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Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 1997

Introduced: February 25, 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 21, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Mar 14, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Mar 3, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 25, 1997
Referred to House Education and the Workforce
Feb 25, 1997
Referred to House Commerce
Feb 25, 1997
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Commerce, 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 25, 1997
Referred to House Ways and Means
Feb 25, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E310-311)
Feb 25, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Public Health Service Act to require any group health plan which provides emergency health services to cover emergency services furnished to a plan participant: (1) without need for any prior authorization; (2) subject to stated exceptions, whether or not the physician or provider is plan participant; and (3) subject to stated exceptions, without regard to any other term or condition of the plan. Defines "emergency medical services" and related terms.

Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) to provide for the provision of the same benefits to Medicare and Medicaid plan participants.

Provides for the establishment of guidelines by the appropriate Secretaries in order carry out the provisions of this Act. Directs the Secretaries to jointly establish an advisory panel to assist in the development of such guidelines.

What's happening now March 21, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 356 Identical bill Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 1997
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 21
All 21 Democratic 17 Republican 3 Independent 1
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · May 13, 1998
 D
DeGette, Diana
Colorado · Apr 30, 1998
 D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Apr 23, 1998
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Mar 18, 1998
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Oct 21, 1997
 D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Sep 16, 1997
 D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · Sep 16, 1997
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Sep 3, 1997
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Jul 30, 1997
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Jul 15, 1997
 D
Hoyer, Steny H.
Maryland · Apr 29, 1997
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Apr 23, 1997
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Apr 16, 1997
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Apr 16, 1997
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Apr 8, 1997
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Apr 8, 1997
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Apr 8, 1997
 D
Clyburn, James E.
South Carolina · Mar 4, 1997
 D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Mar 4, 1997
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Mar 4, 1997
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Feb 25, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 815: Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-815/
MLA
"H.R. 815: Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-815/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 815, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-815/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 815: Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-815/)
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