A Republican bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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
This bill, known as the "Patient Choice and Access Act of 2026," seeks to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It aims to ensure that qualified health plans are not required to maintain a provider network to meet certain criteria. This change would apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. The bill also introduces new transparency requirements for these plans. These requirements include providing information about out-of-pocket costs and balance billing. Additionally, such plans must provide customer service or online resources to help people find providers.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +3
Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act?
The bill amends the Affordable Care Act to provide more flexibility for qualified health plans regarding provider networks.
- Scored +2
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill improves healthcare access by requiring plans without networks to provide tools to help enrollees find providers who accept their benefits as payment in full.
- Scored +1
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill may benefit low-income households by increasing plan flexibility and requiring transparency regarding out-of-pocket costs.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Flexibility for Plans: Under Section 2(a), the Secretary may not require a plan to maintain a provider network for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. This changes the current requirements for meeting established criteria.
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Improved Cost Information: Section 2(c)(3)(J)(i) requires plans without provider networks to provide information in plain language regarding expected out-of-pocket costs and the potential for balance billing. This is intended to assist plan enrollees and potential enrollees.
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Enhanced Provider Search Assistance: Section 2(c)(3)(J)(ii) requires plans to provide adequate customer service or online provider search assistance resources. This assistance is meant to help enrollees find providers in their area who will accept the plan's benefit amounts as payment in full.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly stated in the text provided.
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.
- Healthcare
- Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act? — The bill amends the Affordable Care Act to provide more flexibility for qualified health plans regarding provider networks. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill improves healthcare access by requiring plans without networks to provide tools to help enrollees find providers who accept their benefits as payment in full.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill may benefit low-income households by increasing plan flexibility and requiring transparency regarding out-of-pocket costs. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Increased plan flexibility and transparency requirements may benefit urban residents seeking diverse provider options.
- 6/2/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Troy BaldersonRepublican · Ohio
Aaron BeanRepublican · Florida
H. GriffithRepublican · Virginia