HR 2457 · 111th Congress · Health
Right to a Second Medical Opinion Act of 2009
Bill Progress
✓
Introduced2
Committee3
House Vote4
Senate5
EnactedLatest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.(2009-10-22)
Plain Language Summary
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Right to a Second Medical Opinion Act of 2009 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to require a group health plan to provide coverage for a second opinion requested by a participant or beneficiary or a health care practitioner if certain conditions are met, including that the medical condition threatens loss of life, quality of life, loss of limb, loss of bodily function, loss of cognitive function, or substantial impairment of the mind or body. Directs that the financial responsibility of the participant or beneficiary for a second opinion shall be the same as that for comparable services furnished by a participating physician in connection with an initial opinion. Sets forth provisions governing a health plan: (1) limiting coverage of a second opinion to a participating physician; (2) requiring preapproval for a second opinion; and (3) denying coverage or denying preapproval for a second opinion. Allows a plan to condition payment for a second opinion on the physician providing a consultation report to the health care practitioner making the initial opinion. Requires plans to pro…
Summarized by Claude AI · Non-partisan · For informational purposes only
Cosponsors (4)
2 Democrats2 Republicans