A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Healthy Competition for Better Care Act" aims to ban anticompetitive terms in facility and insurance contracts. These terms are those that currently limit access to higher quality and lower cost healthcare. The bill prohibits agreements that restrict health plans from steering participants to other providers or offering incentives for specific providers. It also bans requirements to enter into additional agreements with affiliates or forcing specific payment rates for affiliates. Finally, it prevents agreements from restricting other plans from paying lower rates for items or services.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +5
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill prohibits anticompetitive terms in health insurance contracts that can drive up costs for consumers.
- Scored +4
Does this lower what people pay for private health insurance?
By banning anticompetitive agreements that restrict price competition, the bill aims to lower overall healthcare costs and premiums.
- Scored +4
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill increases choice by allowing health plans to steer participants to a wider variety of providers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Choice and Flexibility: By banning agreements that restrict a health plan's ability to steer participants to other health care providers or offer incentives for specific providers, the bill allows for more movement within a network. (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(i-ii))
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Greater Competition for Lower Costs: The bill prohibits agreements that restrict other group health plans or insurance issuers from paying a lower rate for items or services than the plan involved in the agreement. (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(iv))
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Protection Against Forced Affiliations: The bill prevents agreements from requiring health plans to enter into additional agreements with an affiliate of a covered entity or requiring them to agree to specific payment rates for an affiliate not party to the agreement. (Section 2(a)(1)(A)(B-C))
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Exceptions for Specific Organizations: Certain entities, such as health maintenance organizations operating through exclusive contracts with multi-specialty physician groups or value-based network arrangements (like accountable care organizations or integrated health systems), are exempt from these prohibitions. (Section 2(a)(2)(A-B))
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Delayed Implementation: The new rules regarding these contracts will not apply until 18 months after the date the Act is enacted. (Section 2(b))
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill may lower healthcare expenses by increasing competition and reducing restrictive provider agreements. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Increased competition in health plan network design may lead to lower costs for middle-income families. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Greater competition in network design may lead to more diverse healthcare provider options.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill increases choice by allowing health plans to steer participants to a wider variety of providers. Does this lower what people pay for private health insurance? — By banning anticompetitive agreements that restrict price competition, the bill aims to lower overall healthcare costs and premiums.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill prohibits anticompetitive terms in health insurance contracts that can drive up costs for consumers.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Lowering healthcare costs through increased competition can provide economic relief to low-income families.
- 5/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/4/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/21/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Rick AllenRepublican · Georgia
Donald DavisDemocrat · North Carolina
Chuck EdwardsRepublican · North Carolina
Blake MooreRepublican · Utah
Burgess OwensRepublican · Utah