H.R. 6299 – Rapid Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccine Act of 2020

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 11:34 AM UTC

The Rapid Coverage of COVID‑19 Vaccine Act of 2020 would force health insurers and group health plans to quickly add COVID‑19 preventive services and vaccines to their covered benefits. Once a service receives an “A” or “B” rating from the USPSTF or a CDC recommendation, insurers must provide coverage within about three weeks. The law applies to all types of health coverage, including plans that were previously exempt, and is overseen by the HHS, Labor, and Treasury departments.

Key Provisions

Requires group health plans and health insurers to cover any COVID‑19 preventive service or vaccine that is rated “A” or “B” by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, or that has an official CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendation.
Coverage must become effective no later than 15 business days after the USPSTF rating or CDC recommendation is issued.
The rule applies to both group and individual health insurance, including plans that were previously “grandfathered” under the Affordable Care Act.
The Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury are tasked with enforcing the requirement and may issue program instructions or guidance to implement it.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 19, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 19, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Labor, 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.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 19, 2020

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 19, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 19, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6299

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 19, 2020

Mr. Courtney (for himself and Mr. Beyer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Labor, 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

A BILL

To provide for the rapid coverage of preventive services and vaccines for COVID-19.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Rapid Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccine Act of 2020.

2.

Rapid coverage of preventive services and vaccines for COVID-19

(a)

In general

In the case of a qualifying COVID-19 preventive service, notwithstanding section 2713(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–13(b)) (including the regulations under section 2590.715–2713 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, section 54.9815–2713 of title 26, Code of Federal Regulations, and section 147.130 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations), the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Labor, and Secretary of the Treasury shall apply to group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage the requirement under section 2713(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–13(a)), with respect to such services, as if such section 2713(a)—

(1)

required the coverage of such service under such plans and such coverage be effective not later than the specified date (as defined in subsection (b)(2)) with respect to such service; and

(2)

applied to grandfathered health plans (as defined in section 1251(e) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18011(e))).

(b)

Definitions

For purposes of this section:

(1)

Qualifying COVID-19 preventive service

The term qualifying COVID-19 preventive service means an item, service, or immunization that is intended to prevent or mitigate COVID-19 and that is—

(A)

an evidence-based item or service that has in effect a rating of A or B in the current recommendations of the United States Preventive Services Task Force; or

(B)

an immunization that has in effect a recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with respect to the individual involved.

(2)

Specified date

The term specified date means—

(A)

with respect to a qualifying COVID-19 preventive service described in paragraph (1)(A), the date that is 15 business days after the date on which a rating, as described in such paragraph, is made with respect to such service; and

(B)

with respect to a qualifying COVID-19 preventive service described in paragraph (1)(B), the date that is 15 business days after the date on which a recommendation, as described in such paragraph, is made relating to the service.

(3)

Additional terms

The terms group health plan; health insurance issuer; group health insurance coverage, and individual health insurance coverage have the meanings given such terms in section 2791 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–91), section 733 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (29 U.S.C. 1191b), and section 9832 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as applicable.

(c)

Implementation

The Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Labor, and Secretary of the Treasury may implement the provisions of this section through program instruction, subregulatory guidance, or otherwise.