Bill H.R.1916 titled “Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act” was received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions by the Senate. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Anna Eshoo. This bill requires private health insurance plans to cover diagnosis and treatment of congenital anomalies and birth defects, such as reconstructive services and items. Coverage must include services and items that functionally improve, repair, or restore any body part that is medically necessary for normal bodily functions or appearance, as determined by the treating physician. Coverage limits and cost-sharing requirements for such services and items may not be more restrictive than those applicable to all medical and surgical benefits under the plan.
The Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee moves forward in some way on one bill per day.
Most bills have a hearing where those involved explain why they are for or against the bill. Roughly 8,000 bills are addressed by committees each year but only about 800 make it to the floor of Congress, according to ushistory.org.
A 2019 report from the Brookings Institute argued committees aren’t capable of delving fully into the issues they address and are forced to rely on lobbyists.
| Bill Name | Sponsor | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act | Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. | Senate |
