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HR 164 105th Congress House Health Breast cancer Commerce Consumer education Employee health benefits Federal preemption Finance and Financial Sector Government Operations and Politics Health insurance Health insurance industry Hospital care Labor and Employment Mastectomy Standards State laws Surgery Women Women's health

Reconstructive Breast Surgery Benefits Act of 1997

Introduced: January 7, 1997 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 10 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 22, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H8982)
Oct 7, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H8451)
May 5, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E831-832)
Jan 31, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Jan 27, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to House Education and the Workforce
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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.
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to House Commerce
Jan 7, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1-2)
Jan 7, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Reconstructive Breast Surgery Benefits Act of 1997 - Amends the Public Health Service Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require group health plans and insurers offering group health coverage, if they cover a mastectomy, to also cover reconstructive breast surgery resulting from the mastectomy, including surgery on a nondiseased breast to establish symmetry. Prohibits related: (1) denial of coverage or monetary incentives to women; and (2) penalties or incentives to providers.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to apply the above requirements to individual health insurance coverage.

What's happening now October 22, 1997

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H8982)

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 164: Reconstructive Breast Surgery Benefits Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-164/
MLA
"H.R. 164: Reconstructive Breast Surgery Benefits Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-164/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 164, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-164/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 164: Reconstructive Breast Surgery Benefits Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-164/)
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