Exempting certain employer-sponsored group health plans from the Affordable Care Act's Essential Health Benefits requirements

(a) Amendment to ERISA Section 715 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1185d) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal law, a group health plan sponsored by an employer and governed by this Act shall not be required to provide coverage for the Essential Health Benefits described in section 1302(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act solely by reason of such Federal requirement.. (b) Amendment to the Public Health Service Act Section 2707(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–6(a)) is amended by inserting This section shall not apply to any employer-sponsored group health plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. at the end. (c) Conforming amendments The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall revise applicable regulations to reflect the exemption established under this Act.