I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2947
To establish a demonstration grant program to assist States in providing 
subsidies for group health insurance premiums for low-income, Medicaid-
eligible individuals. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 25, 2003
Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself, Mr. CROWLEY, Ms. NORTON, Ms. LEE, Mr. LAN-
TOS, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. MURTHA, and Mr. FROST) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce 
A BILL 
To establish a demonstration grant program to assist States 
in providing subsidies for group health insurance pre-
miums for low-income, Medicaid-eligible individuals.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Making Health Care 
Available for Low-Income Workers Act of 2003’’.
SEC. 2. WORKING POOR HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM 
SUBSIDY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall provide grants to States for dem-
onstration programs under which payments are made to 
reduce the premiums for health benefits coverage under 
group health plans for individuals—
(1) who are eligible for benefits under a State’s 
medicaid program (or, at the option of a State, who 
would be so eligible but for their eligibility or cov-
erage under a group health plan); and 
(2) whose income does not exceed 185 percent 
of the income official poverty line (as defined by the 
Office of Management and Budget, and revised an-
nually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Om-
nibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981) applicable 
to a family of the size involved. 
(b) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—The amount of a grant to 
a State under this section may not exceed 50 percent of 
the premiums for health benefits coverage under a group 
health plan for which coverage is provided under the dem-
onstration program for eligible low-income workers de-
scribed in subsection (a). Of the amount so provided—
(1) the amount shall first be used to reduce the 
employee share (if any) of any premiums; and
(2) the remainder (if any) shall be used to re-
duce the employer’s cost of providing the coverage. 
(c) PREFERENCE.—In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary shall provide preference for States that have in-
creased the income eligibility threshold under the medicaid 
program. 
(d) APPLICATIONS, ETC.—No grant shall be made to 
a State under this section unless the Secretary has ap-
proved an application by the State that meets such condi-
tions as the Secretary establishes. 
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after funding 
is first made available to States under this section, the 
Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the success 
of such grants under this section and shall include in the 
report such recommendations as the Secretary deems ap-
propriate. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for grants under this 
section $30,000,000 for the 5-fiscal-year period beginning 
with fiscal year 2004. Amounts appropriated under this 
subsection shall be available for obligation without fiscal 
year limitation through the end of such period. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section: 
(1) GROUP HEALTH PLAN.—The term ‘‘group 
health plan’’ has the meaning given such term in
section 2791(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 300gg–91(a)(1)). 
(2) MEDICAID PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘medicaid 
program’’ means a State plan established under title 
XIX of the Social Security Act. 
(3) PREMIUM.—The term ‘‘premium’’ includes, 
with respect to a group health plan, the cost of pro-
viding coverage under the plan, including the cost to 
employees of such coverage. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean-
ing given such term for purposes of the medicaid 
program.
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