---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300gg–138"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300gg–138"
heading: "Continuity of care"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300gg-138"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XXV — Requirements Relating to Health Insurance Coverage"
  - "Part E — Health Care Provider Requirements"
---

# §300gg–138. Continuity of care


A [health care provider](/usc/42/300aa–33.md?p=1) or health care facility shall, in the case of an individual furnished items and [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) by such [provider](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8) or facility for which coverage is provided under a [group health plan](/usc/42/300bb–8.md?p=1) or group or [individual health insurance coverage](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=b-5) pursuant to [section 300gg–113 of this title](/usc/42/300gg–113.md), [section 9818 of title 26](/usc/26/9818.md), or [section 1185g of title 29](/usc/29/1185g.md)—

- (1) accept payment from such plan or such issuer (as applicable) (and cost-sharing from such individual, if applicable, in accordance with subsection (a)(2)(C) of such [section 300gg–113 of this title](/usc/42/300gg–113.md), [9818](/usc/26/9818.md) of title 26, or [1185g](/usc/29/1185g.md) of title 29) for such items and [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) as payment in full for such items and [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a); and
- (2) continue to adhere to all policies, procedures, and quality standards imposed by such plan or issuer with respect to such individual and such items and [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) in the same manner as if such termination had not occurred.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVII, § 2799B–8, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. BB, title I, § 113(d), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2873.)