HEALTH COVERAGE AVAILABILITY STUDIES.

SEC. 191. HEALTH COVERAGE AVAILABILITY STUDIES. (a) Studies.— (1) Study on effectiveness of reforms.— The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide for a study on the effectiveness of the provisions of this title and the various State laws, in ensuring the availability of reasonably priced health coverage to employers purchasing group coverage and individuals purchasing coverage on a non-group basis. (2) Study on access and choice.— The Secretary also shall provide for a study on— (A) the extent to which patients have direct access to, and choice of, health care providers, including specialty providers, within a network plan, as well as the opportunity to utilize providers outside of the network plan, under the various types of coverage offered under the provisions of this title; and (B) the cost and cost-effectiveness to health insurance issuers of providing access to out-of-network providers, and the potential impact of providing such access on the cost 110 STAT. 1988and quality of health insurance coverage offered under provisions of this title. (3) Consultation.— The studies under this subsection shall be conducted in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, representatives of State officials, consumers, and other representatives of individuals and entities that have expertise in health insurance and employee benefits. (b) Reports.— Not later than January 1, 2000, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on each of the studies under subsection (a).