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Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 2005

Introduced: May 11, 2005 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) 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 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 31, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
May 23, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
May 17, 2005
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
May 11, 2005
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Ways and Means, 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.
May 11, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E937)
May 11, 2005
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 2005 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to set forth requirements for health plans or issuers of health insurance coverage, including requirements for: (1) utilization review activities; (2) procedures for claims benefits processing, prior authorization determinations, appeals, and internal reviews; and (3) access for an independent, external review.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Health Care Consumer Assistance Fund to award grants to States for consumer assistance activities designed to provide information, assistance, and referrals to consumers of health insurance products.

Sets forth requirements for managed care programs and their access to care, including requiring such programs to: (1) offer coverage that allows for non-network coverage through another plan or issuer; (2) provide access to out-of-network emergency care without prior authorization; and (3) provide timely access to specialists.

Requires certain annual disclosures from health plans or issuers, including disclosures of covered benefits, cost-sharing requirements, and participating providers.

Prohibits a plan or issuer from: (1) restricting a health care professional's ability to advise a patient on the health of an individual or on medical care or treatment for the individual's condition or disease; and (2) operating any physician incentive plan.

Establishes a cause of action against a plan or issuer that fails to exercise ordinary care in making a decision that results in a personal injury or death to a participant or beneficiary.

Provides a tax credit to small businesses for expenses paid by the business for health insurance coverage of employees.

What's happening now May 31, 2005

Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 2650 Related bill Patient Protection Act of 2005
  • S 1012 Identical bill Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 2005
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 13
All 13 Democratic 12 Independent 1
D
Sherman, Brad
California · Jun 23, 2005
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · May 17, 2005
 D
DeGette, Diana
Colorado · May 11, 2005
 D
Hoyer, Steny H.
Maryland · May 11, 2005
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · May 11, 2005
 D
McCollum, Betty
Minnesota · May 11, 2005
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · May 11, 2005
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · May 11, 2005
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · May 11, 2005
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · May 11, 2005
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · May 11, 2005
 D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · May 11, 2005
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · May 11, 2005
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2259: Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2259/
MLA
"H.R. 2259: Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2259/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2259, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2259/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2259: Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2259/)
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