Health Care Costs And Insurance

Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

ENROLL Act of 2019 Expand Navigators’ Resources for Outreach, Learning, and Longevity Act of 2019 [HB-1386] [Healthcare ] [Insurance ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Funding ] [Public Health ]
Makes several changes to the navigator program for health insurance exchanges (a program through which entities receive funding to provide education and enrollment assistance). Specifically, the bill addresses certain funding decisions and regulatory actions taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). For example, the bill increases funding for navigators in federally facilitated exchanges (FFEs) beginning in FY2020. (The CMS decreased annual funding for FFE navigators for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 program years.) The bill also (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Janice Schakowsky Reported (amended) By The Committee On Energy And Commerce. H. Rept. 116-50. on 05/03/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Health Insurance Tax Relief Act of 2019 [HB-1398] [Healthcare ] [Insurance ] [Taxes ]
Delays reimposition of the annual fee on health insurers until 2022. Under current law, the annual fee for a health insurer is calculated based on the insurer's share of total premiums from the preceding year. The fee is suspended for 2019 (i.e., there is no fee based on premiums from 2018); reimposition is scheduled for 2020.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Mike Johnson Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 02/28/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act [HB-1379] [Healthcare ] [Insurance ] [Consumer Protection ] [Public Health ] [Children and Youth ] [Disabilities ]
Requires private health insurance plans to cover diagnosis and treatment services for congenital anomalies and birth defects, such as reconstructive services and prosthetics. Coverage must include services that functionally improve, repair, or restore any body part that is medically necessary for normal bodily functions or appearance, as determined by the treating physician.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Alexander Mooney Committee Consideration And Mark-up Session Held. on 09/09/2020

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act [S.560] [Healthcare ] [Insurance ] [Public Health ] [Children and Youth ] [Disabilities ]
Requires private health insurance plans to cover diagnosis and treatment services for congenital anomalies and birth defects, such as reconstructive services and prosthetics. Coverage must include services that functionally improve, repair, or restore any body part that is medically necessary for normal bodily functions or appearance, as determined by the treating physician.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Robert Casey Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Health, Education, Labor, And Pensions. on 02/26/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Responsible Additions and Increases to Sustain Employee Health Benefits Act of 2019 [HB-1366] [Healthcare ] [Taxes ] [Labor, Jobs, Employment ] [Insurance ]
Modifies the tax exclusion for distributions from health flexible spending arrangements provided to employees under a cafeteria plan to (1) increase the annual limit on employee salary reduction contributions to $5,000, with an additional $500 for each additional employee dependent above two dependents that has not been taken into account by another person for the year; (2) revise the adjustment for inflation after 2020; and (3) allow a carryforward into the next year for unused amounts in such plans.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Alexander Mooney Introduced In House on 02/26/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

REFUND Act of 2019 Recovering Excessive Funds for Unused and Needless Drugs Act of 2019 [S.551] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Pharmaceuticals ] [Healthcare ] [Budget and Spending ]
Requires drug manufacturers to issue rebates to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in relation to discarded amounts (i.e., amounts remaining after administration) of single-dose vial drugs that are covered under Medicare. Manufacturers that fail to comply are subject to civil penalties. The CMS must determine rebate amounts based on payment claims from providers. (Currently, providers may receive payment under Medicare for discarded amounts of single-dose vial drugs through the use of a specific claims modifier.)

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Rob Portman Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Finance. (text Of Measure As Introduced: Cr S1439) on 02/25/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act [S.546] [Funding ] [Public Safety ] [Disaster Relief ] [Veterans ] [Healthcare ] [Human Services ]
Funds through FY2090 the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. Additionally, the bill modifies the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF): to allow claims to be filed until October 2089, to require VCF policies and procedures to be reassessed at least once every five years (currently, at least once annually), to require claimants to be paid for the amount by which a claim was reduced on the basis of insufficient funding, to remove the cap on noneconomic damages in certain circumstances, and to adjust the annual limit on economic loss compensation (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Robert Casey Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On The Judiciary. on 02/25/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act [HB-1327] [Healthcare ] [Public Health ] [Disaster Relief ] [Funding ] [Grants ] [Inflation ] [Budget and Spending ] [Law Enforcement ] [National Security ]
(Sec. 2) funds through FY2092 the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. Additionally, the bill modifies the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF): to allow claims to be filed until October 2090, to require VCF policies and procedures to be reassessed at least once every five years (currently, at least once annually), to require claimants to be paid for the amount by which a claim was reduced on the basis of insufficient funding, to remove the cap on noneconomic damages in certain circumstances, and to periodically adjust the annual limit on (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Alexander Mooney Became Public Law No: 116-34. (txt | Pdf) on 07/29/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Medicaid Reentry Act [HB-1329] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Crime ] [Criminal Justice ] [Public Health ] [Law Enforcement ]
Allows Medicaid payment for medical services furnished to an incarcerated individual during the 30-day period preceding the individual's release.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Alcee Hastings Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 02/26/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Territories Health Equity Act of 2019 [HB-1354] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Insurance ] [Public Health ]
Alters provisions under Medicaid, Medicare, and Medicare Advantage relating to U.S. territories, and generally modifies and establishes programs to expand health insurance coverage for residents. Among other things, the bill eliminates Medicaid funding limitations for U.S. territories beginning in FY2020; repeals provisions that exclude residents of Puerto Rico from a certain automatic enrollment process for Medicare medical services; establishes minimum criteria for certain elements used in Medicare Advantage payment calculations for areas within (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Barbara Lee Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 02/26/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Medicare Buy-In and Health Care Stabilization Act of 2019 [HB-1346] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Pharmaceuticals ] [Insurance ] [Public Health ]
Establishes a Medicare buy-in option for certain qualifying individuals and makes a series of other changes relating to health care costs. Specifically, the bill allows individuals aged 50 to 64 to enroll in Medicare if such individuals would otherwise qualify for Medicare at the age of 65. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must determine enrollment periods and set premiums for the buy-in option established under the bill, in accordance with specified requirements. The CMS must also award grants to states and nonprofit organizations (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Sean Maloney Subcommittee Hearings Held. on 12/10/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Restoring the Partnership for County Health Care Costs Act of 2019 [HB-1345] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Criminal Justice ] [Human Services ] [Public Health ] [Children and Youth ]
Allows an otherwise eligible individual who is in custody pending disposition of charges (i.e., pretrial detainees) to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicare, Medicaid, or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) benefits. Any SSI benefits payable to such an individual (1) must be withheld until the individual is no longer in custody; and (2) if the individual dies while in custody, shall be paid to the individual's estate.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Raul Grijalva Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 02/26/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

To address the high costs of health care services, prescription drugs, and health insurance coverage in the United States, and for other purposes. [HB-1332] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Pharmaceuticals ] [Insurance ] [Taxes ] [Public Health ]
Addresses the health care system, including Medicare, Medicaid, the private health insurance market, and the prescription drug approval process. The bill also revises tax provisions related to certain health care costs and establishes requirements for lawsuits involving health care provided, at least in part, through a federal program or with federal funds.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Bruce Westerman Referred To The Subcommittee On Military Personnel. on 02/26/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Mental Health Care for Children Inhumanely Separated from Parents by the Federal Government Act of 2019 [HB-1336] [Healthcare ] [Mental Health ] [Human Services ] [Children and Youth ] [Immigration ] [Public Health ]
Requires the federal government to ensure that children who are separated from their parents at the border by the Department of Homeland Security receive mental health services for free, including a mental health assessment within 24 hours of such separation and annually thereafter, as needed. Children who have already been separated (since April 6, 2018) must receive a mental health assessment within 24 hours after enactment of this bill.

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Grace Napolitano Referred To The Subcommittee On Immigration And Citizenship. on 03/25/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Protecting Married Seniors from Impoverishment Act [HB-1343] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Senior Citizens ] [Human Services ]
Makes permanent certain provisions regarding Medicaid eligibility that protect against spousal impoverishment for recipients of home and community-based services. Under current law, these provisions expire on March 31, 2019.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Adam Schiff Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 02/26/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Rural Hospital Frontier Fairness Act [HB-1323] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Pharmaceuticals ]
Alters the Medicare prospective payment system for inpatient hospital services furnished at sole community hospitals (i.e., rural hospitals or hospitals that are the sole source of inpatient care in a certain geographic area). Specifically, the bill applies a minimum area wage adjustment to payments to sole community hospitals that are located up to 75 miles from the closest frontier (i.e., predominantly rural) state. Currently, the minimum area wage adjustment applies only to hospitals in frontier states. The bill also allows such sole community (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Collin Peterson Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 02/26/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Responsible Additions and Increases to Sustain Employee Health Benefits Act of 2019 [S.503] [Healthcare ] [Taxes ] [Labor, Jobs, Employment ] [Insurance ]
Modifies the tax exclusion for distributions from health flexible spending arrangements provided to employees under a cafeteria plan to (1) increase the annual limit on employee salary reduction contributions to $5,000, with an additional $500 for each additional employee dependent above two dependents that has not been taken into account by another person for the year; (2) revise the adjustment for inflation after 2019; and (3) allow a carryforward into the next year for unused amounts in such plans.

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Finance. on 02/14/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

State Public Option Act [S.489] [Healthcare ] [Medicare and Medicaid ] [Reproductive Rights / Abortion ] [Public Health ]
Allows residents who are not already eligible for Medicaid and not concurrently enrolled in other health insurance coverage to buy into a state Medicaid plan beginning January 1, 2020, at the option of the state. State Medicaid programs may set premiums and cost-sharing requirements for such coverage in accordance with specified limitations. The bill also (1) provides the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to every state that expands Medicaid coverage for individuals who are newly eligible under the Patient Protection and Affordable (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Jack Reed Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Finance. on 02/14/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Living Donor Protection Act of 2019 [S.511] [Healthcare ] [Insurance ] [Public Health ] [Human Services ]
Prohibits discrimination based on an individual's status as a living organ donor in the offering, issuance, cancellation, coverage, price, or any other condition of a life-insurance policy, disability-insurance policy, or long-term-care insurance policy. The bill also specifically includes recovery from organ-donation surgery as a serious health condition that entitles covered private-sector and federal civil-service employees to medical leave. The Department of Health and Human Services must update public-service announcements, websites, and other (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Sen. Robert Casey Read Twice And Referred To The Committee On Health, Education, Labor, And Pensions. on 02/14/2019

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Federal
US Congress 116th Congress

Living Donor Protection Act of 2019 [HB-1224] [Healthcare ] [Insurance ] [Human Services ] [Public Health ]
Prohibits discrimination based on an individual's status as a living organ donor in the offering, issuance, cancellation, coverage, price, or any other condition of a life-insurance policy, disability-insurance policy, or long-term-care insurance policy. The bill also specifically includes recovery from organ-donation surgery as a serious health condition that entitles covered private-sector and federal civil-service employees to medical leave. The Department of Health and Human Services must update public-service announcements, websites, and other (continued...)

  

Sponsored by: Rep. Sean Maloney Referred To The Subcommittee On Health. on 02/15/2019

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