverage issued by the issuer to be countersigned by an insurance agent or broker residing in that secondary State; or (3) otherwise discriminate against the issuer issuing insurance in both the primary State and in any secondary State. (c) Clear and Conspicuous Disclosure A health insurance issuer shall provide the following notice, in 12-point bold type, in any insurance coverage offered in a secondary State under this part by such a health insurance issuer and at renewal of the policy, with the 5 blank spaces therein being appropriately filled with the name of the health insurance issuer, the name of primary State, the name of the secondary State, the name of the secondary State, and the name of the secondary State, respectively, for the coverage concerned: This policy is issued by _____ and is governed by the laws and regulations of the State of _____, and it has met all the laws of that State as determined by that State’s Department of Insurance. This policy may be less expensive than others because it is not subject to all of the insurance laws and regulations of the State of _____, including coverage of some services or benefits mandated by the law of the State of _____. Additionally, this policy is not subject to all of the consumer protection laws or restrictions on rate changes of the State of _____. As with all insurance products, before purchasing this policy, you should carefully review the policy and determine what health care services the policy covers and what benefits it provides, including any exclusions, limitations, or conditions for such services or benefits. (d) Prohibition on Certain Reclassifications and Premium Increases (1) In general For purposes of this section, a health insurance issuer that provides individual health insurance coverage to an individual under this part in a primary or secondary State may not upon renewal— (A) move or reclassify the individual insured under the health insurance coverage from the class such individual is in at the time of issue of the contract based on the health-status related factors of the individual; or (B) increase the premiums assessed the individual for such coverage based on a health status-related factor or change of a health status-related factor or the past or prospective claim experience of the insured individual. (2) Construction Nothing in paragraph (1) shall be construed to prohibit a health insurance issuer— (A) from terminating or discontinuing coverage or a class of coverage in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of section 2742; (B) from raising premium rates for all policy holders within a class based on claims experience; (C) from changing premiums or offering discounted premiums to individuals who engage in wellness activities at intervals prescribed by the issuer, if such premium changes or incentives— (i) are disclosed to the consumer in the insurance contract; (ii) are based on specific wellness activities that are not applicable to all individuals; and (iii) are not obtainable by all individuals to whom coverage is offered; (D) from reinstating lapsed coverage; or (E) from retroactively adjusting the rates charged an insured individual if the initial rates were set based on material misrepresentation by the individual at the time of issue. (e) Prior Offering of Policy in Primary State A health insurance issuer may not offer for sale individual health insurance coverage in a secondary State unless that coverage is currently offered for sale in the primary State. (f) Licensing of Agents or Brokers for Health Insurance Issuers Any State may require that a person acting, or offering to act, as an agent or broker for a health insurance issuer with respect to the offering of individual health insurance coverage obtain a license from that State, with commissions or other compensation subject to the provisions of the laws of that State, except that a State may not impose any qualification or requirement which discriminates against a nonresident agent or broker. (g) Documents for Submission to State Insurance Commissioner Each health insurance issuer issuing individual health insurance coverage in both primary and secondary States shall submit— (1) to the insurance commissioner of each State in which it intends to offer such coverage, before it may offer individual health insurance coverage in such State— (A) a copy of the plan of operation or feasibility study or any similar statement of the policy being offered and its coverage (which shall include the name of its primary State and its principal place of business); (B) written notice of any change in its designation of its primary State; and (C) written notice from the issuer of the issuer’s compliance with all the laws of the primary State; and (2) to the insurance commissioner of each secondary State in which it offers individual health insurance coverage, a copy of the issuer’s quarterly financial statement submitted to the primary State, which statement shall be certified by an independent public accountant and contain a statement of opinion on loss and loss adjustment expense reserves made by— (A) a member of the American Academy of Actuaries; or (B) a qualified loss reserve specialist. (h) Power of Courts To Enjoin Conduct Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authority of any Federal or State court to enjoin— (1) the solicitation or sale of individual health insurance coverage by a health insurance issuer to any person or group who is not eligible for such insurance; or (2) the solicitation or sale of individual health insurance coverage that violates the requirements of the law of a secondary State which are described in subparagraphs (A) through (H) of section 2796(b)(1). (i) Power of Secondary States To Take Administrative Action Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authority of any State to enjoin conduct in violation of that State’s laws described in section 2796(b)(1). (j) State Powers To Enforce State Laws (1) In general Subject to the provisions of subsection (b)(1)(G) (relating to injunctions) and paragraph (2), nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authority of any State to make use of any of its powers to enforce the laws of such State with respect to which a health insurance issuer is not exempt under subsection (b). (2) Courts of competent jurisdiction If a State seeks an injunction regarding the conduct described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (h), such injunction must be obtained from a Federal or State court of competent jurisdiction. (k) States’ Authority To Sue Nothing in this section shall affect the authority of any State to bring action in any Federal or State court. (l) Generally Applicable Laws Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the applicability of State laws generally applicable to persons or corporations. (m) Guaranteed Availability of Coverage to HIPAA Eligible Individuals To the extent that a health insurance issuer is offering coverage in a primary State that does not accommodate residents of secondary States or does not provide a working mechanism for residents of a secondary State, and the issuer is offering coverage under this part in such secondary State which has not adopted a qualified high-risk pool as its acceptable alternative mechanism (as defined in section 2744(c)(2)), the issuer shall, with respect to any individual health insurance coverage offered in a secondary State under this part, comply with the guaranteed availability requirements for eligible individuals in section 2741. 2797. Primary State must meet Federal floor before issuer may sell into secondary States A health insurance issuer may not offer, sell, or issue individual health insurance coverage in a secondary State if the State insurance commissioner does not use a risk-based capital formula for the determination of capital and surplus requirements for all health insurance issuers. 2798. Limitation on individual purchase in secondary State Effective beginning 2 years after the date of enactment of this part, an individual in a State may not buy individual health insurance coverage in a secondary State if the premium for individual health insurance in the primary State (with respect to the individual) exceeds the national average premium by 10 percent or more. 2799. Independent external appeals procedures (a) Right to External Appeal A health insurance issuer may not offer, sell, or issue individual health insurance coverage in a secondary State under the provisions of this title unless— (1) both the secondary State and the primary State have legislation or regulations in place establishing an independent review process for individuals who are covered by individual health insurance coverage; or (2) in any case in which the requirements of paragraph (1) are not met with respect to the either of such States, the issuer provides an independent review mechanism substantially identical (as determined by the applicable State authority of such State) to that prescribed in the Health Carrier External Review Model Act of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for all individuals who purchase insurance coverage under the terms of this part, except that, under such mechanism, the review is conducted by an independent medical reviewer, or a panel of such reviewers, with respect to whom the requirements of subsection (b) are met. (b) Qualifications of Independent Medical Reviewers In the case of any independent review mechanism referred to in subsection (a)(2): (1) In general In referring a denial of a claim to an independent medical reviewer, or to any panel of such reviewers, to conduct independent medical review, the issuer shall ensure that— (A) each independent medical reviewer meets the qualifications described in paragraphs (2) and (3); (B) with respect to each review, each reviewer meets the requirements of paragraph (4) and the reviewer, or at least 1 reviewer on the panel, meets the requirements described in paragraph (5); and (C) compensation provided by the issuer to each reviewer is consistent with paragraph (6). (2) Licensure and expertise Each independent medical reviewer shall be a physician (allopathic or osteopathic) or health care professional who— (A) is appropriately credentialed or licensed in one or more States to deliver health care services; and (B) typically treats the condition, makes the diagnosis, or provides the type of treatment under review. (3) Independence (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), each independent medical reviewer in a case shall— (i) not be a related party (as defined in paragraph (7)); (ii) not have a material familial, financial, or professional relationship with such a party; and (iii) not otherwise have a conflict of interest with such a party (as determined under regulations). (B) Exception Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed to— (i) prohibit an individual, solely on the basis of affiliation with the issuer, from serving as an independent medical reviewer if— (I) a non-affiliated individual is not reasonably available; (II) the affiliated individual is not involved in the provision of items or services in the case under review; (III) the fact of such an affiliation is disclosed to the issuer and the enrollee (or authorized representative) and neither party objects; and (IV) the affiliated individual is not an employee of the issuer and does not provide services exclusively or primarily to or on behalf of the issuer; (ii) prohibit an individual who has staff privileges at the institution where the treatment involved takes place from serving as an independent medical reviewer merely on the basis of such affiliation if the affiliation is disclosed to the issuer and the enrollee (or authorized representative), and neither party objects; or (iii) prohibit receipt of compensation by an independent medical reviewer from an entity if the compensation is provided consistent with paragraph (6). (4) Practicing health care professional in same field (A) In general In a case involving treatment, or the provision of items or services— (i) by a physician, a reviewer shall be a practicing physician (allopathic or osteopathic) of the same or similar specialty, as a physician who, acting within the appropriate scope of practice within the State in which the service is provided or rendered, typically treats the condition, makes the diagnosis, or provides the type of treatment under review; or (ii) by a non-physician health care professional, the reviewer, or at least 1 member of the review panel, shall be a practicing non-physician health care professional of the same or similar specialty as the non-physician health care professional who, acting within the appropriate scope of practice within the State in which the service is provided or rendered, typically treats the condition, makes the diagnosis, or provides the type of treatment under review. (B) Practicing defined For purposes of this paragraph, the term practicing means, with respect to an individual who is a physician or other health care professional, that the individual provides health care services to individual patients on average at least 2 days per week. (5) Pediatric expertise In the case of an external review relating to a child, a reviewer shall have expertise under paragraph (2) in pediatrics. (6) Limitations on reviewer compensation Compensation provided by the issuer to an independent medical reviewer in connection with a review under this section shall— (A) not exceed a reasonable level; and (B) not be contingent on the decision rendered by the reviewer. (7) Related party defined For purposes of this section, the term related party means, with respect to a denial of a claim under a coverage relating to an enrollee, any of the following: (A) The issuer involved, or any fiduciary, officer, director, or employee of the issuer. (B) The enrollee (or authorized representative). (C) The health care professional that provides the items or services involved in the denial. (D) The institution at which the items or services (or treatment) involved in the denial are provided. (E) The manufacturer of any drug or other item that is included in the items or services involved in the denial. (F) Any other party determined under any regulations to have a substantial interest in the denial involved. (8) Definitions For purposes of this subsection: (A) Enrollee The term enrollee means, with respect to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer, an individual enrolled with the issuer to receive such coverage. (B) Health care professional The term health care professional means an individual who is licensed, accredited, or certified under State law to provide specified health care services and who is operating within the scope of such licensure, accreditation, or certification. 2799A. Enforcement (a) In General Subject to subsection (b), with respect to specific individual health insurance coverage the primary State for such coverage has sole jurisdiction to enforce the primary State’s covered laws in the primary State and any secondary State. (b) Secondary State’s Authority Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to affect the authority of a secondary State to enforce its laws as set forth in the exception specified in section 2796(b)(1). (c) Court Interpretation In reviewing action initiated by the applicable secondary State authority, the court of competent jurisdiction shall apply the covered laws of the primary State. (d) Notice of Compliance Failure In the case of individual health insurance coverage offered in a secondary State that fails to comply with the covered laws of the primary State, the applicable State authority of the secondary State may notify the applicable State authority of the primary State. . (b) Effective Date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply to individual health insurance coverage offered, issued, or sold after the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) GAO Ongoing Study and Reports (1) Study The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an ongoing study concerning the effect of the amendment made by subsection (a) on— (A) the number of uninsured and under-insured; (B) the availability and cost of health insurance policies for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions; (C) the availability and cost of health insurance policies generally; (D) the elimination or reduction of different types of benefits under health insurance policies offered in different States; and (E) cases of fraud or abuse relating to health insurance coverage offered under such amendment and the resolution of such cases. (2) Annual reports The Comptroller General shall submit to Congress an annual report, after the end of each of the 5 years following the effective date of the amendment made by subsection (a), on the ongoing study conducted under paragraph (1). (d) Severability If any provision of the section or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this section and the application of the provisions of such to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected. IV Lawsuit Abuse Reforms 401. Change in burden of proof based on compliance with clinical practice guidelines (a) Selection and issuance of clinical practices guidelines (1) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary ) shall provide for the selection and issuance of clinical practice guidelines for treatment of medical conditions (each in this subsection referred to as a guideline ) in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3). (2) Development process Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this title, the Secretary shall enter into a contract with a qualified physician consensus-building organization (such as the Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement), in concert and agreement with physician specialty organizations, to develop guidelines. The contract shall require that the organization submit guidelines to the agency not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this title. (3) Issuance (A) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this title, the Secretary shall, after notice and opportunity for public comment, make a rule that provides for the issuance of the guidelines submitted under paragraph (2). (B) Limitation The Secretary may not make a rule that includes guidelines other than those submitted under paragraph (2). (C) Dissemination The Secretary shall post such guidelines on the public Internet Web site of the Department of Health and Human Services. (4) Maintenance Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this title, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall review the guidelines and shall, as necessary, enter into contracts similar to the contract described in paragraph (2), and issue guidelines in a manner similar to the issuance of guidelines under paragraph (3). (b) Use (1) Use by defendant to change the burden of proof If a defendant in a health care lawsuit relating to treatment of an individual establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that the treatment was provided in a manner consistent with an applicable guideline issued under subsection (a), the defendant may not be held liable unless the plaintiff establishes the liability of the defendant by clear and convincing evidence. (2) Limitation on introduction as evidence against a defendant Guidelines issued under subsection (a) may not be introduced as evidence of negligence or deviation in the standard of care in any health care lawsuit unless they have previously been introduced by the defendant. (3) No presumption of negligence against a defendant There shall be no presumption of negligence with respect to treatment if a health care provider provides the treatment in a manner inconsistent with such guidelines. (c) Construction Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing a State from— (1) replacing their current medical malpractice rules with rules that rely, as a defense, upon a health care provider’s compliance with a guideline issued under subsection (a); or (2) applying additional guidelines or limitations on liability that are in addition to, but not in lieu of, the guidelines issued under subsection (a). 402. State grants to create expert panels and administrative health care tribunals Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 280g et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 399U. State grants to create administrative health care tribunals (a) In general The Secretary may award grants to States for the development, implementation, and evaluation of administrative health care tribunals that comply with this section, for the resolution of disputes concerning injuries allegedly caused by health care providers. (b) Conditions for demonstration grants To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as may be required by the Secretary. A grant shall be awarded under this section on such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate. (c) Representation by counsel A State that receives a grant under this section may not preclude any party to a dispute before an administrative health care tribunal operated under such grant from obtaining legal representation during any review by the expert panel under subsection (d), the administrative health care tribunal under subsection (e), or a State court under subsection (f). (d) Expert panel review and early offer guidelines (1) In general If, in any health care liability action against a health care provider, the health care provider alleges, in any response to the claimant’s filing, that the health care provider adhered to an applicable practice guideline in the provision of health care items or services to the claimant, then further proceedings on the health care liability action shall be suspended prior to discovery proceedings, until the completion of a review of the action by an independent expert panel in accordance with this subsection. (2) Composition (A) In general The members of each expert panel under this subsection shall be appointed by the head of the State agency responsible for health. Each expert panel shall be composed of no fewer than 3 members and not more than 5 members. At least one-half of such members shall be medical experts (either physicians or health care professionals). (B) Licensure and expertise Each physician or health care professional appointed to an expert panel under subparagraph (A) shall— (i) be appropriately credentialed or licensed in one or more States to deliver health care services; and (ii) typically treat the condition, make the diagnosis, or provide the type of treatment that is under review. (C) Independence (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), each individual appointed to an expert panel under this paragraph shall— (I) not have a material familial, financial, or professional relationship with a party involved in the dispute reviewed by the panel; and (II) not otherwise have a conflict of interest with such a party. (ii) Exception Nothing in clause (i) shall be construed to prohibit an individual who has staff privileges at an institution where the treatment involved in the dispute was provided from serving as a member of an expert panel merely on the basis of such affiliation, if the affiliation is disclosed to the parties and neither party objects. (D) Practicing health care professional in same field (i) In general In a dispute before an expert panel that involves treatment, or the provision of items or services— (I) by a physician, the medical experts on the expert panel shall be practicing physicians (allopathic or osteopathic) of the same or similar specialty as a physician who typically treats the condition, makes the diagnosis, or provides the type of treatment under review; or (II) by a health care professional other than a physician, at least 2 medical experts on the expert panel shall be practicing physicians (allopathic or osteopathic) of the same or similar specialty as the health care professional who typically treats the condition, makes the diagnosis, or provides the type of treatment under review, and, if determined appropriate by the State agency, an additional medical expert shall be a practicing health care professional (other than such a physician) of such a same or similar specialty. (ii) Practicing defined In this paragraph, the term practicing means, with respect to an individual who is a physician or other health care professional, that the individual provides health care services to individual patients on average at least 2 days a week. (E) Pediatric expertise In the case of dispute relating to a child, at least 1 medical expert on the expert panel shall have expertise described in subparagraph (D)(i) in pediatrics. (F) No civil liability for members No civil action shall be brought in any court against any member of an expert panel for any act done, failure to act, or statement or opinion made, within the scope of the individual’s duties as a member of the expert panel. (3) Determination (A) In general After a review under paragraph (1), an expert panel shall make a determination as to the liability of the parties involved and compensation. (B) Considerations in making determinations In making a determination under this subsection as to the liability of parties involved and compensation, the following shall apply: (i) Treatment of clinical practice guidelines An expert panel shall acknowledge the ability of physicians to depart from the recommendations in clinical practice guidelines, when appropriate, in the care of individual patients. (ii) Limitation An expert panel shall not make a finding of negligence from the mere fact that a treatment or procedure was unsuccessful or failed to bring the best result. (4) Early offer If the parties to a dispute before an expert panel under this subsection accept the determination of the expert panel concerning liability and compensation, such compensation shall be paid to the claimant and the claimant shall agree to forgo any further action against the health care providers involved. (5) Failure to accept If any party decides not to accept the expert panel’s determination, the matter shall be referred to an administrative health care tribunal created pursuant to this section. (e) Administrative health care tribunals (1) In general Upon the failure of any party to accept the determination of an expert panel under subsection (d), the parties shall have the right to request a hearing concerning the liability or compensation involved by an administrative health care tribunal established by the State involved. (2) Requirements In establishing an administrative health care tribunal under this section, a State shall— (A) ensure that such tribunals are presided over by special judges with health care expertise; (B) provide authority to such judges to make binding rulings, rendered in written decisions, on standards of care, causation, compensation, and related issues with reliance on independent expert witnesses commissioned by the tribunal; (C) establish gross negligence as the legal standard for the tribunal; and (D) allow the admission into evidence of the recommendation made by the expert panel under subsection (d). (f) Review by State court after exhaustion of administrative remedies (1) Right to file If any party to a dispute before a health care tribunal under subsection (e) is not satisfied with the determinations of the tribunal, the party shall have the right to file their claim in a State court of competent jurisdiction. (2) Forfeit of awards Any party filing an action in a State court in accordance with paragraph (1) shall forfeit any compensation award made under subsection (e). (3) Admissibility The determinations of the expert panel and the administrative health care tribunal pursuant to subsections (d) and (e) with respect to a State court proceeding under paragraph (1) shall be admissible into evidence in any such State court proceeding. (4) Treatment of certain expert panel and administrative health care tribunal findings (A) Work product No finding by an expert panel under subsection (d) or administrative health care tribunal under subsection (e) that the defendant applicable eligible professional breached the standard of care as set forth under the prescribed practice guidelines shall constitute negligence per se or conclusive evidence of liability. (B) Finding relating to clinical practice guidelines If an administrative health care tribunal did not make a finding under subsection (e) that there was an applicable clinical practice guideline that the defendant adhered to, with respect to the State court proceeding under paragraph (1) the State court may issue summary judgment in favor of the defendant health care professional unless the claimant is able to show otherwise by clear and convincing evidence. If an administrative health care tribunal made a finding under subsection (e) that there was an applicable clinical practice guideline that the defendant adhered to, with respect to a State court proceeding under paragraph (1) the State court shall issue summary judgment in favor of the applicable health care professional unless the claimant is able to show otherwise by clear and convincing evidence. (C) Finding relating to standard of care Any finding of an expert panel or administrative health care tribunal under subsection (d) or (e), respectively, that the defendant did not breach the standard of care as set forth under the prescribed clinical practice guidelines or that the defendant’s failure to conform to the required standard was neither the cause in fact nor the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury or that the plaintiff did not incur any damages as a result shall be given deference by the State court involved and shall entitle the defendant to summary judgment unless the plaintiff is able to show by clear and convincing evidence that the expert panel or health care tribunal, respectively, was in error and that there is a genuine issue as to a material fact in the case. (g) Definition In this section, the term health care provider means any person or entity required by State or Federal laws or regulations to be licensed, registered, or certified to provide health care services, and being either so licensed, registered, or certified, or exempted from such requirement by other statute or regulation. (h) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year such sums as may be necessary for purposes of making grants to States under this section. . 403. Payment of damages and recovery of costs in health care lawsuits (a) Authorization of payment of future damages to claimants in health care lawsuits In any health care lawsuit, if an award of future damages, without reduction to present value, equaling or exceeding $50,000 is made against a party with sufficient insurance or other assets to fund a periodic payment of such a judgment, the court shall, at the request of any party, enter a judgment ordering that the future damages be paid by periodic payments, in accordance with the Uniform Periodic Payment of Judgments Act promulgated by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. (b) Recovery of costs; payment of award In any health care lawsuit, the court may supervise the arrangements for payment of damages to protect against conflicts of interest that may have the effect of reducing the amount of damages awarded that are actually paid to claimants. In particular, in any health care lawsuit in which the attorney for a party claims a financial stake in the outcome by virtue of a contingent fee, the court shall have the power to restrict the payment of a claimant's damage recovery to such attorney, and to redirect such damages to the claimant based upon the interests of justice and principles of equity. (c) Applicability This section applies to all actions which have not been first set for trial or retrial before the effective date of this title. (d) Statute of limitations (1) In general Except in the case of a State law that provides for a shorter period of time, the time for the commencement of a health care lawsuit shall be no more than 3 years after the date of manifestation of injury or 1 year after the claimant discovers, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have discovered, the injury, whichever occurs first. In no event shall the time for commencement of a health care lawsuit exceed 3 years after the date of manifestation of injury unless tolled for any of the following— (A) upon proof of fraud; (B) intentional concealment; or (C) the presence of a foreign body, which has no therapeutic or diagnostic purpose or effect, in the person of the injured person. (2) Cases involving minors Except in the case of a State law that provides for a shorter period of time, actions by a minor shall be commenced within 3 years from the date of the alleged manifestation of injury except that actions by a minor under the full age of 6 years shall be commenced within 3 years of manifestation of injury or prior to the minor’s 8th birthday, whichever provides a longer period. Such time limitation shall be tolled for minors for any period during which a parent or guardian and a health care provider or health care organization have committed fraud or collusion in the failure to bring an action on behalf of the injured minor. (e) Fair share rule In any health care lawsuit, each party shall be liable for that party’s several share of any damages only and not for the share of any other person. Each party shall be liable only for the amount of damages allocated to such party in direct proportion to such party’s percentage of responsibility. Whenever a judgment of liability is rendered as to any party, a separate judgment shall be rendered against each such party for the amount allocated to such party. For purposes of this section, the trier of fact shall determine the proportion of responsibility of each party for the claimant’s harm. (f) Apologies In any health care lawsuit, if a claimant receives any expression of regret for any act pertaining to conduct giving rise to the health care lawsuit, such expression of regret, notwithstanding any applicable rule of evidence may not be admitted into evidence in the health care lawsuit. 404. Definitions In this title: (1) Alternative dispute resolution system; ADR The term alternative dispute resolution system or ADR means a system that provides for the resolution of health care lawsuits in a manner other than through a civil action brought in a State or Federal court. (2) Claimant The term claimant means any person who brings a health care lawsuit, including a person who asserts or claims a right to legal or equitable contribution, indemnity, or subrogation, arising out of a health care liability claim or action, and any person on whose behalf such a claim is asserted or such an action is brought, whether deceased, incompetent, or a minor. (3) Federal tax benefit A claimant shall be treated as receiving a Federal tax benefit with respect to payment for items or services if— (A) such payment is compensation by insurance— (i) which constitutes medical care, and (ii) with respect to the payment of premiums for which the claimant, or the employer of the claimant, was allowed an exclusion from gross income, a deduction, or a credit for Federal income tax purposes, (B) a deduction was allowed with respect to such payment for Federal income tax purposes, or (C) such payment was from an Archer MSA (as defined in section 220(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), a health savings account (as defined in section 223(d) of such Code), a flexible spending arrangement (as defined in section 106(c)(2) of such Code), or a health reimbursement arrangement which is treated as employer-provided coverage under an accident or health plan for purposes of section 106 of such Code. (4) Health care lawsuit The term health care lawsuit means any health care liability claim concerning the provision of health care goods or services brought in a Federal court or in a State court or pursuant to an alternative dispute resolution system, if such claim concerns items or services for which coverage is provided under title XVIII, XIX, or XXI of the Social Security Act or for which the claimant receives a Federal tax benefit, against a health care provider, a health care organization, or the manufacturer, distributor, supplier, marketer, promoter, or seller of a medical product, regardless of the theory of liability on which the claim is based, or the number of claimants, plaintiffs, defendants, or other parties, or the number of claims or causes of action, in which the claimant alleges a health care liability claim. Such term does not include a claim or action which is based on criminal liability; which seeks civil fines or penalties paid to Federal Government; or which is grounded in antitrust. (5) Health care liability action The term health care liability action means a civil action brought in a State or Federal court or pursuant to an alternative dispute resolution system, against a health care provider, a health care organization, or the manufacturer, distributor, supplier, marketer, promoter, or seller of a medical product, regardless of the theory of liability on which the claim is based, or the number of plaintiffs, defendants, or other parties, or the number of causes of action, in which the claimant alleges a health care liability claim. (6) Health care liability claim The term health care liability claim means a demand by any person, whether or not pursuant to ADR, against a health care provider, health care organization, or the manufacturer, distributor, supplier, marketer, promoter, or seller of a medical product, including third-party claims, cross-claims, counter-claims, or contribution claims, which are based upon the provision of, use of, or payment for (or the failure to provide, use, or pay for) health care services or medical products, regardless of the theory of liability on which the claim is based, or the number of plaintiffs, defendants, or other parties, or the number of causes of action. (7) Health care organization The term health care organization means any person or entity which is obligated to provide or pay for health benefits under any health plan, including any person or entity acting under a contract or arrangement with a health care organization to provide or administer any health benefit. (8) Health care provider The term health care provider means any person or entity required by State or Federal laws or regulations to be licensed, registered, or certified to provide health care services, and being either so licensed, registered, or certified, or exempted from such requirement by other statute or regulation. (9) Health care goods or services The term health care goods or services means any goods or services provided by a health care organization, provider, or by any individual working under the supervision of a health care provider, that relates to the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of any human disease or impairment, or the assessment or care of the health of human beings. (10) Medical product The term medical product means a drug, device, or biological product intended for humans, and the terms drug , device , and biological product have the meanings given such terms in sections 201(g)(1) and 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1) and (h)) and section 351(a) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 262(a) ), respectively, including any component or raw material used therein, but excluding health care services. (11) Medical treatment The term medical treatment means the provision of any goods or services by a health care provider or by any individual working under the supervision of a health care provider, that relates to the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of any human disease or impairment, or the assessment or care of the health of human beings. (12) Recovery The term recovery means the net sum recovered after deducting any disbursements or costs incurred in connection with prosecution or settlement of the claim, including all costs paid or advanced by any person. Costs of health care incurred by the plaintiff and the attorneys’ office overhead costs or charges for legal services are not deductible disbursements or costs for such purpose. (13) State The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States, or any political subdivision thereof. 405. Effect on other laws (a) Vaccine Injury (1) Non-applicability of this title To the extent that title XXI of the Public Health Service Act establishes a Federal rule of law applicable to a civil action brought for a vaccine-related injury or death— (A) this title does not affect the application of the rule of law to such an action; and (B) any rule of law prescribed by this title in conflict with a rule of law of such title XXI shall not apply to such action. (2) Applicability of this title If there is an aspect of a civil action brought for a vaccine-related injury or death to which a Federal rule of law under title XXI of the Public Health Service Act does not apply, then this title or otherwise applicable law (as determined under this title) will apply to such aspect of such action. (b) Other federal law Except as provided in this section, nothing in this title shall be deemed to affect any defense available to a defendant in a health care lawsuit or action under any other provision of Federal law. 406. Applicability; effective date This title shall apply to any health care lawsuit brought in a Federal or State court, or subject to an alternative dispute resolution system, that is initiated on or after the date of the enactment of this title, except that any health care lawsuit arising from an injury occurring prior to the date of the enactment of this title shall be governed by the applicable statute of limitations provisions in effect at the time the injury occurred. V Wellness and Prevention 501. Providing financial incentives for treatment compliance (a) Limitation on exception for wellness programs under HIPAA discrimination rules (1) Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 amendment Section 702(b)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1182(b)(2) ) is amended by adding after subparagraph (B) the following: In applying subparagraph (B), a group health plan (or a health insurance issuer with respect to health insurance coverage) may vary premiums and cost-sharing by up to 50 percent of the value of the benefits under the plan (or coverage) based on participation (or lack of participation) in a standards-based wellness program. . (2) PHSA amendment Section 2702(b)(2) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–1(b)(2) ) is amended by adding after subparagraph (B) the following: In applying subparagraph (B), a group health plan (or a health insurance issuer with respect to health insurance coverage) may vary premiums and cost-sharing by up to 50 percent of the value of the benefits under the plan (or coverage) based on participation (or lack of participation) in a standards-based wellness program. . (3) IRC amendment Section 9802(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding after subparagraph (B) the following: In applying subparagraph (B), a group health plan may vary premiums and cost-sharing by up to 50 percent of the value of the benefits under the plan based on participation (or lack of participation) in a standards-based wellness program. . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to plan years beginning more than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. VI Transparency and Insurance Reform Measures 601. Receipt and response to requests for claim information (a) In general Title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 2713 the following new section: 2714. Receipt and response to requests for claim information (a) Requirement (1) In general In the case of health insurance coverage offered in connection with a group health plan, not later than 30 days after the date on which a health insurance issuer receives a written request for a written report of claim information from the plan, plan sponsor, or plan administrator, the health insurance issuer shall provide the requesting party the report, subject to the succeeding provisions of this section. (2) Exception The health insurance issuer is not obligated to provide a report under this subsection regarding a particular employer or group health plan more than twice in any 12-month period and is not obligated to provide such a report in the case of an employer with fewer than 50 employees. (3) Deadline A plan, plan sponsor, or plan administrator must request a report under this subsection before or on the second anniversary of the date of termination of coverage under a group health plan issued by the health insurance issuer. (b) Form of report; information To be included (1) In general A health insurance issuer shall provide the report of claim information under subsection (a)— (A) in a written report; (B) through an electronic file transmitted by secure electronic mail or a file transfer protocol site; or (C) by making the required information available through a secure Internet Web site or Web portal accessible by the requesting plan, plan sponsor, or plan administrator. (2) Information to be included A report of claim information provided under subsection (a) shall contain all information available to the health insurance issuer that is responsive to the request made under such subsection, including, subject to subsection (c), protected health information, for the 3-year period preceding the date of the report or the period specified by subparagraphs (D), (E), and (F) of paragraph (3), if applicable, or for the entire period of coverage, whichever period is shorter. (3) Required information Subject to subsection (c), a report provided under subsection (a) shall include the following: (A) Aggregate paid claims experience by month, including claims experience for medical, dental, and pharmacy benefits, as applicable. (B) Total premium paid by month. (C) Total number of covered employees on a monthly basis by coverage tier, including whether coverage was for— (i) an employee only; (ii) an employee with dependents only; (iii) an employee with a spouse only; or (iv) an employee with a spouse and dependents. (D) The total dollar amount of claims pending as of the date of the report. (E) A separate description and individual claims report for any individual whose total paid claims exceed $15,000 during the 12-month period preceding the date of the report, including the following information related to the claims for that individual— (i) a unique identifying number, characteristic, or code for the individual; (ii) the amounts paid; (iii) dates of service; and (iv) applicable procedure codes and diagnosis codes. (F) For claims that are not part of the information described in a previous subparagraph, a statement describing precertification requests for hospital stays of 5 days or longer that were made during the 30-day period preceding the date of the report. (c) Limitations on disclosure (1) In general A health insurance issuer may not disclose protected health information in a report of claim information provided under this section if the health insurance issuer is prohibited from disclosing that information under another State or Federal law that imposes more stringent privacy restrictions than those imposed under Federal law under the HIPAA privacy regulations. To withhold information in accordance with this subsection, the health insurance issuer shall— (A) notify the plan, plan sponsor, or plan administrator requesting the report that information is being withheld; and (B) provide to the plan, plan sponsor, or plan administrator a list of categories of claim information that the health insurance issuer has determined are subject to the more stringent privacy restrictions under another State or Federal law. (2) Protection A plan sponsor is entitled to receive protected health information under subparagraphs (E) and (F) of subsection (b)(3) and subsection (d) only after an appropriately authorized representative of the plan sponsor makes to the health insurance issuer a certification substantially similar to the following certification: I hereby certify that the plan documents comply with the requirements of section 164.504(f)(2) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, and that the plan sponsor will safeguard and limit the use and disclosure of protected health information that the plan sponsor may receive from the group health plan to perform the plan administration functions. . (3) Results A plan sponsor that does not provide the certification required by paragraph (2) is not entitled to receive the protected health information described by subparagraphs (E) and (F) of subsection (b)(3) and subsection (d), but is entitled to receive a report of claim information that includes the information described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of subsection (b)(3). (4) Information In the case of a request made under subsection (a) after the date of termination of coverage, the report shall contain all information available to the health insurance issuer as of the date of the report that is responsive to the request, including protected health information, and including the information described in subsection (b)(3), for the period described in subsection (b)(2) preceding the date of termination of coverage or for the entire policy period, whichever period is shorter. Notwithstanding this subsection, the report may not include the protected health information described in subparagraphs (E) and (F) of subsection (b)(3) unless a certification has been provided in accordance with paragraph (2). (d) Request for additional information (1) Review On receipt of the report required by subsection (a), the plan, plan sponsor, or plan administrator may review the report and, not later than 10 days after the date on which the report is received, may make a written request to the health insurance issuer for additional information in accordance with this subsection for specified individuals. (2) Request With respect to a request for additional information concerning specified individuals for whom claims information has been provided under subsection (b)(3)(E), the health insurance issuer shall provide additional information on the prognosis or recovery if available and, for individuals in active case management, the most recent case management information, including any future expected costs and treatment plan, that relate to the claims for that individual. (3) Response The health insurance issuer must respond to the request for additional information under this subsection not later than 15 days after the date of such request unless the requesting plan, plan sponsor, or plan administrator agrees to a request for additional time. (4) Limitation The health insurance issuer is not required to produce the report described by this subsection unless a certification has been provided in accordance with subsection (c)(2). (5) Compliance with section does not create liability A health insurance issuer that releases information, including protected health information, in accordance with this subsection has not violated a standard of care and is not liable for civil damages resulting from, and is not subject to criminal prosecution for, releasing that information. (e) Limitation on preemption Nothing in this section is meant to limit States from enacting additional laws in addition to the provisions of this section, but not in lieu of such provisions. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) The terms employer , plan administrator , and plan sponsor have the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. (2) The term HIPAA privacy regulations has the meaning given such term in section 1180(b)(3) of the Social Security Act. (3) The term protected health information has the meaning given such term under the HIPAA privacy regulations. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. VII Quality 701. Prohibition on certain uses of data obtained from comparative effectiveness research or from patient-centered outcomes research; accounting for personalized medicine and differences in patient treatment response (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services— (1) shall not use data obtained from the conduct of comparative effectiveness research or patient-centered outcomes research, including such research that is conducted or supported using funds appropriated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ( Public Law 111–5 ), to deny coverage of an item or service under a Federal health care program (as defined in section 1128B(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7b(f))); and (2) shall ensure that comparative effectiveness research and patient-centered outcomes research conducted or supported by the Federal Government accounts for factors contributing to differences in the treatment response and treatment preferences of patients, including patient-reported outcomes, genomics and personalized medicine, the unique needs of health disparity populations, and indirect patient benefits. (b) Consultation and approval required Nothing the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research finds can be released in final form until after consultation with and approved by relevant physician specialty organizations. (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting the authority of the Commissioner of Food and Drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq. ) or the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 201 et seq. ). 702. Establishment of performance-based quality measures Not later than January 1, 2017, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a proposal for a formalized process for the development of performance-based quality measures that could be applied to physicians’ services under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq. ). Such proposal shall be in concert and agreement with the Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement and shall only utilize measures agreed upon by each physician specialty organization. VIII State Transparency Plan Portal 801. Providing information on health coverage options and health care providers (a) State-Based portal A State (by itself or jointly with other States) may contract with a private entity to establish a Health Plan and Provider Portal Web site (referred to in this section as a plan portal ) for the purposes of providing standardized information— (1) on health insurance plans that have been certified to be available for purchase in that State; and (2) on price and quality information on health care providers (including physicians, hospitals, and other health care institutions). (b) Prohibitions (1) Direct Enrollment A plan portal may not directly enroll individuals in health insurance plans or under a State Medicaid plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ) or a State child health plan under the State Children's Health Insurance Program established under title XXI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq. ). (2) Conflicts of interest (A) Companies A health insurance issuer offering a health insurance plan through a plan portal may not— (i) be the private entity developing and maintaining a plan portal under this section; or (ii) have an ownership interest in such private entity or in the plan portal. (B) Individuals An individual employed by a health insurance issuer offering a health insurance plan through a plan portal may not serve as a director or officer for— (i) the private entity developing and maintaining a plan portal under this section; or (ii) the plan portal. (c) Construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit health insurance brokers and agents from— (1) utilizing the plan portal for any purpose; or (2) marketing or offering health insurance products. (d) State defined In this section, the term State has the meaning given such term for purposes of title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ). (e) Health insurance plans For purposes of this section, the term health insurance plan does not include coverage of excepted benefits, as defined in section 2791(c) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–91(c) ). IX Patient Freedom of Choice 901. Guaranteeing freedom of choice and contracting for patients under Medicare (a) In general Section 1802 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395a ) is amended to read as follows: 1802. Freedom of choice and contracting by patient guaranteed (a) Basic freedom of choice Any individual entitled to insurance benefits under this title may obtain health services from any institution, agency, or person qualified to participate under this title if such institution, agency, or person undertakes to provide that individual such services. (b) Freedom To contract by Medicare beneficiaries (1) In general Subject to the provisions of this subsection, nothing in this title shall prohibit a Medicare beneficiary from entering into a contract with an eligible professional (whether or not the professional is a participating or non-participating physician or practitioner) for any item or service covered under this title. (2) Submission of claims Any Medicare beneficiary that enters into a contract under this section with an eligible professional shall be permitted to submit a claim for payment under this title for services furnished by such professional, and such payment shall be made in the amount that would otherwise apply to such professional under this title except that where such professional is considered to be non-participating, payment shall be paid as if the professional were participating. Payment made under this title for any item or service provided under the contract shall not render the professional a participating or non-participating physician or practitioner, and as such, requirements of this title that may otherwise apply to a participating or non-participating physician or practitioner would not apply with respect to any items or services furnished under the contract. (3) Beneficiary protections (A) In general Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any contract unless— (i) the contract is in writing, is signed by the Medicare beneficiary and the eligible professional, and establishes all terms of the contract (including specific payment for items and services covered by the contract) before any item or service is provided pursuant to the contract, and the beneficiary shall be held harmless for any subsequent payment charged for an item or service in excess of the amount established under the contract during the period the contract is in effect; (ii) the contract contains the items described in subparagraph (B); and (iii) the contract is not entered into at a time when the Medicare beneficiary is facing an emergency medical condition or urgent health care situation. (B) Items required to be included in contract Any contract to provide items and services to which paragraph (1) applies shall clearly indicate to the Medicare beneficiary that by signing such contract the beneficiary— (i) agrees to be responsible for payment to such eligible professional for such items or services under the terms of and amounts established under the contract; (ii) agrees to be responsible for submitting claims under this title to the Secretary, and to any other supplemental insurance plan that may provide supplemental insurance, for such items or services furnished under the contract if such items or services are covered by this title, unless otherwise provided in the contract under subparagraph (C)(i); and (iii) acknowledges that no limits or other payment incentives that may otherwise apply under this title (such as the limits under subsection (g) of section 1848 or incentives under subsections (a)(5), (m), (q), and (p) of such section) shall apply to amounts that may be charged, or paid to a beneficiary for, such items or services. Such contract shall also clearly indicate whether the eligible professional is excluded from participation under the Medicare program under section 1128. (C) Beneficiary elections under the contract Any Medicare beneficiary that enters into a contract under this section may elect to negotiate, as a term of the contract, a provision under which— (i) the eligible professional shall file claims on behalf of the beneficiary with the Secretary and any supplemental insurance plan for items or services furnished under the contract if such items or services are covered under this title or under the plan; and (ii) the beneficiary assigns payment to the eligible professional for any claims filed by, or on behalf of, the beneficiary with the Secretary and any supplemental insurance plan for items or services furnished under the contract. (D) Exclusion of dual eligible individuals Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any contract if a beneficiary who is eligible for medical assistance under title XIX is a party to the contract. (4) Limitation on actual charge and claim submission requirement not applicable Section 1848(g) shall not apply with respect to any item or service provided to a Medicare beneficiary under a contract described in paragraph (1). (5) Construction Nothing in this section shall be construed— (A) to prohibit any eligible professional from maintaining an election and acting as a participating or non-participating physician or practitioner with respect to any patient not covered under a contract established under this section; and (B) as changing the items and services for which an eligible professional may bill under this title. (6) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Medicare beneficiary The term Medicare beneficiary means an individual who is entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B. (B) Eligible professional The term eligible professional has the meaning given such term in section 1848(k)(3)(B). (C) Emergency medical condition The term emergency medical condition means a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that a prudent layperson, with an average knowledge of health and medicine, could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in— (i) serious jeopardy to the health of the individual or, in the case of a pregnant woman, the health of the woman or her unborn child; (ii) serious impairment to bodily functions; or (iii) serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. (D) Urgent health care situation The term urgent health care situation means services furnished to an individual who requires services to be furnished within 12 hours in order to avoid the likely onset of an emergency medical condition. . 902. Preemption of State laws limiting charges for eligible professional services (a) In general No State may impose a limit on the amount of charges for services, furnished by an eligible professional (as defined in subsection (k)(3)(B) of section 1848 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1395w–4 ), for which payment is made under such section, and any such limit is hereby preempted. (b) State In this section, the term State includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. 903. Health care provider licensure cannot be conditioned on participation in a health plan (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services and any State (as a condition of receiving Federal financial participation under title XIX of the Social Security Act) may not require any health care provider to participate in any health plan as a condition of licensure of the provider in any State. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Health plan The term health plan has the meaning given such term in section 1171(5) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320d(5) ). (2) Health care provider The term health care provider means any person or entity that is required by State or Federal laws or regulations to be licensed, registered, or certified to provide health care services and is so licensed, registered, or certified, or exempted from such requirement by other statute or regulation. (3) State The term State has the meaning given such term for purposes of title XIX of the Social Security Act. 904. Bad debt deduction for doctors to partially offset the cost of providing uncompensated care required to be provided under amendments made by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (a) In general Section 166 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to bad debts) is amended by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g) and by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection: (f) Bad debt treatment for doctors To partially offset cost of providing uncompensated care required To be provided (1) Amount of deduction (A) In general For purposes of subsection (a), the basis for determining the amount of any deduction for an eligible EMTALA debt shall be treated as being equal to the Medicare payment amount. (B) Medicare payment amount For purposes of subparagraph (A), the Medicare payment amount with respect to an eligible EMTALA debt is the fee schedule amount established under section 1848 of the Social Security Act for the physicians’ service (to which such debt relates) as if the service were provided to an individual enrolled under part B of title XVIII of such Act. (2) Eligible EMTALA debt For purposes of this section, the term eligible EMTALA debt means any debt if— (A) such debt arose as a result of physicians’ services— (i) which were performed in an EMTALA hospital by a board-certified physician (whether as part of medical screening or necessary stabilizing treatment and whether as an emergency department physician, as an on-call physician, or otherwise), and (ii) which were required to be provided under section 1867 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395dd ), and (B) such debt is owed— (i) to such physician, or (ii) to an entity if— (I) such entity is a corporation and the sole shareholder of such corporation is such physician, or (II) such entity is a partnership and any deduction under this subsection with respect to such debt is allocated to such physician or to an entity described in subclause (I). (3) Board-certified physician For purposes of this subsection, the term board-certified physician means any physician (as defined in section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(r) )) who is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine or other appropriate medical specialty board for the specialty in which the physician practices, or who meets comparable requirements, as identified by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with Secretary of Health and Human Services. (4) Other definitions For purposes of this subsection— (A) EMTALA hospital The term EMTALA hospital means any hospital having a hospital emergency department which is required to comply with section 1867 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395dd ) (relating to examination and treatment for emergency medical conditions and women in labor). (B) Physicians’ services The term physicians’ services has the meaning given such term in section 1861(q) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(q) ). . (b) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to debts arising from services performed in taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 905. Right of contract with health care providers (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not preclude an enrollee, participant, 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) A group health plan (as defined in section 2791 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300g–1 )). (B) Health insurance coverage (as defined in section 2791 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300g–1 )). (C) A health benefits plan under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code. (2) Exclusion of Medicaid and Tricare Such term does not include a health plan participating in— (A) the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ); 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 Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(r) ); and (2) a health care practitioner described in section 1842(b)(18)(C) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395u(b)(18)(C) ). X Quality Health Care Coalition 1001. Quality Health Care Coalition (a) Application of the Federal antitrust laws to health care professionals negotiating with health plans (1) In general Any health care professionals who are engaged in negotiations with a health plan regarding the terms of any contract under which the professionals provide health care items or services for which benefits are provided under such plan shall, in connection with such negotiations, be exempt from the Federal antitrust laws. (2) Limitation (A) No new right for collective cessation of service The exemption provided in paragraph (1) shall not confer any new right to participate in any collective cessation of service to patients not already permitted by existing law. (B) No change in National Labor Relations Act This section applies only to health care professionals excluded from the National Labor Relations Act. Nothing in this section shall be construed as changing or amending any provision of the National Labor Relations Act, or as affecting the status of any group of persons under that Act. (3) No application to Federal programs Nothing in this section shall apply to negotiations between health care professionals and health plans pertaining to benefits provided under any of the following: (A) The Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq. ). (B) The Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. ). (C) The State Children's Health Insurance Program under title XXI of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq. ). (D) Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code (relating to medical and dental care for members of the uniformed services). (E) Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code (relating to Veterans’ medical care). (F) Chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code (relating to the Federal Employees Health Benefits program). (G) The Indian Health Care Improvement Act ( 25 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. ). (b) Definitions In this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) Antitrust laws The term antitrust laws — (A) has the meaning given it in subsection (a) of the first section of the Clayton Act ( 15 U.S.C. 12(a) ), except that such term includes section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act ( 15 U.S.C. 45 ) to the extent such section applies to unfair methods of competition; and (B) includes any State law similar to the laws referred to in subparagraph (A). (2) Group health plan The term group health plan means an employee welfare benefit plan to the extent that the plan provides medical care (including items and services paid for as medical care) to employees or their dependents (as defined under the terms of the plan) directly or through insurance, reimbursement, or otherwise. (3) Group health plan, health insurance issuer The terms group health plan and health insurance issuer include a third-party administrator or other person acting for or on behalf of such plan or issuer. (4) Health care services The term health care services means any services for which payment may be made under a health plan, including services related to the delivery or administration of such services. (5) Health care professional The term health care professional means any individual or entity that provides health care items or services, treatment, assistance with activities of daily living, or medications to patients and who, to the extent required by State or Federal law, possesses specialized training that confers expertise in the provision of such items or services, treatment, assistance, or medications. (6) Health insurance coverage The term health insurance coverage means benefits consisting of medical care (provided directly, through insurance or reimbursement, or otherwise and including items and services paid for as medical care) under any hospital or medical service policy or certificate, hospital or medical service plan contract, or health maintenance organization contract offered by a health insurance issuer. (7) Health insurance issuer The term health insurance issuer means an insurance company, insurance service, or insurance organization (including a health maintenance organization) that is licensed to engage in the business of insurance in a State and that is subject to State law regulating insurance. Such term does not include a group health plan. (8) Health maintenance organization The term health maintenance organization means— (A) a federally qualified health maintenance organization (as defined in section 1301(a) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300e(a) )); (B) an organization recognized under State law as a health maintenance organization; or (C) a similar organization regulated under State law for solvency in the same manner and to the same extent as such a health maintenance organization. (9) Health plan The term health plan means a group health plan or a health insurance issuer that is offering health insurance coverage. (10) Medical care The term medical care means amounts paid for— (A) the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or amounts paid for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body; and (B) transportation primarily for and essential to receiving items and services referred to in subparagraph (A). (11) Person The term person includes a State or unit of local government. (12) State The term State includes the several States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. (c) Effective date This section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall not apply with respect to conduct occurring before such date.