AmeriCare Health Care Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-193
Sponsor: Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13]
Introduced: 2009-01-06 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Child health
Comprehensive health care
Consumer affairs
Department of Health and Human Services
Disability and health-based discrimination
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Employee benefits and pensions
Family planning and birth control
Government trust funds
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
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Insurance industry and regulation
Medicaid
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Mental health
Poverty and welfare assistance
Prescription drugs
Sex and reproductive health
Small business
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: 
AmeriCare Health Care Act of 2009 - Adds a new title XXII to the Social Security Act (SSA) entitled &quot;AmeriCare Health Benefits.&quot; Makes all U.S. residents eligible for AmeriCare benefits, including prescription drugs and biologicals. Requires the development of an AmeriCare enrollment mechanism that includes automatic enrollment at birth and the issuance of AmeriCare cards for identification and claims processing purposes.

Provides that an individual may elect not to be enrolled for benefits under AmeriCare if the individual has health benefits coverage under a group health plan at least equivalent to AmeriCare coverage.

Provides the same benefits under AmeriCare as are provided under parts A (Hospital Insurance) and B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of SSA title XVIII (Medicare).

Provides additional AmeriCare coverage to children under age 24, pregnant women, and low-income individuals. 

Establishes the AmeriCare Trust Fund.

Requires the modification of Medicaid (SSA title XIX), SCHIP (SSA title XXI [State Children's Health Insurance Program]), and other federal health programs to avoid their duplication of AmeriCare coverage. 

Provides for the regulation of AmeriCare supplemental policies.

Establishes the general obligations for individuals and employers for the cost of health insurance coverage provided under this Act. 

Provides for additional premium subsidies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Labor, 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: 2009-01-06
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E22-23)
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Introduced in House