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H.R. 5817 116th Congress House

Fair and Honest Advance Cost Estimate for Patients Act of 2020

Official title: To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require he… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require health plans to provide to participants, beneficiaries, and enrollees an advanced explanation of benefits with respect to items and services scheduled to be received from providers and facilities and to amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require health care providers and health care facilities to provide good faith estimates of the expected charges for furnishing such items and services.

Introduced: February 7, 2020 See on congress.gov
Health Consumer affairsEmployee benefits and pensionsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHealth information and medical records
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 7, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 7, 2020
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Labor, 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.
Feb 7, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 7, 2020

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Fair and Honest Advance Cost Estimate for Patients Act of 2020

This bill requires health care providers and private health insurance plans to provide certain estimates for the costs of services that are scheduled three or more business days in advance. Specifically, providers must inquire whether an individual scheduling such service is enrolled in a health plan, including a government health care program, and intends to seek benefits for the service under the plan. Within a specified time period prior to administering such service, the provider must submit to the individual’s plan, or to the individual if the individual is not enrolled in a plan, an estimate of expected charges for the service. Providers are subject to a maximum fine of $10,000 for each failure to provide such an estimate.

Within a specified time period after receiving an estimate from a provider for a service, private health insurance plans must provide the plan holder with specified benefits information that includes but is not limited to

  • the provider's estimated charge,
  • whether the provider is in-network,
  • the plan's estimated share of the amount,
  • the plan holder's estimated cost-sharing amount, and
  • the estimated amount remaining to meet the plan holder's deductible or out-of-pocket maximum.
 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 5826 Consumer Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2020
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5817: Fair and Honest Advance Cost Estimate for Patients Act of 2020. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5817/
MLA
"H.R. 5817: Fair and Honest Advance Cost Estimate for Patients Act of 2020." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5817/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5817, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5817/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5817: Fair and Honest Advance Cost Estimate for Patients Act of 2020](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5817/)
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