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HR 1955 112th Congress House Health Accidents Child health Emergency medical services and trauma care Employee benefits and pensions Health care costs and insurance Health care coverage and access Hereditary and development disorders Surgery and anesthesia

Children's Access to Reconstructive Evaluation & Surgery (CARES) Act of 2011

Introduced: February 1, 2012 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) 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 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 8, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
Jun 3, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
May 31, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
May 24, 2011
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, 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.
May 24, 2011
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Children's Access to Reconstructive Evaluation & Surgery (CARES) Act of 2011 - Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to require a group or individual health plan that covers surgical benefits to also cover outpatient and inpatient diagnosis and treatment of a congenital or developmental deformity, disease, or injury of a minor child (defined as child under the age of 22).

Requires that such coverage: (1) be subject to pre-authorization or pre-certification requirements of the plan or issuer, and (2) include any surgical treatment deemed by the treating physician to be medically necessary to approximate a normal appearance. Defines "treatment" to include reconstructive surgical procedures that are performed on abnormal structures of the body caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, burns, infection, tumors, or disease, including: (1) procedures that do not materially affect the function of the body part being treated, and (2) procedures for secondary conditions and follow-up treatment. Excludes cosmetic surgery performed to reshape normal structures of the body to improve appearance or self-esteem.

Applies the provisions of this Act to grandfathered health plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

What's happening now September 8, 2011

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

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1045 Identical bill Children's Access to Reconstructive Evaluation & Surgery (CARES) Act of 2011
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 19
All 19 Democratic 6 Republican 1
D
Castor, Kathy
Florida · Jun 7, 2012
ROS-LEHTINEN, ILEANA
· May 16, 2012
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · May 9, 2012
Meehan, Patrick
· Apr 26, 2012
 D
DeGette, Diana
Colorado · Mar 20, 2012
GUTIERREZ, LUIS
· Mar 20, 2012
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Mar 7, 2012
Miller, Brad
· Feb 15, 2012
INSLEE, JAY
· Feb 9, 2012
ROSS, MIKE
· Feb 1, 2012
BRADY, ROBERT
· Sep 8, 2011
Sutton, Betty
· Aug 1, 2011
BARTLETT, ROSCOE
· Jul 29, 2011
PAYNE, DONALD
· Jul 6, 2011
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jun 24, 2011
 R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · Jun 21, 2011
LOWEY, NITA
· Jun 15, 2011
JACKSON, JESSE
· May 26, 2011
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · May 24, 2011
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1955: Children's Access to Reconstructive Evaluation & Surgery (CARES) Act of 2011. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1955/
MLA
"H.R. 1955: Children's Access to Reconstructive Evaluation & Surgery (CARES) Act of 2011." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1955/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1955, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1955/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1955: Children's Access to Reconstructive Evaluation & Surgery (CARES) Act of 2011](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1955/)
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