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To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to improve health care coverage under vision and dental plans, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressHR-1606| House 
| Updated: 3/24/2017
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter

Earl L. "Buddy" Carter

Republican Representative

Georgia

Cosponsors (105)
Lamar Smith (Republican)Paul A. Gosar (Republican)Donald Norcross (Democratic)David Loebsack (Democratic)Daniel M. Donovan (Republican)Robert Pittenger (Republican)Clay Higgins (Republican)F. James Sensenbrenner (Republican)Tom Cole (Republican)Frank D. Lucas (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)Roger Marshall (Republican)Markwayne Mullin (Republican)Trent Kelly (Republican)Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (Republican)Steven M. Palazzo (Republican)Pete Olson (Republican)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Erik Paulsen (Republican)Mark Pocan (Democratic)James R. Langevin (Democratic)Steve Stivers (Republican)Neal P. Dunn (Republican)Bill Foster (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Sanford D. Bishop (Democratic)Tim Murphy (Republican)Frederica S. Wilson (Democratic)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Stevan Pearce (Republican)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Pete Sessions (Republican)David Rouzer (Republican)Andy Biggs (Republican)Jeff Duncan (Republican)Doug Collins (Republican)David Young (Republican)Donald M. Payne (Democratic)Billy Long (Republican)Collin C. Peterson (Democratic)Carlos Curbelo (Republican)Mike Bishop (Republican)Peter A. DeFazio (Democratic)Todd Rokita (Republican)Frank A. LoBiondo (Republican)Vicente Gonzalez (Democratic)Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democratic)David B. McKinley (Republican)Dan Newhouse (Republican)Elizabeth H. Esty (Democratic)Lloyd Smucker (Republican)Luke Messer (Republican)Ralph Lee Abraham (Republican)A. Drew Ferguson (Republican)H. Morgan Griffith (Republican)Jody B. Hice (Republican)Brendan F. Boyle (Democratic)Matt Cartwright (Democratic)David P. Joyce (Republican)Jodey C. Arrington (Republican)Steve King (Republican)Steve Russell (Republican)Ann Wagner (Republican)Rodney Davis (Republican)Mike D. Rogers (Republican)Roger Williams (Republican)Filemon Vela (Democratic)Bill Shuster (Republican)Chris Collins (Republican)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Ron Estes (Republican)Bruce Westerman (Republican)Peter J. Visclosky (Democratic)Austin Scott (Republican)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Blaine Luetkemeyer (Republican)Mike Gallagher (Republican)Henry Cuellar (Democratic)Mark Walker (Republican)Tom Marino (Republican)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Scott DesJarlais (Republican)Michael K. Simpson (Republican)Michael R. Turner (Republican)Ted S. Yoho (Republican)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Albio Sires (Democratic)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Matt Gaetz (Republican)Robert A. Brady (Democratic)Bill Posey (Republican)Tom Graves (Republican)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Scott R. Tipton (Republican)Jim Bridenstine (Republican)Harold Rogers (Republican)Grace Meng (Democratic)Bradley Scott Schneider (Democratic)Ted Budd (Republican)Bill Johnson (Republican)Jaime Herrera Beutler (Republican)Brian Babin (Republican)

Health Subcommittee, Energy and Commerce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Dentist and Optometric Care Access Act or the DOC Access Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit group health plans and individual health insurance coverage from setting rates for items and services provided by a doctor of optometry, of dental surgery, or of dental medicine for which the plan or insurer does not pay a substantial amount. An agreement between a plan or insurer and such a doctor: (1) may only be changed with the doctor's acknowledgement and acceptance, and (2) may last longer than two years only with the prior acceptance of the doctor for each term extension if the agreement is for limited scope dental or vision benefits. Such a doctor must be allowed to participate in: (1) a plan or coverage without accepting terms for ancillary services or procedures, and (2) a provider network without participating in a specific limited scope dental or vision benefit plan. Plans and insurers may not: (1) directly communicate with an enrolled individual in a manner that interferes with an existing doctor-patient relationship or a state or federal requirement, or (2) restrict such a doctor's choice of laboratories or suppliers. The bill establishes a private right of action for a person adversely affected by a violation of this bill. The bill is preempted by state laws regarding health insurers and dental or vision benefit plans.
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Timeline
Mar 17, 2017
Introduced in House
Mar 17, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 24, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • March 17, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • March 17, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.


  • March 24, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health

Civil actions and liabilityDental careEmployee benefits and pensionsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHearing, speech, and vision careState and local government operations

To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to improve health care coverage under vision and dental plans, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressHR-1606| House 
| Updated: 3/24/2017
Dentist and Optometric Care Access Act or the DOC Access Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit group health plans and individual health insurance coverage from setting rates for items and services provided by a doctor of optometry, of dental surgery, or of dental medicine for which the plan or insurer does not pay a substantial amount. An agreement between a plan or insurer and such a doctor: (1) may only be changed with the doctor's acknowledgement and acceptance, and (2) may last longer than two years only with the prior acceptance of the doctor for each term extension if the agreement is for limited scope dental or vision benefits. Such a doctor must be allowed to participate in: (1) a plan or coverage without accepting terms for ancillary services or procedures, and (2) a provider network without participating in a specific limited scope dental or vision benefit plan. Plans and insurers may not: (1) directly communicate with an enrolled individual in a manner that interferes with an existing doctor-patient relationship or a state or federal requirement, or (2) restrict such a doctor's choice of laboratories or suppliers. The bill establishes a private right of action for a person adversely affected by a violation of this bill. The bill is preempted by state laws regarding health insurers and dental or vision benefit plans.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 17, 2017
Introduced in House
Mar 17, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 24, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • March 17, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • March 17, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.


  • March 24, 2017
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter

Earl L. "Buddy" Carter

Republican Representative

Georgia

Cosponsors (105)
Lamar Smith (Republican)Paul A. Gosar (Republican)Donald Norcross (Democratic)David Loebsack (Democratic)Daniel M. Donovan (Republican)Robert Pittenger (Republican)Clay Higgins (Republican)F. James Sensenbrenner (Republican)Tom Cole (Republican)Frank D. Lucas (Republican)Elise M. Stefanik (Republican)Roger Marshall (Republican)Markwayne Mullin (Republican)Trent Kelly (Republican)Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (Republican)Steven M. Palazzo (Republican)Pete Olson (Republican)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Erik Paulsen (Republican)Mark Pocan (Democratic)James R. Langevin (Democratic)Steve Stivers (Republican)Neal P. Dunn (Republican)Bill Foster (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Sanford D. Bishop (Democratic)Tim Murphy (Republican)Frederica S. Wilson (Democratic)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Stevan Pearce (Republican)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Pete Sessions (Republican)David Rouzer (Republican)Andy Biggs (Republican)Jeff Duncan (Republican)Doug Collins (Republican)David Young (Republican)Donald M. Payne (Democratic)Billy Long (Republican)Collin C. Peterson (Democratic)Carlos Curbelo (Republican)Mike Bishop (Republican)Peter A. DeFazio (Democratic)Todd Rokita (Republican)Frank A. LoBiondo (Republican)Vicente Gonzalez (Democratic)Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democratic)David B. McKinley (Republican)Dan Newhouse (Republican)Elizabeth H. Esty (Democratic)Lloyd Smucker (Republican)Luke Messer (Republican)Ralph Lee Abraham (Republican)A. Drew Ferguson (Republican)H. Morgan Griffith (Republican)Jody B. Hice (Republican)Brendan F. Boyle (Democratic)Matt Cartwright (Democratic)David P. Joyce (Republican)Jodey C. Arrington (Republican)Steve King (Republican)Steve Russell (Republican)Ann Wagner (Republican)Rodney Davis (Republican)Mike D. Rogers (Republican)Roger Williams (Republican)Filemon Vela (Democratic)Bill Shuster (Republican)Chris Collins (Republican)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Ron Estes (Republican)Bruce Westerman (Republican)Peter J. Visclosky (Democratic)Austin Scott (Republican)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Blaine Luetkemeyer (Republican)Mike Gallagher (Republican)Henry Cuellar (Democratic)Mark Walker (Republican)Tom Marino (Republican)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Scott DesJarlais (Republican)Michael K. Simpson (Republican)Michael R. Turner (Republican)Ted S. Yoho (Republican)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Albio Sires (Democratic)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Matt Gaetz (Republican)Robert A. Brady (Democratic)Bill Posey (Republican)Tom Graves (Republican)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Scott R. Tipton (Republican)Jim Bridenstine (Republican)Harold Rogers (Republican)Grace Meng (Democratic)Bradley Scott Schneider (Democratic)Ted Budd (Republican)Bill Johnson (Republican)Jaime Herrera Beutler (Republican)Brian Babin (Republican)

Health Subcommittee, Energy and Commerce Committee

Health

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civil actions and liabilityDental careEmployee benefits and pensionsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessHearing, speech, and vision careState and local government operations