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HR 815 105th Congress House

Access to Emergency Medical Services Act of 1997

Official title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and titles XVIII and XIX of the… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to assure access to emergency medical services under group health plans, health insurance coverage, and the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Introduced: February 25, 1997 See on congress.gov
Health Administrative procedureBurnsCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCoinsurance
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CommerceCommunication in medicineConsumer educationDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDepartment of LaborDiscrimination in insuranceDiscrimination in medical careEmergency ManagementEmergency medical servicesEmployee health benefitsFederal advisory bodiesFinance and Financial SectorGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealth insuranceHealth insurance industryHospital careInformed consent (Medical law)Insurance companiesLabor and EmploymentLawMedicaidMedical economicsMedical screeningMedicareMedigapPhysical examinationsPhysiciansSocial WelfareStandardsState lawsTrauma care
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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 Latest action March 21, 1997

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

 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.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 37
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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