On Tuesday afternoon, the Senate Health, Education Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee Democrats as well as their House counterparts released the details and language for their respective health care bills.
The HELP Committee bill details began to leak last week but yesterday’s release was the most detailed information to date. The bill avoids three major issues: details on a public insurance plan, requirements for employers to pay for employee premiums, and proposals on generic biologics. However, the outline of the bill contains a variety of options on the controversial points, meant to stimulate discussion on the most contentious aspects of the bill. In addition to the details discussed in the June 8th post, the legislation includes:
- The creation of navigators, or associations and membership organizations that assist individuals and businesses in the use of the Gateways. This is similar to language used in the SHOP Act. (Title I, Subtitle B)
- Limitations on health status ratings within a geographic region based only on family composition, the value of the benefits package, and age (no more than 2:1). (Title I, Subtitle A)
- The creation of Affordable Health Benefit Gateways in each state, or insurance exchanges at the state level. If a state fails to establish a Gateway, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to create an exchange in that state. States can form regional Gateways in multiple states. (Title 1, Subtitle B)
- Expansion of Medicaid eligibility based on the recommendations of the Senate Finance Committee. (Title I, Subtitle B)
- Tax credits for small business under 25 or fewer employees, and whose average wages are under $40,000 per year. (Title I, Subtitle C)
- A variety of wellness encouragement programs, such as requiring some restaurants to post caloric count of foods and expansion of loan forgiveness programs for medical specialists. (Title III)
The Chairs of the three relevant House committees outlined the basics of their reform legislation in a message to House Democrats and announced the bill would be named for Rep. John Dingell (D-MI). The bill would include many aspects of the HELP bill and includes a “pay or play” employer mandate and a public insurance plan. The outline lacked any details on completely financing the reforms. Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) reiterated in his comments their goal of having the bill on the floor by July.
Quick Hits
The Joint Committee on Taxation sends a letter to the Senate Finance Committee outlining potential savings based on some suggested health care proposals… Tri-Caucus (the Congressional Black, Hispanic, and Asian Pacific American Caucuses) unveils its list via legislation of required health care components… Ezra Klein breaks down the various types of public plan… The Obama Administration PAYGO plan and health care.
