H.R. 7045House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Closing Health Coverage Gaps for Public Servants Act of 2022

To eliminate the opt-out for nonfederal governmental health plans.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 9:56 AM UTC

The Closing Health Coverage Gaps for Public Servants Act of 2022 removes the ability of non‑federal government health plans to opt out of certain coverage requirements. It ends the election option for these plans once the law takes effect, limiting the ability to start new elections and to renew existing ones after a set period. The change mainly affects public‑sector health plans that currently have an opt‑out election, with a narrow exception for some collectively bargained plans.

Key Provisions

Adds a new subparagraph (F) to Section 2722(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act that bars any new election after the law’s enactment and prevents renewal of existing elections that would expire more than 180 days after enactment.
Provides an exception allowing certain collectively bargained plans with multiple agreements to extend the existing election until the term of the last agreement expires.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 10, 2022

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 9, 2022

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 9, 2022

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 10, 2022

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued March 9, 2022

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7045

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 9, 2022

Ms. Porter (for herself and Mrs. Dingell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To eliminate the opt-out for nonfederal governmental health plans.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Closing Health Coverage Gaps for Public Servants Act of 2022.

Eliminating the opt-out for nonfederal governmental health plans

Section 2722(a)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–21(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(F)

Sunset of election option

(i)

In general

Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this paragraph—

(I)

no election described in subparagraph (A) may be made on or after the date of enactment of this subparagraph; and

(II)

except as provided in clause (ii), no such election expiring on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of such enactment may be renewed.

(ii)

Exception for certain collectively bargained plans

Notwithstanding clause (i)(II), a plan described in subparagraph (B)(ii) that is subject to multiple agreements described in such subparagraph of varying lengths and that has an election in effect under subparagraph (A) as of the date of enactment of this subparagraph that expires on or after the date that is 180 days after the date of such enactment may extend such election until the date on which the term of the last such agreement expires.