Federal Employees Dental and Vision Benefits Enhancement Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-5295
Sponsor: Rep. Murphy, Tim [R-PA-18]
Introduced: 2004-10-08 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Administrative remedies
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer complaints
Consumer education
Cost accounting
Cost effectiveness
Dental care
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Eye care
Eyeglasses
Families
Federal employees
Federal preemption
Finance and Financial Sector
Government contractors
Government employees' health insurance
Government trust funds
Grievance procedures
Health
Health insurance continuation
Hearing
Hearing aids
Higher education
Insurance companies
Insurance premiums
Judicial review
Law
Medical economics
Office of Personnel Management
Productivity in government
Recruiting of employees
Retiree health benefits
Students
Survivors' benefits
United States Postal Service

Summary:
action_date: 2004-10-08
text: 
Federal Employees Dental and Vision Benefits Enhancement Act of 2004 - Sets forth provisions for the establishment of programs through which current and retired Federal employees and their family members and dependents may obtain enhanced dental and vision benefits to supplement those available under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB).
 
Urges Congress to evaluate such supplemental plans to determine the options for, and feasibility of, providing an employer contribution.
 
Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to report to Congress on options: (1) for extending health insurance coverage under FEHB to unmarried dependent college students under age 25; and (2) for extending hearing benefits to Federal employees and annuitants, their relatives, and other appropriate classes of individuals.

action_date: 2004-10-08
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Federal Employees Dental and Vision Benefits Enhancement Act of 2004 - Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish and administer programs through which current and retired Federal employees and their family members and dependents may obtain enhanced dental and vision benefits to supplement those available under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB).
 
Authorizes OPM to prescribe reasonable minimum standards for enhanced dental and vision benefits. Allows a full range of dental benefits, including diagnostic, preventive, emergency care, restorative, oral and maxillofacial surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and orthodontics. Allows for diagnostic and preventive vision benefits, including eyewear.
 
Requires Federal employees to be responsible for 100 percent of the premiums for dental and vision coverage offered under this Act. Imposes requirements for studies, reports, and audits relating to the dental and vision benefit programs established under this Act. 
 
Extends the enhanced dental and vision benefits provided by this Act to employees of the U.S. Postal Service.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that Federal employee health insurance benefits should be sufficient to promote the health and productivity of such employees and to support the recruitment and retention of a highly qualified workforce. Urges Congress to evaluate such supplemental dental and vision plans to determine the options for, and feasibility of, providing an employer contribution.
 
Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to report to Congress on options: (1) for extending health insurance coverage under FEHB to unmarried dependent college students under age 25; and (2) for extending hearing benefits to Federal employees and annuitants, their relatives, and other appropriate classes of individuals.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-10-09
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2004-10-08
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2004-10-08
text: On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H9033-9036)
action_date: 2004-10-08
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H9033-9036)
action_date: 2004-10-08
text: Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H9033-9037)
action_date: 2004-10-08
text: Mr. Murphy asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
action_date: 2004-10-08
text: Committee on Government Reform discharged.
action_date: 2004-10-08
text: Committee on Government Reform discharged.
action_date: 2004-10-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.
action_date: 2004-10-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-10-08
text: Introduced in House