H.R. 533: Stop COVID–19 Test Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-01-28 · Health · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-01-28 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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

Stop COVID–19 Test Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2021

Plain summary

Stop COVID-19 Test Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2021 This bill modifies provisions requiring health insurance plans to cover COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) diagnostic testing services at no cost, without prior authorization, and without medical management requirements. The bill specifies that a plan may not make determinations about the circumstances surrounding individuals' tests, such as why they sought testing or whether they showed symptoms of COVID-19. The bill also specifies that plans may encourage individuals to obtain tests from lower priced providers as long as such efforts do not delay, or impede access to, testing. The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to survey and report on the cash prices of testing services and the compliance of providers with the requirement to publish such prices. Additionally, HHS, jointly with the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Labor, must issue guidance clarifying the process for submitting claims for testing services.

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

Stop COVID–19 Test Surprise Medical Bills Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] · 19 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Lauren Underwood (D-IL)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] reported raising $1.8 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

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)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
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).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr533.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr533 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117