State Health Care Options Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3352
Sponsor: Rep. Hultgren, Randy [R-IL-14]
Introduced: 2015-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Income tax credits
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: 

State Health Care Options Act of 2015 

 
This bill amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Internal Revenue Code to modify the process for state innovation waivers.
 
(Under current law, the Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] and the Department of the Treasury may approve a state's request to waive specific provisions of PPACA if the state proposal provides health care access that is comparable to what would exist without a waiver and does not increase the federal deficit.)
 
The bill expedites the approval process for:
 
 
 a health-flex waiver from requirements for qualified health plans and essential health benefits; and 
 
an exchange waiver to assume responsibility for certain functions of the exchanges, including the certification of permissible health plans.
 
 
If a state submits to HHS a notice of its intent to implement one or both of the waivers, the waivers shall be deemed to be approved and effective. The notice must include the years for which the waiver shall be effective (which may be indefinite), an assurance the state will comply with reporting requirements, and other specified details. 
 
A state may not waive PPACA requirements related to coverage for preexisting conditions and the extension of coverage for adult children. 
 
States with exchange waivers may certify permissible health plans that residents may purchase outside of an exchange, if the plans meet specified requirements regarding benefits, levels of coverage, transparency of premium justifications, and information.
 
Taxpayers in waiver states that are living at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (400% under current law) may receive health insurance subsidies under PPACA. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-08-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-07-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-07-29
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: 2015-07-29
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: 2015-07-29
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: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-29
text: Introduced in House