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HR 3688 111th Congress House Health Drug, alcohol, tobacco use Employee benefits and pensions Health care costs and insurance Health promotion and preventive care Medical tests and diagnostic methods Physical fitness and lifestyle

To encourage programs of health promotion or disease prevention.

Introduced: October 1, 2009 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 16, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
Oct 2, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Oct 1, 2009
Referred to House Ways and Means
Oct 1, 2009
Referred to House Education and Labor
Oct 1, 2009
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, 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.
Oct 1, 2009
Referred to House Energy and Commerce
Oct 1, 2009
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Prohibits anything in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Internal Revenue Code, or the Public Health Service Act from being interpreted to prevent any health insurance provider from establishing premium discounts or rebates, or modifying copayments or deductibles, for individuals who participate in a health promotion or disease prevention (wellness) program which meets this Act's requirements.

States that if none of the conditions for obtaining a premium discount, rebate, or other reward for participation in a wellness program is based on an individual satisfying a standard related to a health status factor, such program shall not violate this Act if participation is made available to all similarly situated individuals with respect to a program: (1) that reimburses the cost for memberships in a fitness center; (2) of diagnostic testing that provides a reward for participation not based on outcomes; (3) that encourages preventive care related to a health condition through the waiver of the copayment or deductible requirement under a health plan for costs related to a health condition (such as prenatal care or well-baby visits); (4) that reimburses individuals for the costs of smoking cessation programs without regard to whether the individual quits smoking; and (5) that rewards individuals for attending a periodic health education seminar.

Provides that if any of the conditions for obtaining a premium discount, rebate, or other reward for participation in a wellness program is based on an individual satisfying a standard related to a health status factor, the program shall not violate this Act if specified conditions are met, including that: (1) the reward for the program, together with the reward for other wellness programs regarding the plan that requires satisfaction of a standard related to a health status factor, does not exceed 30% of the cost of employee-only coverage under the plan; (2) the program is reasonably designed to promote health or prevent disease; (3) the plan gives individuals eligible for the program the opportunity to qualify for the reward at least annually; and (4) the full reward under the program is made available to all similarly situated individuals.

What's happening now November 16, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5