,i  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #igih  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,july #ba1 #bjbf,mr4  
,all5 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0    
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,education &  
,work=ce1 & 9 addition to ! ,committee  
on ,en]gy & ,comm]ce1 = a p]iod to be   
subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* 
case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z  
fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee    
conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d ! ,employee
 ,retirem5t ,income ,security ,act (    
#aigd & ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act to
 exempt c]ta9 employ]-sponsor$ gr\p     
heal? plans gov]n$ by ,,erisa f !       
,af=dable ,c>e ,act's ,ess5tial ,heal?  
,b5efits requirem5ts1 & = o!r purposes4 
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,employ] ,heal? ,plan ,flexibility    
,act4  #b4 ,exempt+ c]ta9               
employ]-sponsor$ gr\p heal? plans f !   
,af=dable ,c>e ,act's ,ess5tial ,heal?  
,b5efits requirem5ts  7a7 ,am5dm5t to   
,,erisa ,section #gae ( ! ,employee     
,retirem5t ,income ,security ,act (     

#aigd 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #aahe;d7 is am5d$  
by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7c7 ,not)/&+
 any o!r provision ( ,f$]al law1 a gr\p 
heal? plan sponsor$ by an employ] &     
gov]n$ by ?is ,act %all n be requir$ to 
provide cov]age = ! ,ess5tial ,heal?    
,b5efits describ$ 9 section #acjb7;b7 ( 
! ,pati5t ,protection & ,af=dable ,c>e  
,act solely by reason ( su* ,f$]al      
requirem5t4  4  7b7 ,am5dm5t to !       
,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act ,section    
#bgjg7;a7 ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice    
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;gg-#f7;a77 is  
am5d$ by ins]t+ ,?is section %all n     
apply to any employ]-sponsor$ gr\p heal?
 plan gov]n$ by ! ,employee ,retirem5t  
,income ,security ,act ( #aigd4 at !    
end4  7c7 ,con=m+ am5dm5ts ,! ,secret>y 
( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices %all revise  
applicable regulations to reflect !     
exemption e/abli%$ "u ?is ,act4  #c4    
,pres]vation ( o!r ,f$]al requirem5ts   
,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all be con/ru$ to     
exempt a gr\p heal? plan f compliance   
)--  7#a7 ! portability &               

nondiscrim9ation provisions ( ! ,heal?  
,insurance ,portability & ,acc\ntability
 ,act ( #aiif 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bja et    
seq472  7#b7 ! ,paul ,well/one & ,pete  
,dom5ici ,m5tal ,heal? ,p>ity &         
,addiction ,equity ,act ( #bjjh         
7subtitle ,b ( title ,v ( division ,c ( 
,public ,law #aaj-cdc72  7#c7 !         
,consolidat$ ,omnibus ,budget           
,reconciliation ,act ( #aihe2  7#d7     
fiduci>y duties "u ! ,employee          
,retirem5t ,income ,security ,act (     
#aigd 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja et seq472    
7#e7 ,int]nal ,rev5ue ,code requirem5ts 
applicable to employ]-sponsor$ heal?    
plans2  7#f7 ,f$]al nondiscrim9ation    
requirem5ts2 or  7#g7 prev5tive s]vices 
requirem5ts1 unless o!rwise provid$ by  
law4  #d4 ,employ] disclosure           
requirem5ts ,a gr\p heal? plan claim+ ! 
exemption "u ?is ,act %all annually     
provide p>ticipants ) a notice t        
includes--  7#a7 a description ( b5efits
 cov]$ "u ! plan2  7#b7 id5tification ( 
any ,ess5tial ,heal? ,b5efits n cov]$2  

7#c7 in=mation reg>d+ co/-%>+2 &  7#d7  
in/ructions = obta9+ ! ,summ>y ,plan    
,description4  #e4 ,rule ( con/ruction  
,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all-- 7#a7 prohibit an
 employ] f volunt>ily provid+ all or "p 
( ! ,ess5tial ,heal? ,b5efits2  7#b7    
alt] exi/+ ,employee ,retirem5t ,income 
,security ,act ( #aigd 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4   
#ajja et seq47 preemption2 or  7#c7     
affect ,/ate regulation ( heal?         
insurance issu]s except z expressly     
provid$4  #f4 ,effective date ,!        
am5dm5ts made by ?is ,act %all apply to 
plan ye>s beg9n+ on or aft] ,janu>y #a1 
#bjbh4