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<bill bill-stage="Introduced-in-House" dms-id="H88188124342A4478B6B8CAB2AA866638" public-private="public" key="H" bill-type="olc"><metadata xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">
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<dc:title>119 HR 5448 IH: Protecting Free Vaccines Act</dc:title>
<dc:publisher>U.S. House of Representatives</dc:publisher>
<dc:date>2025-09-18</dc:date>
<dc:format>text/xml</dc:format>
<dc:language>EN</dc:language>
<dc:rights>Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.</dc:rights>
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<distribution-code display="yes">I</distribution-code><congress display="yes">119th CONGRESS</congress><session display="yes">1st Session</session><legis-num display="yes">H. R. 5448</legis-num><current-chamber>IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES</current-chamber><action display="yes"><action-date date="20250918">September 18, 2025</action-date><action-desc><sponsor name-id="P000034">Mr. Pallone</sponsor> (for himself, <cosponsor name-id="N000015">Mr. Neal</cosponsor>, and <cosponsor name-id="S000185">Mr. Scott of Virginia</cosponsor>) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the <committee-name committee-id="HIF00">Committee on Energy and Commerce</committee-name>, and in addition to the Committees on <committee-name committee-id="HWM00">Ways and Means</committee-name>, and <committee-name committee-id="HED00">Education and Workforce</committee-name>, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned</action-desc></action><legis-type>A BILL</legis-type><official-title display="yes">To require coverage of certain immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices under the Medicare program, the Medicaid program, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, group health plans, and health insurance coverage.</official-title></form><legis-body id="HBBBF80202C114BE39D1D58824FC542C7" style="OLC"> 
<section id="HC39978FF5AB34B15A0B5281B7459AC0F" section-type="section-one"><enum>1.</enum><header>Short title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This Act may be cited as the <quote><short-title>Protecting Free Vaccines Act</short-title></quote>.</text></section> <section id="H37A0E7CBA4D048B0A4B326E94BE187B8" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>2.</enum><header>Requiring coverage of certain immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices</header> <subsection id="H23C98A59FF074BE1B7E9701C777E4342"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Group health plans and health insurance coverage</header> <paragraph id="HBFB9F3EC2CE84AD19752CB30AB4852EB"><enum>(1)</enum><header>PHSA</header> <subparagraph id="HFEDA684D6A294D5E912C3E1C2A482199"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Part D of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/300gg-111">42 U.S.C. 300gg–111 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> 
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H570445DCE75A4500B3950FA533561C62" display-inline="no-display-inline"> 
<section id="H62F13F0F559D422C9F3F103D586D4CF5"><enum>2799A–11.</enum><header>Coverage of certain immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices</header> 
<subsection id="H407A43D21D0042F7A4569BAF06CC2EB3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With respect to plan years occurring during the date of the enactment of this section, or beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this section and before January 1, 2030, a group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage shall provide coverage for and shall not impose any cost sharing requirements for immunizations that had 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 as of October 25, 2024, including such an immunization as updated or changed after that date under a supplement to a biologics license application approved by the Food and Drug Administration.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H6A8C435192044CC1B488837D2380B7E2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Special rule</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (a) shall not apply in the case of an immunization administered during the minimum interval established under section 2713(b) with respect to such immunization.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph> 
<subparagraph id="H97E799D1EA564646BFFAE116B5E9ADDF"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Conforming amendment</header><text>Section 1302(e)(1)(B)(i) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/18022">42 U.S.C. 18022(e)(1)(B)(i)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>section 2713</quote> and inserting <quote>sections 2713 and 2799A–11 of the Public Health Service Act</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H925E8D02034744E69684E2C95F837E83"><enum>(2)</enum><header>ERISA</header> <subparagraph id="H9AFFB67A2E9B4F66BCC99FD4EBDAA1B3"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subpart B of part 7 of subtitle B of title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/1185">29 U.S.C. 1185 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> 
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H8D525C920D1944D4A361FCC82B0389B6" display-inline="no-display-inline"> 
<section id="HF296D26C72624A00BBECF9E5CBC5842F"><enum>726.</enum><header>Coverage of certain immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices</header> 
<subsection id="H087BC26078F84A00B4A8FB926DF1FF01"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With respect to plan years occurring during the date of the enactment of this section, or beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this section and before January 1, 2030, a group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage shall provide coverage for and shall not impose any cost sharing requirements for immunizations that had 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 as of October 25, 2024, including such an immunization as updated or changed after that date under a supplement to a biologics license application approved by the Food and Drug Administration.</text></subsection> <subsection id="H9614C9A4901C4217B32EF02322B64DB2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Special rule</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (a) shall not apply in the case of an immunization administered during the minimum interval established under section 2713(b) of the Public Health Service Act with respect to such immunization.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph> 
<subparagraph id="H58B94371FA464B1D988873D4F6604434"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of contents in section 1 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/1001">29 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref> note) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 725 the following new item:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="HFFE021490A0D42A9814BF27262C3DAE7" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <toc regeneration="no-regeneration"> <toc-entry level="section" bold="off">Sec. 726. Coverage of certain immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="H625F9E27FCF54BA6A04CD8DD90702F1E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>IRC</header> <subparagraph id="H9EE66650F4684501B84024A0602E2381"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter B of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/26/100">chapter 100</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:</text> 
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H32FCA0F0EABD4808A546634EC9519F3B" display-inline="no-display-inline"> 
<section id="H3D3DE90F7C714165B90D6514667B837F"><enum>9826.</enum><header>Coverage of certain immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices</header> 
<subsection id="HD4B4F6A8503C4359B80146CC4110B41E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With respect to plan years occurring during the date of the enactment of this section, or beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this section and before January 1, 2030, a group health plan shall provide coverage for and shall not impose any cost sharing requirements for immunizations that had 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 as of October 25, 2024, including such an immunization as updated or changed after that date under a supplement to a biologics license application approved by the Food and Drug Administration.</text></subsection> <subsection id="HD704680E14F94E24BBB89599E525876B"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Special rule</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (a) shall not apply in the case of an immunization administered during the minimum interval established under section 2713(b) of the Public Health Service Act with respect to such immunization.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph> 
<subparagraph id="H79488878D28E4417A0F7559A10508269"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections for subchapter B of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/26/100">chapter 100</external-xref> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new item:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H64B070668A7D4A918B113EE9126B60FC" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <toc regeneration="no-regeneration"> <toc-entry level="section">Sec. 9826. Coverage of certain immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> </subsection> <subsection id="HAD60492824EF4238BA44B2D0F854B064"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Medicare</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1860D–2(b)(8)(B) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1395w-102">42 U.S.C. 1395w–102(b)(8)(B)</external-xref>) is amended—</text> 
<paragraph id="HF316E3C8EBCC4AD3ABE89F296C6B24BE"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>with recommendations</quote> and inserting</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HEA68D855797C49DB9FF862E554806018"><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with—</text> 
<clause id="H39D768404DA249419338B8829E143080"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">recommendations</text></clause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph id="HCF025E3E4AB047CFAB817F8CDBE18ACF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="H5FE374C464F74495B89115AB0B699A7A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new clause:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB457F82789184A55B81AD240666D4FC0"> <clause id="H86BF130651704C5690B0DC19031D87A5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for plan years occurring during the date of the enactment of this clause, or beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this clause and before January 1, 2030, in the case of a vaccine with respect to which such a recommendation is revoked with respect to the individual involved on or after October 25, 2024, including such a vaccine as updated or changed after that date under a supplement to a biologics license application approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the most recent recommendation that was in effect with respect to such vaccine and such individual prior to such revocation.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> </subsection> 
<subsection id="H85477B64796748E79923F27AB9E20B25"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Medicaid</header> 
<paragraph id="HC84EF9EFB4414543A5BDF5F4B0F5F695"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 1905 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396d">42 U.S.C. 1396d</external-xref>) is amended—</text> <subparagraph id="HA2B8502E92814C0DAE1C939AFFB06379"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (a)(13)(B)—</text> 
<clause id="H8EA8756DE6CB4F80BB28C82D85E73439"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>individual, approved</quote> and inserting</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H211ADF9C3E3F4040A8DE046342F48679" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">individual—</text> 
<clause id="HA4C56F5A6E3E45018BC447B65670CBAC"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">approved</text></clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause> <clause id="H6F69B98BB7214B878F64C38968A83DE1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new clause:</text> 
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="HAF16894E5B0843B3B02CD2648A06CFAE" display-inline="no-display-inline"> 
<clause id="HD28E2040CFC740389F7E469E33F1AE39"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this clause and ending on December 31, 2029, approved vaccines, and the administration of such vaccines, that were recommended by such advisory committee with respect to the individual involved as of October 25, 2024, including such a vaccine as updated or changed after that date under a supplement to a biologics license application approved by the Food and Drug Administration.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H09DB767D6E9B4796AACDCF2410FB8243"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (r)(1)(B)(iii), by—</text> 
<clause id="HD1E3E1F0A50D49FDAF7191B4C9B1D7D5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>striking <quote>section 1928(c)(2)(B)(i)</quote> and inserting <quote>clause (i) of section 1928(c)(2)(B)</quote>; and</text></clause> <clause id="H659AD1B5C05A499FA006A28C7D83372A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>inserting <quote>, subject to the limitation described in clause (iii) of such section</quote> after <quote>pediatric vaccines</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HE699A87E46A6416F91A7986E75602D49"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Coverage for pregnant individuals</header><text>Section 1902(a)(10) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396a">42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)</external-xref>) is amended in the matter following subparagraph (G) by inserting <quote>medical assistance for vaccines described in section 1905(a)(13)(B) and the administration of such vaccines,</quote> after <quote>complicate pregnancy,</quote>.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="HA9AF64F0550A4E2FBCDF19F6ADDE9D50" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Program for distribution of pediatric vaccines</header><text>Section 1928 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396s">42 U.S.C. 1396s</external-xref>) is amended—</text> 
<subparagraph id="HC72C11FE06F04F44885CF2A49CD02F70" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(2)(B)—</text> <clause id="H8A2CD6FF952642ED84F03C43788BDFCD" commented="no"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>clause (ii)</quote> and inserting <quote>clauses (ii) and (iii)</quote>; and</text></clause> 
<clause id="H36537A237ECB4023B846AA71C16608EE" commented="no"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new clause:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H43B3851B6C9E46929707416D7DCD9B4A" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <clause id="H4F3E230FCB1D4ACB806D3C8E241A3A1C" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this clause and ending on December 31, 2029, the provider will not take into account any change in the schedule described in clause (i) that removes the recommendation to administer a pediatric vaccine with respect to the vaccine-eligible child involved if such pediatric vaccine was recommended with respect to such child under such schedule as of October 25, 2024, including with respect to such pediatric vaccine as updated or changed after that date under a supplement to a biologics license application approved by the Food and Drug Administration.</text></clause> <after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph> 
<subparagraph id="H2F5E5676490E40E69547C411ADDEABB4" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (e), by inserting <quote>For purposes of the preceding sentence, during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this sentence and ending on December 31, 2029, the Secretary may not take into account any revision of such list that occurs on or after October 25, 2024, that removes a pediatric vaccine from such list if such vaccine was included in such list as of such date, including with respect to such vaccine as updated or changed after that date under a supplement to a biologics license application approved by the Food and Drug Administration.</quote> after the period at the end.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HE453F14055924B14BB6DD683D704E269"><enum>(4)</enum><header>State flexibility in benefit packages</header><text>Section 1937(b) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1396u-7">42 U.S.C. 1396u–7(b)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text> 
<quoted-block style="OLC" id="H9138AB88E4FC4BF6B2BB1C2E656833E5" display-inline="no-display-inline"> 
<paragraph id="H77F7FE68A0D246F3946150DDD437CBE2"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Coverage of adult vaccines</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding the previous provisions of this section, a State may not provide for medical assistance through enrollment of an individual with benchmark coverage or benchmark-equivalent coverage under this section unless such coverage includes (and does not impose any deduction, cost sharing, or similar charge for) the medical assistance described in section 1905(a)(13)(B).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HE665634891FD4B50957E1DFF595BAE8C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>CHIP</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2103 of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1397cc">42 U.S.C. 1397cc</external-xref>) is amended—</text> 
<paragraph id="H45F5CA1D07DF48938FD4DCCFC424F102"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text> <quoted-block style="OLC" id="H7B36B2F5EF6242FBB657C69F8EA24308" display-inline="no-display-inline"> <paragraph id="H24101ACDB64749AA8AD9436AD892FDFA"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Required coverage of certain vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Regardless of the type of coverage elected by a State under subsection (a), the child health assistance provided for a targeted low-income child shall include coverage, during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this paragraph and ending on December 31, 2029, of vaccines, and the administration of such vaccines, that had in effect a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with respect to the child involved as of October 25, 2024, including such a vaccine as updated or changed after that date under a supplement to a biologics license application approved by the Food and Drug Administration.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> 
<paragraph id="HDBCF1991C5EA45C290859BD415816CD0"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (e)(2), by inserting <quote>vaccines described in subsection (c)(13) administered during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of such subsection and ending on December 31, 2029 (and the administration of such vaccines),</quote> before <quote>services described in section 1916(a)(2)(G)</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> </legis-body></bill>

