Healthy Americans Act

Bill: 111-hr-1321
Sponsor: Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-14]
Introduced: 2009-03-05 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Aging
Child health
Comprehensive health care
Department of Health and Human Services
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Employee benefits and pensions
Employment taxes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government trust funds
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Hospital care
Income tax credits
Income tax deductions
Income tax exclusion
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Marketing and advertising
Medicaid
Medical research
Medicare
Mental health
Poverty and welfare assistance
Prescription drugs
Research administration and funding
State and local finance
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-03-05
text: 
Healthy Americans Act - Requires each adult individual to have the opportunity to purchase a Healthy Americans Private Insurance Plan (HAPI), which is: (1) a plan offered by a state; or (2) an employer-sponsored health coverage plan. Makes individuals who are not enrolled in another specified health plan and who are not opposed to coverage for religious reasons responsible for enrolling themselves and their dependent children in a HAPI plan offered through their state of residence. Sets forth penalties for failure to enroll. 
 
Establishes standardized coverage and state options for HAPI plans. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate guidelines concerning the benefits, items, and services to be covered. Sets forth requirements for setting premiums. Requires the Secretary to establish the Healthy America Advisory Committee to provide recommendations concerning modifications to the benefits, items, and services required. 
 
Provides for the provision of health services through school-based health centers.
 
Authorizes states to establish and operate a State Choices for Long-Term Care Program. 

Requires the Secretary to establish Chronic Care Education Centers.

Requires states to establish or designate a state Health Help Agency to carry out the administration of HAPI plans and to promote prevention and wellness for residents.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to require employers and individuals to each make shared responsibility payments for HAPI plan premiums.

Sets forth requirements for health insurance issuers offering a HAPI plan.
 
Establishes the Healthy Americans Public Health Trust Fund for the payment of premium subsidies.
 
Terminates federal health benefits coverage, including coverage provided under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
 
Provides for appointment of a Comparative Effectiveness Advisory Board. 
 
Establishes a Health Care Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-03-05
text: Referred to House Oversight and Government Reform
action_date: 2009-03-05
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-03-05
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-03-05
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-03-05
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-03-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-03-05
text: Introduced in House