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H.R. 2077: Restoring the Patient's Voice Act of 2017

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H.R. 2077: Restoring the Patient's Voice Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-04-06 · Health · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-04-06 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Restoring the Patient's Voice Act of 2017

Plain summary

Restoring the Patient's Voice Act of 2017 This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require a group health plan to establish an exception to medication step-therapy protocol in specified cases. A medication step-therapy protocol establishes a specific sequence in which prescription drugs are covered by a group health plan or a health insurance issuer. To warrant an exception to the protocol, at least one of the following circumstances must be met: (1) the treatment is contraindicated, (2) the treatment is expected to be ineffective, (3) the treatment will cause or is likely to cause an adverse reaction to the individual, (4) the treatment is expected to decrease the individual's ability either to perform daily activities or occupational responsibilities or adhere to the treatment plan, or (5) the individual is stable based on the prescription drugs already selected. The bill requires a group health plan to implement a clear process for an individual to request an exception to the protocol. The process shall be readily available on the website of the group health plan and must list the requirements for a request and any necessary forms and contact information. Requests shall be granted no later than three days after receipt of the request. In certain cases where the life, health, and ability of the individual are jeopardized by the protocol, the request shall be granted no later than 24 hours after receipt of the request.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Restoring the Patient's Voice Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2] · 88 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Robert J. Wittman (R-VA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Neal P. Dunn (R-FL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Bill Foster (D-IL), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Ami Bera (D-CA), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL), Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), David P. Joyce (R-OH), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Michael R. Turner (R-OH), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Dwight Evans (D-PA) and 28 more.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr2077 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115