Health Coverage, Affordability, Responsibility, and Equity Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-956
Sponsor: Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
Introduced: 2009-02-10 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Advisory bodies
Child health
Computers and information technology
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Income tax credits
Intergovernmental relations
Medicaid
Poverty and welfare assistance
Small business
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: 
Health Coverage, Affordability, Responsibility, and Equity Act of 2009 or the HealthCARE Act of 2009 - Permits a state to apply to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) for waivers of such provisions of law as may be necessary for the state to implement policies that make comprehensive, affordable health coverage available for all state residents. 

Requires the Secretary to establish a process for states to apply for a waiver to implement policies that emphasize the use of preventive services, care coordination by a personal physician, and health information technology.

Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to allow state plans for medical assistance to provide Medicaid coverage to individuals who have incomes of no more than 100% of the poverty line.

Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (SCHIP) of SSA to permit states to provide child health assistance to all targeted low-income children. 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a refundable credit for the cost of qualified health insurance for the taxpayer or qualifying family members. Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to establish a program to make advance payments to health insurance providers of credit for health insurance costs of eligible low-income individuals. 
Establishes a program under which the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall ensure that eligible individuals can enroll in private group health insurance through a purchasing pool operator in participating states. 
 
Directs the Secretary to establish standards for state-based reinsurance programs and permits the Secretary to award grants to states to cover the costs of such programs. 
Directs the Secretary to establish the National Advisory Commission on Expanded Access to Health Care to assess the effectiveness of programs designed to expand health care coverage. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-02-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Referred to House Rules
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Rules, 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: 2009-02-10
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-02-10
text: Introduced in House