Fair Access to Health Care Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1589
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-5]
Introduced: 2017-03-16
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance

Income tax credits

Inflation and prices
Latest action: action_date: 2017-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-03-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Fair Access to Health Care Act of 201</strong><b>7</b></p> <p> This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the health care insurance premium assistance tax credit, to adjust by a specified percentage the 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. The bill defines &quot;specified percentage&quot; as the product of 400% (the current poverty line cap) and the Supplemental Poverty Measure adjustment for the high cost area as determined by the U.S. Census Bureau. </p> <p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1589 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 16, 2017 Mr. Thompson of California (for himself and Ms. Eshoo ) 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 of 2017 . 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 the specified percentage for 400 percent in paragraph (3)(A)(i) and in subsections (c)(1)(A) and (f)(2)(B). (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 percentage For purposes of this paragraph, the term specified percentage means, with respect to a taxpayer whose principal place of residence for any taxable year is located in a high cost area, the product of 400 percent and the SPM adjustment for such area. (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) SPM adjustment For purposes of this paragraph, the term SPM adjustment means, with respect to a high cost area for a calendar year, the SPM adjustment as determined by the Bureau of the Census. (F) 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 December 31, 2016.