Patient Right to Know Act
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Patient Right to Know Act - Prohibits any contract or agreement, or the operation of any contract or agreement, between an entity operating a health plan (including any partnership, association, or other organization that enters into or administers such a contract or agreement) and a health care provider (or group of health care providers) from prohibiting or restricting the provider from engaging in medical communications with his or her patient. Requires that each State shall enforce this Act with respect to health insurance issuers that sell, renew, or offer health plans in the State. Provides for enforcement of this Act by the Secretary of Health and Human Services if the Secretary, after consultation with the chief executive officer of a State and the insurance commissioner or chief insurance regulatory official of the State, determines that the State has failed to substantially enforce the requirements.
Mandates a civil money penalty. Allows State requirements equal to or more protective of medical communications than the requirements of this Act.
Defines "medical communication" as being a communication between a provider and a patient (or the patient's guardian or legal representative) regarding the patient's health status, medical care, or legal treatment options.
Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Hearings held.
- Introduced in Senate Formatted Text PDF
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 449: Patient Right to Know Act. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-449/
"S. 449: Patient Right to Know Act." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-449/.
S. 449, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-449/.
[S. 449: Patient Right to Know Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-S-449/)