H.R. 969 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 969 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 5, 2013 Mr. Price of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Boustany, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, Mrs. Blackburn, and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To prohibit conditioning licensure of a health care provider upon participation in a health plan. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medical Practice Freedom Act of 2013. 2. Health care provider licensure cannot be conditioned on participation in a health plan (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services and any State (as a condition of receiving Federal financial participation under title XIX of the Social Security Act) may not require any health care provider to participate in any health plan as a condition of licensure of the provider in any State. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Health plan The term health plan has the meaning given such term in section 1171(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d(5)), and includes a basic health program established under section 1331 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111–148), a qualified health plan offered by a qualified nonprofit health insurance issuer under the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO–OP) program under section 1322 of such Act, a qualified health plan offered under a health care choice compact under section 1333 of such Act, a multi-state qualified health plan offered under section 1334 of such Act, or other health plan offered under title I of such Act. (2) Health care provider The term health care provider means any person or entity that is required by State or Federal laws or regulations to be licensed, registered, or certified to provide health care services and is so licensed, registered, or certified, or exempted from such requirement by other statute or regulation. (3) State The term State has the meaning given such term for purposes of title XIX of the Social Security Act.