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HR3277FEDERALpassed_chamber

Passed

Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act requires health insurance plans to cover medically necessary services for congenital anomalies

Original title: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act

May 8, 2025

healthcare insurance congenital anomalies federal legislation

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Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently passed_chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Signed.

Last action

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.May 8, 2025

Lead sponsor

Tim Walberg

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This bill addresses a significant coverage gap for families by requiring insurers to treat congenital anomalies as essential health benefits, potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs for reconstructive surgeries and related dental care.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Individuals born with congenital anomalies

These individuals would gain mandated insurance coverage for reconstructive services and procedures previously excluded by many plans.

Health insurance providers

Insurers would be required to expand their coverage policies to include services for congenital anomalies as a standard benefit.

What changed

Current stage: passed_chamber.

What's next

Signed.

Summary

The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act requires all group and individual health insurance plans to provide coverage for services and procedures related to congenital anomalies or birth defects. This mandate ensures that patients born with physical abnormalities receive necessary reconstructive treatments, including dental and orthodontic services, that are often currently excluded from coverage.

Why It Matters

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this bill change for my health insurance?

If passed, it would require your health insurance plan to cover services and procedures related to congenital anomalies, which may currently be excluded.

Does this include dental work?

Yes, the bill specifically includes coverage for dental and orthodontic services if they are to treat a .

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Lobbying Activity

POLSINELLI PC

on behalf of AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEONS

View filing →

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Expansion of Essential Health Benefits

The bill represents a shift toward classifying reconstructive care for congenital anomalies as a mandatory essential health benefit.

Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act

Connected Entities

organizationCommittee on Energy and Commerce“House committee assigned to review the bill.”Map →

organizationCommittee on Ways and Means“House committee assigned to review the bill.”Map →

organizationCommittee on Education and Workforce“House committee assigned to review the bill.”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level

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