IB 

Union Calendar No. 28 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1549 

[Report No. 113–45] 

To amend Public Law 111–148 to transfer fiscal year 2013 through fiscal 

year 2016 funds from the Prevention and Public Health Fund to carry 

out the temporary high risk health insurance pool program for individuals 

with preexisting conditions, and to extend access to such program to 

such individuals who have had creditable coverage during the 6 months 

prior to application for coverage through such program. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 15, 2013 

Mr. PITTS (for himself, Mr. BURGESS, and Mrs. WAGNER) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

APRIL 19, 2013 

Additional sponsors: Mr. HARPER, Mr. MCKINLEY, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. 

LANCE, Mr. WHITFIELD, Mrs. ELLMERS, Mr. WALDEN, Mr. CASSIDY, 

Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mr. LONG, Mr. TERRY, Mr. HALL, Mr. LATTA, 

and Mr. SESSIONS

APRIL 19, 2013 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 


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•HR 1549 RH

A BILL 

To amend Public Law 111–148 to transfer fiscal year 2013 

through fiscal year 2016 funds from the Prevention and 

Public Health Fund to carry out the temporary high 

risk health insurance pool program for individuals with 

preexisting conditions, and to extend access to such program to such individuals who have had creditable coverage during the 6 months prior to application for coverage through such program. 


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•HR 1549 RH

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Helping Sick Ameri5 cans Now Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PRIORITIZING FUNDING FOR SICK AMERICANS. 

7 Section 4002(c) of Public Law 111–148 (42 U.S.C. 

8 300u–11(c)) is amended by adding at the end the fol9 lowing: ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of this sec10 tion, the Secretary shall transfer amounts that are in the 

11 Fund that are attributable to fiscal year 2013 that are 

12 not otherwise obligated as of the date of the enactment 

13 of this sentence and funds that would otherwise be made 

14 available to the Fund for fiscal year 2014, fiscal year 

15 2015, and fiscal year 2016 to the account within the De16 partment of Health and Human Services that provides for 

17 funding to carry out the temporary high risk health insur18 ance pool program under section 1101 and such funds 

19 shall become available for obligation under such section 

20 on such date of enactment and remain so available 

21 through December 31, 2013.’’. 

22 SEC. 3. IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR SICK 

23 AMERICANS. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1101(d) of Public Law 

25 111–148 (42 U.S.C. 18001(d)) is amended— 


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1 (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end 

2 ‘‘and’’; 

3 (2) by striking paragraph (2); and 

4 (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para5 graph (2). 

6 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

7 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to individuals ap8 plying for coverage through the high risk insurance pool 

9 program on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

10 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

11 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Helping Sick Americans 

12 Now Act’’. 

13 SEC. 2. PRIORITIZING FUNDING FOR SICK AMERICANS. 

14 Section 4002(c) of Public Law 111–148 (42 U.S.C. 

15 300u–11(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

16 ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the 

17 Secretary shall transfer amounts that are in the Fund that 

18 are attributable to fiscal year 2013 that are not otherwise 

19 obligated as of the date of the enactment of this sentence 

20 and funds that would otherwise be made available to the 

21 Fund for fiscal year 2014, fiscal year 2015, and fiscal year 

22 2016 to the account within the Department of Health and 

23 Human Services that provides for funding to carry out the 

24 temporary high risk health insurance pool program under 

25 section 1101 and such funds shall become available for obliVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:34 Apr 19, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H1549.RH H1549

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1 gation under such section on such date of enactment and 

2 remain so available through December 31, 2013.’’. 

3 SEC. 3. IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR SICK 

4 AMERICANS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1101(d) of Public Law 

6 111–148 (42 U.S.C. 18001(d)) is amended— 

7 (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end 

8 ‘‘and’’; 

9 (2) by striking paragraph (2); and 

10 (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as para11 graph (2). 

12 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub13 section (a) shall apply with respect to individuals applying 

14 for coverage through the high risk insurance pool program 

15 on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

16 SEC. 4. ENSURING AN ORDERLY REOPENING OF THE PRO17 GRAM FOR SICK AMERICANS. 

18 Section 1101(b) of Public Law 111–148 (42 U.S.C. 

19 18001(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following 

20 new paragraph: 

21 ‘‘(4) ORDERLY REOPENING OF PROGRAM.—The 

22 Secretary shall administer this section in accordance 

23 with the regulations under part 152 of title 45, Code 

24 of Federal Regulations, as in effect as of April 16, 


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1 2013, except as is necessary to reflect the amendments 

2 made by the Helping Sick Americans Now Act.’’. 


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Union Calendar No. 28 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1549 

[Report No. 113–45] 

A BILL 

To amend Public Law 111–148 to transfer fiscal 

for coverage through such program. erage during the 6 months prior to application to such individuals who have had creditable covconditions, and to extend access to such program pool program for individuals with preexisting out the temporary high risk health insurance the Prevention and Public Health Fund to carry year 2013 through fiscal year 2016 funds from 

APRIL 19, 2013 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


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