116 HR 6851 IH: No Surprises for COVID–19 Tests Act U.S. House of Representatives 2022-02-25 text/xml EN 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.

I117th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 6851IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFebruary 25, 2022Mr. Pallone (for himself and Mr. Scott of Virginia) 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 concernedA BILLTo amend the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the CARES Act to establish new coverage and payment rules for certain COVID–19 diagnostic tests and related items and services, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the No Surprises for COVID–19 Tests Act.

2.

Establishing new coverage and payment rules for certain COVID–19 diagnostic tests and related items and services

(a)

Extension of coverage requirement

Section 6001(a) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5 note) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking any portion of the emergency period defined in paragraph (1)(B) of section 1135(g) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)) beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act and inserting the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 2023. (b)

Payment and billing rules for items and services furnished after end of public health emergency

(1)

In general

Section 3202 of the CARES Act (42 U.S.C. 42 U.S.C. 256b note) is amended—(A)in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting that are furnished before May 1, 2022, after (Public Law 116–127);(B)in subsection (b)(1), by striking emergency period declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) and inserting period beginning on the date of the enactment of this subsection and ending on April 31, 2022; and (C)by adding at the end the following new subsection:(c)

Application of surprise billing provisions

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the provisions of sections 2799A–1 and 2799B–1 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–111, 300gg–131), 716 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1185e), and 9816 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall apply to items and services described in section 6001(a) of division F of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116–127) furnished on or after May 1, 2022, and before January 1, 2024, to an enrollee of a group health plan or group or individual health insurance coverage by a provider that does not have a negotiated rate in effect with such plan or coverage (as applicable) as if such items and services were emergency services furnished by a nonparticipating provider in an emergency department of a hospital.(2)

Nonapplication to over-the-counter tests

Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to any over-the-counter test specified in the guidance document published by the Department of Labor on January 10, 2022, entitled FAQs about Affordable Care Act Implementation Part 51, Families First Coronavirus Response Act and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Implementation or any other over-the-counter test specified by the Secretary pursuant to section 6001(a)(1) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.(3)

Definitions

In this subsection, the terms emergency services and nonparticipating provider have the meanings given such terms in subparagraphs (C)(i) and (G), respectively, of sections 2799A–1(a)(3) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–111(a)(3)), 716(a)(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1185e(a)(3)), and section 9816(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986..(2)

Implementation

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury may implement the amendments made by this subsection by subregulatory guidance or otherwise.