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HR 616 105th Congress House Health Breast cancer Collective bargaining agreements Commerce Consumer education Employee health benefits Finance and Financial Sector Health insurance Health insurance industry Hospital care Labor and Employment Mastectomy Standards Surgery Women Women's health

Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1997

Introduced: February 5, 1997 See on congress.gov
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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 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 3, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Feb 14, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.
Feb 13, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 5, 1997
Referred to the Committee on Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and 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.
Feb 5, 1997
Referred to House Commerce
Feb 5, 1997
Introduced in House
Feb 5, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E159)
Feb 5, 1997
Referred to House Education and the Workforce
Feb 5, 1997
Referred to House Ways and Means
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1997 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to require certain group health plans, and health insurance issuers providing coverage under a group plan, to ensure specified minimum coverage regarding: (1) breast cancer mastectomies, lumpectomies, and lymph node dissections; (2) post-mastectomy breast reconstruction on both breasts; and (3) secondary consultations by specialists. Prohibits: (1) changing coverage terms and conditions based on a participant's or beneficiary's decision to request less than the minimum coverage; and (2) certain penalties or incentives to providers or specialists. Amends: (1) the Public Health Service Act to apply the same requirements to health insurance issuers in the individual market; and (2) the Internal Revenue Code to apply those requirements to group health plans.

What's happening now March 3, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 249 Identical bill Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1997
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 17
All 17 Democratic 12 Republican 4 Independent 1
D
Sherman, Brad
California · Oct 9, 1998
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Nov 13, 1997
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Nov 7, 1997
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Nov 7, 1997
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Nov 7, 1997
 D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Oct 23, 1997
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Oct 23, 1997
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Oct 23, 1997
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Oct 23, 1997
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Oct 23, 1997
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Apr 29, 1997
 R
Crapo, Mike
Idaho · Mar 12, 1997
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Feb 25, 1997
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Feb 5, 1997
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Feb 5, 1997
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Feb 5, 1997
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Feb 5, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 616: Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-616/
MLA
"H.R. 616: Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-616/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 616, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-616/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 616: Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-616/)
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