Helping Sick Americans Now Act

Bill: 113-hr-1549
Sponsor: Rep. Pitts, Joseph R. [R-PA-16]
Introduced: 2013-04-15 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Appropriations
Comprehensive health care
Government trust funds
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health programs administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: 
Helping Sick Americans Now Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to transfer from the Prevention and Public Health Fund any unobligated funds which are attributable to FY2013 and any funds that would otherwise be made available to the Fund for FY2014-FY2016 to a Department of Health and Human Services account to carry out the temporary high risk health insurance pool program (a program to provide health insurance coverage to eligible individuals with a preexisting condition). Requires such funds to be available for obligation on the date of enactment of this Act and to remain available through December 31, 2013.
 
Eliminates the eligibility requirement for the temporary high risk pool which prohibits an individual from having creditable coverage (health coverage) for six months before applying for coverage through the pool.

action_date: 2013-04-19
text: 
Helping Sick Americans Now Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to transfer from the Prevention and Public Health Fund any unobligated funds which are attributable to FY2013 and any funds that would otherwise be made available to the Fund for FY2014-FY2016 to a Department of Health and Human Services account to carry out the temporary high risk health insurance pool program (a program to provide health insurance coverage to eligible individuals with a preexisting condition). Requires such funds to be available for obligation on the date of enactment of this Act and to remain available through December 31, 2013.
 
Eliminates the eligibility requirement for the temporary high risk pool which prohibits an individual from having creditable coverage (health coverage) for six months before applying for coverage through the pool.
 
Requires the Secretary to administer the temporary high risk pool in accordance with current regulations governing the operation of the pool, except as necessary to reflect amendments made by this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-04-24
text: Rule H. Res. 175 passed House.
action_date: 2013-04-23
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 175 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1549 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
action_date: 2013-04-19
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 28.
action_date: 2013-04-19
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 113-45.
action_date: 2013-04-19
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 113-45.
action_date: 2013-04-17
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 20.
action_date: 2013-04-17
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-04-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-04-15
text: Introduced in House