rate means, with respect to a group health plan or group or individual health insurance coverage and an item or service furnished by a provider that is a participating provider with respect to such plan or coverage and item or service, the contracted rate (reflected as a dollar amount) in effect between such plan or coverage and such provider for such item or service, regardless of whether such rate is calculated based on a set amount, a fee schedule, or an amount derived from another amount, or a formula, or other method. . (3) ERISA (A) In general Section 719 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1185h ) is amended to read as follows: 719. Transparency in coverage (a) Cost-Sharing transparency (1) In general For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, a group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage shall permit a participant or beneficiary to learn the amount of cost-sharing (including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance) under the participant or beneficiary’s plan or coverage that the participant or beneficiary would be responsible for paying with respect to the furnishing of a specific item or service by a provider in a timely manner upon the request of the participant or beneficiary. At a minimum, such information shall include the information specified in paragraph (2) and shall be made available to such participant or beneficiary through a self-service tool that meets the requirements of paragraph (3) or, at the option of such participant or beneficiary, through a paper disclosure or phone or other electronic disclosure (as selected by such participant or beneficiary and provided at no cost to such participant or beneficiary) that meets such requirements as the Secretary may specify. (2) Specified information For purposes of paragraph (1), the information specified in this paragraph is, with respect to an item or service for which benefits are available under a group health plan or group health insurance coverage