Bill · H.R. 9228· House(119-HR-9228)
Health DATA Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 6/9/2026
- Last activity
- 9/15/2026 — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 724.
- Sponsored by
- Robert Onder
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
The bill is known as the Health Data Access, Transparency, and Affordability Act of 2026 or the Health DATA Act of 2026. It updates the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to give group health plan fiduciaries access to health claims and encounter information. The legislation prohibits contracts that limit or delay this data access or restrict plan audits. It establishes that non-compliant contract provisions are void as against public policy. Additionally, the bill permits the Secretary of Labor to assess civil penalties against entities that violate these data sharing requirements.
Yes· 3 of 12
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+6
The legislation directly targets hidden fees, gag clauses, and restricted data access, significantly improving transparency in healthcare administration.
Would business owners be better off under this?+5
Business owners and plan sponsors gain direct access to claims data and auditing capabilities, empowering them to negotiate better rates and control costs.
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+5
The bill enhances consumer protection by eliminating contractual barriers and gag clauses that hide healthcare pricing and claims information from plan administrators.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
How the text last changed
Reported in House (9/15/2026), compared with Introduced in House. Each change is on the Text tab.
The newer version of the bill updates the short title of the legislation so that it may also be cited as the ``Health DATA Act of 2026''. It also alters the specific section references related to civil enforcement penalties for individuals or entities that cannot be indemnified or relieved from liability. Specifically, the text replaces several older section references with new references to sections 502(c)(13) and 502(c)(14).
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Access to Health Claims Data: Section 2(a)(2) ensures that group health plan fiduciaries and their designated agents have access to all claims and encounter information, supporting medical records, and policy documents without unreasonable limits or delays. This helps plan managers see how money is being spent on healthcare.
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No Cost Data Formats: Section 2(a)(2) requires network service providers to supply specific institutional, professional, dental, and pharmacy claims, as well as electronic payment notices, in standard formats at no cost to the group health plan. This ensures plans receive necessary data without extra financial burdens.
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Transparency of Non-Claim Costs: Section 2(a)(2) mandates that all non-claim costs be itemized and made available to group health plans in real time through web portals, Application Programming Interfaces, and downloadable files. This provides clear visibility into administrative fees and extra charges.
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Protection for Auditing Rights: Section 2(a)(2) stops contracts from limiting the ability of a group health plan, plan sponsor, or plan administrator to select an auditor and define the scope and frequency of audits. This empowers plans to check their accounts and prevent waste.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+5Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For Union Workers+3Good For Low Income Households+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+5Improves Small Business Support+4Improves Economic Growth+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+6Increases Federal Power+3
- Healthcare
- Reduces Private Insurance Premiums+4Reduces Prescription Drug Costs+2
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy+3
A committee approved it and sent it to the floor
What changed from Introduced in House
The newer version of the bill updates the short title of the legislation so that it may also be cited as the ``Health DATA Act of 2026''. It also alters the specific section references related to civil enforcement penalties for individuals or entities that cannot be indemnified or relieved from liability. Specifically, the text replaces several older section references with new references to sections 502(c)(13) and 502(c)(14).
Each change
- Section 1: Added an alternative short title for the Act, allowing it to be cited as the ``Health DATA Act of 2026''.
- Section 2: Changed the civil enforcement penalty references that apply to the prohibition on indemnification and relief from liability, replacing references to sections 502(a)(13), 502(a)(14), 502(a)(15), and 727(d) with sections 502(c)(13) and 502(c)(14).
Written by an AI model from a comparison of this version’s text with the one before it, not by a person. .
- 9/15/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-826.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 724.
- 8/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/25/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 15.
- 6/9/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Introduced in House
Diana HarshbargerRepublican · Tennessee
Victoria SpartzRepublican · Indiana