Fair Access to Health Care Act

Bill: 113-hr-3986
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5]
Introduced: 2014-02-04
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance

Income tax credits

Inflation and prices
Latest action: action_date: 2014-02-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-02-04
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Fair Access to Health Care Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the health care insurance premium assistance tax credit, to provide for a cost-of-living adjustment to the 400% poverty line cap used to determine the eligibility of low-income taxpayers whose principal residence is located in a high cost area for such credit.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3986 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 4, 2014 Mr. Thompson of California (for himself, Ms. Eshoo , Ms. Matsui , Ms. Speier , Mr. Honda , Ms. Lofgren , Mr. Farr , Mrs. Capps , Mr. Schiff , Mr. Lowenthal , Mr. Larson of Connecticut , Ms. Esty , Mr. Israel , Mrs. Lowey , Mr. Nadler , Ms. Clarke of New York , Mr. Bishop of New York , Mrs. Negrete McLeod , and Mr. Peters of California ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means A BILL To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to adjust the phaseout of the health insurance tax credit for geographic variations in the cost-of-living.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fair Access to Health Care Act . 2. Phaseout of health insurance tax credit adjusted to take into account geographic variation in the cost-of-living (a) In general Section 36B(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) Geographic adjustment for cost-of-living (A) In general In the case of a taxpayer whose principal place of residence for any taxable year is located in a high cost area, there shall be substituted for each specified amount an amount which bears the same proportion to such specified amount as the SPM with respect to such high cost area bears to the national average SPM. (B) High cost area For purposes of this paragraph, the term high cost area means any metropolitan statistical area or non-metropolitan area the SPM for which exceeds the national average SPM. (C) Specified amounts For purposes of this paragraph, the term specified amount means each of the following: (i) The 400 amount contained in the table in paragraph (3)(A)(i). (ii) The 400 amount contained in subsection (c)(1)(A). (D) SPM For purposes of this paragraph— (i) In general The term SPM means, with respect to each calendar year, the Supplemental Poverty Measure as determined by the Bureau of the Census. (ii) National average SPM The national average SPM shall be determined without regard to Alaska and Hawaii. (iii) Determination for taxable year based on preceding calendar year SPM with respect to any taxable year shall be determined on the basis of the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the taxable year begins. (E) Alternative measure of cost-of-living If the Secretary determines that another measure of cost-of-living is more appropriate than the SPM for purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary shall use such measure in lieu of the SPM. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.