Rapid Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccine Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-6299
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
Introduced: 2020-03-19
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Employee benefits and pensions

Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Health promotion and preventive care

Immunology and vaccination

Infectious and parasitic diseases
Latest action: action_date: 2020-03-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-03-19
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Rapid Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccine Act of 2020</b><br> </p> <p>This bill shortens the time frame under which private health insurance plans must cover certain new preventative services related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Under current law, health plans have one year to cover services recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force or the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Under this bill, health plans must cover such services to prevent or diagnose COVID-19 within 15 days.<br> </p> </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6299 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 19, 2020 Mr. Courtney (for himself and Mr. Beyer ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means , and Education and Labor , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide for the rapid coverage of preventive services and vaccines for COVID-19.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rapid Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccine Act of 2020 . 2. Rapid coverage of preventive services and vaccines for COVID-19 (a) In general In the case of a qualifying COVID-19 preventive service, notwithstanding section 2713(b) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–13(b) ) (including the regulations under section 2590.715–2713 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, section 54.9815–2713 of title 26, Code of Federal Regulations, and section 147.130 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations), the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Labor, and Secretary of the Treasury shall apply to group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage the requirement under section 2713(a) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–13(a) ), with respect to such services, as if such section 2713(a)— (1) required the coverage of such service under such plans and such coverage be effective not later than the specified date (as defined in subsection (b)(2)) with respect to such service; and (2) applied to grandfathered health plans (as defined in section 1251(e) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18011(e) )). (b) Definitions For purposes of this section: (1) Qualifying COVID-19 preventive service The term qualifying COVID-19 preventive service means an item, service, or immunization that is intended to prevent or mitigate COVID-19 and that is— (A) an evidence-based item or service that has in effect a rating of A or B in the current recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force; or (B) an immunization that has in effect a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with respect to the individual involved. (2) Specified date The term specified date means— (A) with respect to a qualifying COVID-19 preventive service described in paragraph (1)(A), the date that is 15 business days after the date on which a rating, as described in such paragraph, is made with respect to such service; and (B) with respect to a qualifying COVID-19 preventive service described in paragraph (1)(B), the date that is 15 business days after the date on which a recommendation, as described in such paragraph, is made relating to the service. (3) Additional terms The terms group health plan ; health insurance issuer ; group health insurance coverage , and individual health insurance coverage have the meanings given such terms in section 2791 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–91 ), section 733 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ( 29 U.S.C. 1191b ), and section 9832 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as applicable. (c) Implementation The Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Labor, and Secretary of the Treasury may implement the provisions of this section through program instruction, subregulatory guidance, or otherwise.