Childhood Cancer Clinical Trials Act

Bill: 118-hr-5647
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]
Introduced: 2023-09-21
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cancer

Child health

Government information and archives

Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Medical research

Medicare
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5647 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 21, 2023 Mr. McCaul (for himself, Mr. Bera , and Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means , 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 amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to require out-of-network coverage for qualified individuals diagnosed with a rare pediatric disease participating in approved clinical trials, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Childhood Cancer Clinical Trials Act . 2. Amendments relating to coverage in individual and group market and under Medicare program for qualified individuals diagnosed with a rare pediatric disease participating in approved clinical trials (a) Individual and group market (1) Requiring out-of-network coverage of routine patient costs Section 2709 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–8 ) is amended— (A) in subsection (a)(2)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting and subsection (c)(2) after (1)(B) ; and (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting and subsection (c)(2) after (1)(B) ; (B) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows: (c) Treatment of non-Participating providers (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), this section shall not be construed to require a group health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage, to provide benefits for routine patient care services provided outside of the plan's (or coverage's) health care provider network unless out-of-network benefits are otherwise provided under the plan (or coverage). (2) Qualified individuals diagnosed with a rare pediatric disease In the case of a qualified individual diagnosed with a rare pediatric disease, with respect to routine patient costs for items and services furnished to such individual in connection with participation in an approved clinical trial by a nonparticipating provider, a group health plan or health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage that provides coverage to such individual— (A) shall impose the same cost-sharing requirement (expressed as a copayment amount or coinsurance rate) that would apply if such item or service was furnished by a participating provider; and (B) shall pay to such nonparticipating provider the amount by which the recognized amount for such item or service exceeds the cost-sharing amount for such item or service (as determined in accordance with subparagraph (A)). ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (i) Other definitions (1) Nonparticipating provider; participating provider; recognized amount For purposes of this section, the terms nonparticipating provider , participating provider , and recognized amount have the meaning given such terms in section 2799A–1(a)(3). (2) Rare pediatric disease The term rare pediatric disease has the meaning given such term in section 529(a)(3) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. . (2) Amendment relating to definition of routine patient costs Section 2709(a)(2)(A) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–8(a)(2)(A) ) is amended— (A) by striking include all items and services and inserting include— (i) all items and services ; and (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (ii) consultation and referral services relating to approved clinical trials furnished to qualified individuals. . (3) Amendment relating to definition of approved clinical trial Section 2709(d)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–8(d)(1)(A) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause: (viii) The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. . (4) Technical and conforming amendments Section 2709 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–8 ), as amended by the preceding paragraphs, is further amended— (A) in subsection (a)— (i) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting before clinical trial referred to in subsection (b)(2) the following: approved ; (ii) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking a clinical trial and inserting an approved clinical trial ; (iii) in paragraph (3)— (I) by striking in-network providers and inserting participating providers ; and (II) by striking a clinical trial and inserting an approved clinical trial ; and (iv) in paragraph (4), by striking out-of-network and inserting nonparticipating providers ; (B) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by striking participating health care provider and inserting participating provider ; and (C) in subsection (d)(1)(A)(v), by striking cooperative group and inserting A cooperative group . (5) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2024. (b) Medicare (1) Amendment relating to definition of routine costs of care Section 1862(m) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395y(m) ) is amended— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting before as defined by the Secretary the following: subject to paragraph (3), ; and (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) Routine costs of care In defining routine costs of care for purposes of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall define such term in a manner that provides for coverage of consultation and referral services furnished to an individual in the course of participation in a category A clinical trial. . (2) Amendment relating to definition of category A clinical trial Section 1862(m)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395y(m)(2) ) is amended by inserting after means a trial the following: (including a trial funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute) . (3) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall apply with respect to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2024. 3. Voluntary network of participating providers (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services may issue a request for information from group health plans, and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health coverage to identify an interest in establishing a voluntary network of participating providers administered by a third-party administrator (as designated by the Secretary) for purposes of complying with coverage requirements for clinical trials under section 2709 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–8 ). (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Group health plan The term group health plan has the meaning given such term in section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1167(1) ). (2) Health insurance issuer The term health insurance issuer has the meaning given such term in section 2791(b)(1) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–91(b)(1) ). (3) Participating provider The term participating provider has the meaning given such term in section 2799A–1(a)(3)(G)(ii) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–111(a)(3)(G)(ii) ).