|
Legislation Details
|
|
'To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.
'
|
|
: 111
State: Federal
Chamber: House
Bill Number: H.R. 3962
Sponsor:
Rep. John Dingell (D-MI)
Last Sponsor Date: Oct. 29, 2009
|
|
|
|
Official Title as Introduced: 'To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.
'
|
|
| Summary |
Sponsors |
Activity |
Amendments |
Committees |
This summary has been edited for length
10/29/2009--Introduced.
Affordable Health Care for America Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish: (1) a temporary national high-risk pool program to provide health benefits to certain uninsured individuals who have a medical condition; and (2) a temporary reinsurance program to assist participating employment-based plans with the cost of providing health benefits to retirees and their beneficiaries.
Amends the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code to set forth provisions governing health insurance plans and issuers, including to: (1) provide for rebates to enrollees based on a plan's medical loss ratio (a ratio of medical expenses paid to premiums received); (2) prohibit rescission of health insurance coverage without clear and convincing evidence of fraud; (3) require the option of extending coverage for children under 27 years of age; (4) limit preexisting condition exclusions; and (5) prohibit aggregate dollar lifetime limits on benefits.
Extends COBRA coverage (health insurance continuation benefits) until an individual becomes eligible for health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Exchange under this Act.
Provides for grandfathered health insurance coverage.
Establishes standards for qualified health benefits plans, including standards to: (1) prohibit any preexisting condition exclusions; (2) require guaranteed availability and renewability of health insurance coverage; (3) limit premium variances, except for reasons of age, area, or family enrollment; (4) prohibit discrimination based on health status factors; and (5) require parity for mental health benefits.
Requires qualified health benefits plans to provide coverage that meets the standards for the essential benefits package. Prohibits an essential benefits package from imposing any annual or lifetime limits on coverage. Lists required covered services, including hospitalization, prescription drugs, mental health services, maternity care, and children's oral health, vision, and hearing services. Prohibits cost-sharing for preventive items and services. Limits annual cost-sharing to $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for a family. Prohibits abortion services from being required under an essential benefits package or under a qualified health benefits plan.
Establishes the Health Choices Administration as an independent agency to be headed by a Health Choices Commissioner. Establishes the Health Insurance Exchange within the Administration to facilitate access of individuals and employers to a variety of choices of affordable, quality health insurance coverage, including a public health insurance option. Requires the Commissioner to: (1) contract with entities to offer health benefit plans through the Exchange to eligible individuals; (2) coordinate the distribution of affordability premium and cost-sharing credits; and (3) establish a risk-pooling mechanism for Exchange-participating health plans.
Authorizes state-based Health Insurance Exchanges to operate in a state or group of states instead of the Health Insurance Exchange, with approval of the Commissioner.
Requires the Commissioner to establish a Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan program (CO-OP program) under which the Commissioner may make grants and loans for the establishment and initial operation of not-for-profit, member-run, health insurance cooperatives that provide insurance through the Health Insurance Exchange or a state-based Health Insurance Exchange.
Requires the HHS Secretary to offer an Exchange-participating health benefits plan. Sets forth provisions regarding the operation of the Public Health Insurance Option.
Provides for an affordability premium credit and an affordability cost-sharing credit for low-income individuals participating in the Exchange.
Requires employers to offer health benefits ...
|
| Sponsor/Co-sponsor(s) 7 |
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) |
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) |
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) |
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) |
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Rep. Fortney Stark (D-CA) |
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) |
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Rep. George Miller (D-CA) |
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Referred to House Budget
|
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Referred to House Education and Labor
|
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Referred to House Judiciary
|
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Referred to House Energy and Commerce
|
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Referred to House Rules
|
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform, the Budget, Rules, Natural Resources, and the Judiciary, 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.
|
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Referred to House Ways and Means
|
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform
|
| Oct. 29, 2009 |
Referred to House Natural Resources
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 903. (consideration: CR H12623-12968)
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3962 and H.R. 3961 with 4 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
DEBATE - The House proceeded with four hours of debate on H.R. 3962.
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 903, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Stupak amendment.
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
H.AMDT.509
Amendment (A001) offered by Mr. Stupak.
An amendment printed in Part C of House Report 111-330 to codify the Hyde Amendment in H.R. 3962. The amendment prohibits federal funds for abortion services in the public option. It also prohibits individuals who receive affordability credits from purchasing a plan that provides elective abortions. However, it allows individuals, both who receive affordability credits and who do not, to separately purchase with their own funds plans that cover |
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Stupak amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Stupak demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 903, the House proceeded with 1 hour of debate on the Boehner amendment in the nature of a substitute.
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
H.AMDT.510
Amendment (A002) in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Boehner.
An amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in Part D of House Report 111-330 to create Universal Access Programs that expand and reform high-risk pools and reinsurance programs to guarantee that all Americans, regardless of pre-existing conditions or past illnesses, have access to affordable care while lowering costs for all Americans. It prevents insurers from unjustly canceling a policy or instituting an |
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Boehner amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Camp (MI) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
H.AMDT.509
On agreeing to the Stupak amendment (A001) Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 240 - 194, 1 Present (Roll no. 884).
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
H.AMDT.510
On agreeing to the Boehner amendment (A002) Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 176 - 258 (Roll no. 885).
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cantor motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to insert a new title with the heading "Seniors Protection and Medicare Regional Payment Equity Fund".
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
Mr. Cantor moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce.
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
On ordering the previous question Agreed to by voice vote.
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 187 - 247 (Roll no. 886).
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
|
| Nov. 07, 2009 |
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 220 - 215 (Roll no. 887). (text: CR H12623-12834)
|
| Nov. 10, 2009 |
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
|
| Nov. 16, 2009 |
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 210.
|
| Referral, In Committee |
Budget |
| Referral, In Committee |
Energy and Commerce |
| Referral, In Committee |
Judiciary |
| Referral, In Committee |
Rules |
| Referral, In Committee |
Ways and Means |
|
|
|
View bill text on Thomas
|
| |
|
