in a manner that is affordable and coverage a 
broad type of services. 
‘‘(F) To monitor coverage provided under 
the program. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR AD-
MINISTRATIVE PURPOSES.—An eligible public health 
authority may use not more than 5 percent of the 
funds provided to it under this title for administra-
tive purposes. 
‘‘(e) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—A Bridges program 
of an eligible public health authority shall meet the fol-
lowing requirements: 
‘‘(1) SLIDING SCALE ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The program shall 
provide assistance with premium payments on a 
sliding scale that takes into account— 
‘‘(i) the financial condition (and pre-
vious financial condition) of the individual 
involved; 
‘‘(ii) the wage structure and com-
pensation scale for similar individuals with-
in the area served by the program; and 
‘‘(iii) the amount of disposable income 
remaining for that individual based on 
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their fixed costs and discretionary spend-
ing. 
‘‘(2) GUIDELINES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The authority shall 
establish and publish guidelines— 
‘‘(i) for the type and level of indi-
vidual support provided based on different 
income levels, including the allocation of 
premium responsibility between the author-
ity, the individual, and an employer (or 
former employer); and 
‘‘(ii) for verification and validation by 
the authority of individual applicants. 
‘‘(B) 
TREATMENT
OF
ASSETS.—Such 
guidelines— 
‘‘(i) shall not take into account the 
value of the homestead or other non-liquid 
assets of the individual; and 
‘‘(ii) shall be designed to result in a 
level of assistance for an individual nec-
essary to cover the cost of maintaining 
adequate health benefits coverage for the 
individual and the individual’s family at a 
level that preceded the adverse con-
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sequences of the economic dislocation for 
the area involved. 
‘‘(3) ASSIGNMENT TO INSURERS; NEGOTIATION 
AUTHORITY.—An eligible public health authority 
may aggregate and assign individuals making appli-
cation to the authority for assistance under this title 
to various insurers and may negotiate on behalf of 
the authority and the Federal government for health 
insurance opportunities that improve the range of 
coverage and plans or result in a more reasonable 
premium or a greater mix of covered services and 
coverage on behalf of the enrolled members. 
‘‘SEC. 2902. FUNDING. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated, beginning with fiscal 
year 2007, such sums as may be necessary to provide for 
funding to eligible public health authorities under section 
2901. 
‘‘(b) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Of the amounts appro-
priated under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
provide for the distribution of funds, among authori-
ties with applications approved under section 2901, 
based upon a formula that, subject to paragraph (2), 
takes into account— 
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‘‘(A) the number of individuals (and fami-
lies) for which assistance will be provided by 
each authority; 
‘‘(B) the income levels for such families; 
and 
‘‘(C) the cost of health benefits coverage 
(for which such assistance will be provided) in 
the area involved. 
‘‘(2) OVERHEAD
ALLOTMENT.—Of the funds 
made available under this title to eligible public 
health authorities, there shall be made available to 
each authority (before the application of the formula 
under paragraph (1)) an amount (specified by the 
Secretary) that would allow for the immediate estab-
lishment of the administrative framework in order to 
implement a Bridges program in the area served by 
such authority. 
‘‘(c) SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING.—The funds provided 
by this title are in addition to, and shall not in any manner 
diminish, the current level of financial assistance and sup-
port to any programs that are provided for under any 
other appropriation providing assistance to hospitals and 
providers, and shall not affect benefits provided to busi-
nesses or individual workers under any unemployment 
program or otherwise. Funding under such programs shall 
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not be diminished as a result of assistance provided under 
this title. 
‘‘SEC. 2903. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘For purposes of this title: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘eligible public health authority’ 
means a public agency that— 
‘‘(A) is created pursuant to State law 
(which may be through an intergovernmental 
compact authorized under such law); 
‘‘(B) is comprised of two or more units of 
government; 
‘‘(C) has a catchment area that includes a 
population of at least 125,000 individuals; and 
‘‘(D) has a charter that includes, as a 
principal purpose, the provision of assistance to 
local, county, and State units of government or 
employers, employees and health insurance or-
ganizations or security pools regulated by State 
government. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘State’ includes the District of 
Columbia.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 2(f) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 201(f)) is amended by striking ‘‘or 
1633(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘1633(1), and 2903(2)’’. 
Æ 
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