Title 29, LaborRelease 119-110
§1185i Protecting Patients and Improving the Accuracy of Provider Directory Information
Title 29 › CHAPTER 18 — EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY PROGRAM › SUBCHAPTER I — PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT RIGHTS › Subtitle B — Regulatory Provisions › part 7 — group health plan requirements › Subpart B — Other Requirements › § 1185i
Summary
For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, group health plans and insurers must put a public online database on their website that lists every provider and facility they contract with and basic contact details (name, address, specialty, phone, and digital contact). They must check and update that online list at least every 90 days, have a way to remove providers they cannot verify, and update the database within 2 business days after getting new information from a provider. If someone calls or asks online whether a provider is in-network, the plan must reply in writing (email or paper) as soon as possible and no later than 1 business day, and keep that reply for at least 2 years. Printed directories must say when they were published and tell members to check the online database or contact the plan for the latest information. State laws about provider directories still apply where they cover the plan. If a person gets care from an out-of-network provider but would have been covered if that provider were in-network, and the person relied on the plan’s online list, printed directory, or verbal response saying the provider was in-network (or asked and was told the provider was in-network), the plan cannot charge higher cost-sharing than it would for an in-network provider and must use the same deductible and out-of-pocket limit. Plans must also put plain-language notices on their website and on each explanation of benefits about federal rules that limit balance billing (42 U.S.C. 300gg–131 and 300gg–132), any state rules that apply, the protections under the law (including section 1185e), and how to contact state and federal agencies to report violations.
Full Legal Text
Title 29, §1185i
Labor, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Provider directory information requirements
(1)In general
For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, each group health plan and health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage shall—
(A)establish the verification process described in paragraph (2);
(B)establish the response protocol described in paragraph (3);
(C)establish the database described in paragraph (4); and
(D)include in any directory (other than the database described in subparagraph (C)) containing provider directory information with respect to such plan or such coverage the information described in paragraph (5).
(2)Verification process
The verification process described in this paragraph is, with respect to a group health plan or a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage, a process—
(A)under which, not less frequently than once every 90 days, such plan or such issuer (as applicable) verifies and updates the provider directory information included on the database described in paragraph (4) of such plan or issuer of each health care provider and health care facility included in such database;
(B)that establishes a procedure for the removal of such a provider or facility with respect to which such plan or issuer has been unable to verify such information during a period specified by the plan or issuer; and
(C)that provides for the update of such database within 2 business days of such plan or issuer receiving from such a provider or facility information pursuant to section 300gg–139 of title 42.
(3)Response protocol
The response protocol described in this paragraph is, in the case of an individual enrolled under a group health plan or group health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer who requests information through a telephone call or electronic, web-based, or Internet-based means on whether a health care provider or health care facility has a contractual relationship to furnish items and services under such plan or such coverage, a protocol under which such plan or such issuer (as applicable), in the case such request is made through a telephone call—
(A)responds to such individual as soon as practicable and in no case later than 1 business day after such call is received, through a written electronic or print (as requested by such individual) communication; and
(B)retains such communication in such individual’s file for at least 2 years following such response.
(4)Database
The database described in this paragraph is, with respect to a group health plan or health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage, a database on the public website of such plan or issuer that contains—
(A)a list of each health care provider and health care facility with which such plan or such issuer has a direct or indirect contractual relationship for furnishing items and services under such plan or such coverage; and
(B)provider directory information with respect to each such provider and facility.
(5)Information
The information described in this paragraph is, with respect to a print directory containing provider directory information with respect to a group health plan or group health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer, a notification that such information contained in such directory was accurate as of the date of publication of such directory and that an individual enrolled under such plan or such coverage should consult the database described in paragraph (4) with respect to such plan or such coverage or contact such plan or the issuer of such coverage to obtain the most current provider directory information with respect to such plan or such coverage.
(6)Definition
For purposes of this subsection, the term “provider directory information” includes, with respect to a group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage, the name, address, specialty, telephone number, and digital contact information of each health care provider or health care facility with which such plan or such issuer has a contractual relationship for furnishing items and services under such plan or such coverage.
(7)Rule of construction
Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt any provision of State law relating to health care provider directories, to the extent such State law applies to such plan, coverage, or issuer, subject to section 1144 of this title.
(b)Cost-sharing for services provided based on reliance on incorrect provider network information
(1)In general
For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, in the case of an item or service furnished to a participant or beneficiary of a group health plan or group health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer by a nonparticipating provider or a nonparticipating facility, if such item or service would otherwise be covered under such plan or coverage if furnished by a participating provider or participating facility and if either of the criteria described in paragraph (2) applies with respect to such participant or beneficiary and item or service, the plan or coverage—
(A)shall not impose on such participant or beneficiary a cost-sharing amount for such item or service so furnished that is greater than the cost-sharing amount that would apply under such plan or coverage had such item or service been furnished by a participating provider; and
(B)shall apply the deductible or out-of-pocket maximum, if any, that would apply if such services were furnished by a participating provider or a participating facility.
(2)Criteria described
For purposes of paragraph (1), the criteria described in this paragraph, with respect to an item or service furnished to a participant or beneficiary of a group health plan or group health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer by a nonparticipating provider or a nonparticipating facility, are the following:
(A)The participant or beneficiary received through a database, provider directory, or response protocol described in subsection (a) information with respect to such item and service to be furnished and such information provided that the provider was a participating provider or facility was a participating facility, with respect to the plan for furnishing such item or service.
(B)The information was not provided, in accordance with subsection (a), to the participant or beneficiary and the participant or beneficiary requested through the response protocol described in subsection (a)(3) of the plan or coverage information on whether the provider was a participating provider or facility was a participating facility with respect to the plan for furnishing such item or service and was informed through such protocol that the provider was such a participating provider or facility was such a participating facility.
(c)Disclosure on patient protections against balance billing
For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, each group health plan and health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage shall make publicly available, post on a public website of such plan or issuer, and include on each explanation of benefits for an item or service with respect to which the requirements under section 1185e of this title applies—
(1)information in plain language on—
(A)the requirements and prohibitions applied under section 300gg–131 and 300gg–132 of title 42 (relating to prohibitions on balance billing in certain circumstances);
(B)if provided for under applicable State law, any other requirements on providers and facilities regarding the amounts such providers and facilities may, with respect to an item or service, charge a participant or beneficiary of such plan or coverage with respect to which such a provider or facility does not have a contractual relationship for furnishing such item or service under the plan or coverage after receiving payment from the plan or coverage for such item or service and any applicable cost sharing payment from such participant or beneficiary; and
(C)the requirements applied under section 1185e of this title; and
(2)information on contacting appropriate State and Federal agencies in the case that an individual believes that such a provider or facility has violated any requirement described in paragraph (1) with respect to such individual.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
29 U.S.C. § 1185i
Title 29, Labor
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110