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S. 4745 116th Congress Senate

Stop COVID–19 Test Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2020

Official title: A bill to prevent surprise medical bills with respect to COVID-19 testing.

Introduced: September 29, 2020 Introduced by: Tina Smith Democratic · Minnesota See on congress.gov
Health Cardiovascular and respiratory healthEmergency medical services and trauma careEmployee benefits and pensionsGovernment information and archives
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Government studies and investigationsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessInfectious and parasitic diseasesMedical tests and diagnostic methodsMedicare
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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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 29, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sep 29, 2020
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action September 29, 2020

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Stop COVID-19 Test Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2020

This bill modifies provisions requiring health insurance plans to cover COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) diagnostic testing services at no cost, without prior authorization, and without medical management requirements. The bill specifies that a plan may not make determinations about the circumstances surrounding individuals' tests, such as why they sought testing or whether they showed symptoms of COVID-19. The bill also specifies that plans may encourage individuals to obtain tests from lower priced providers as long as such efforts do not delay, or impede access to, testing.

The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to survey and report on the cash prices of testing services and the compliance of providers with the requirement to publish such prices.

Additionally, HHS, jointly with the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Labor, must issue guidance clarifying the process for submitting claims for testing services.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 8419 Identical bill Stop COVID–19 Test Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2020
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 5
D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · Sep 29, 2020
 D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Sep 29, 2020
 D
Klobuchar, Amy
Minnesota · Sep 29, 2020
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Sep 29, 2020
 D
Shaheen, Jeanne
New Hampshire · Sep 29, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 4745: Stop COVID–19 Test Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2020. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-4745/
MLA
"S. 4745: Stop COVID–19 Test Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2020." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-4745/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 4745, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-4745/.
Markdown link
[S. 4745: Stop COVID–19 Test Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2020](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-4745/)
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