Small Business Health Relief Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-2676
Sponsor: Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2011-07-27 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Employee benefits and pensions
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Small business
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2011-07-27
text: 
Small Business Health Relief Act of 2011 - Repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), as added by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), that: (1) impose fines on large employers (employers with more than 50 full-time employees) who fail to offer their full-time employees the opportunity to enroll in minimum essential health insurance coverage; and (2) require such large employers to file a report with the Secretary of the Treasury on health insurance coverage provided to their full-time employees.
 
Repeals provision of PPACA that: (1) set limits on the annual deductible on health plans offered in the small group market, (2) allow catastrophic plans to be offered in the individual market to individuals under the age of 30, and (3) impose an annual fee on health insurance entities.
 
Deems high deductible health plans to meet essential health benefits coverage requirements if the enrollee has established a health savings account.
 
Amends the Public Health Service Act, as amended by PPACA, to repeal a provision that allows a premium rate variance by age in the individual or small group market.
 
Repeals restrictions on payments for medications from health savings accounts, medical savings accounts, and health flexible spending arrangements to prescription drugs or insulin.
 
Repeals provisions limiting annual salary reduction contributions by an employee to a health flexible spending arrangement under a cafeteria plan to $2,500.
 
Allows a health plan to maintain its status as a grandfathered health plan regardless of any modification to the cost-sharing levels, employer contribution rates, or covered benefits. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to promulgate regulations to clarify the application of such provision. Makes this provision effective as if included in PPACA. Voids any regulations promulgated related to such provisions before enactment of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2011-08-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2011-07-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2011-07-27
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: 2011-07-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-07-27
text: Introduced in House