Skip to main content
S 3517 110th Congress Senate Health Access to health care Administrative remedies Auditing Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Coinsurance Congress Congressional investigations Congressional reporting requirements Department of Labor Discrimination in insurance Discrimination in medical care Employee health benefits Finance and Financial Sector Government Operations and Politics Government publicity Health insurance Labor and Employment Law Medical economics

Prosthetics Parity Act of 2008

Introduced: September 18, 2008 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 18, 2008
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9028-9030)
Sep 18, 2008
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9028)
Sep 18, 2008
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Prosthetics Parity Act of 2008 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act to require a group health plan that provides both medical and surgical benefits and benefits for prosthetic devices and components to provide prosthetics coverage under terms and conditions that are no less favorable than those applicable to substantially all medical and surgical benefits provided under the plan.

Prohibits the prosthetics benefit from being subject to separate or more restrictive financial requirements or more restrictive treatment limitations.

Applies the requirements of this Act separately with respect to in-network and out-of-network benefits.

Requires a group health plan to apply the same prior authorization requirements to the prosthetics benefit as apply for all similar benefits under the plan.

Limits the required prosthetics benefit to the most appropriate device or component that adequately meets the medical requirements of the patient. Includes repair or replacement of prosthetic devices and components within such coverage.

Prohibits a group health plan from imposing any annual or lifetime dollar limitation on benefits for prosthetic devices and components required to be covered under this Act that is not applied in the aggregate to all medical and surgical benefits provided under the plan.

Requires the Secretary of Labor to: (1) assist enrollees with any questions or problems regarding compliance with the requirements of this Act; and (2) conduct random audits of group health plans to ensure compliance.

Requires the Comptroller General to evaluate the effects of this Act, including on the cost of and access to heath insurance coverage.

What's happening now September 18, 2008

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9028-9030)

 Committees of jurisdiction 1