Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (15 May 2019): Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 90.
What this bill does
This bill, H.R. 986, aims to prevent the implementation and enforcement of specific federal guidance that was issued in October 2018. This guidance, titled "State Relief and Empowerment Waivers," is related to section 1332 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The bill would prohibit the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and the Treasury from taking any action to give effect to this particular guidance.
The bill's stated purpose is to protect individuals with preexisting health conditions. It finds that the guidance in question could weaken protections for these individuals and jeopardize access to quality, affordable health insurance. The legislation is intended to apply to actions that might result in individuals losing coverage, a decrease in comprehensive coverage, or reduced affordability of coverage for those with preexisting conditions or substance use disorders, among other provisions.
H.R. 986 passed the House of Representatives on May 9, 2019, by a vote of 230-183 with one member present. The bill is now in the Senate. If passed by the Senate and signed by the President, it would become law. The bill also mandates a report from the Government Accountability Office within one year of enactment regarding the impact of certain state innovation waivers on health insurance coverage.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019
(Sec. 3) This bill nullifies guidance from the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Health and Human Services titled State Relief and Empowerment Waivers, published on October 24, 2018. The guidance pertains to Section 1332 waivers (also known as State Innovation Waivers or State Relief and Empowerment Waivers), which allow states to forego certain requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in order to implement experimental plans for health care coverage, as long as the resulting coverage meets certain statutory criteria.
The guidance, which supersedes earlier guidance from 2015, alters agency interpretation of how states may satisfy the statutory criteria for waiver approval. For example, the guidance (1) redefines acceptable coverage under such waivers to include short-term, limited-duration insurance and association health plans; (2) allows the comprehensiveness and affordability of coverage under such waivers to be assessed based on projected availability, rather than enrollment; and (3) allows the level of coverage to be assessed based on the effects over the entire course of the waiver, rather than per year.
(Sec. 4) The Government Accountability Office must report on the number of individuals that would have been expected to lose access to health insurance coverage, as well as the expected effect on mental health care treatment, in the absence of this bill.
Timeline
15 May 2019
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 90.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 986 do?
- This bill, H.R. 986, aims to prevent the implementation and enforcement of specific federal guidance that was issued in October 2018. This guidance, titled "State Relief and Empowerment Waivers," is related to section 1332 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The bill would prohibit the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and the Treasury from taking any action to give effect to this particular guidance. The bill's stated purpose is to protect individuals with preexisting health conditions. It finds that the guidance in question could weaken protections for these individuals and jeopardize access to quality, affordable health insurance. The legislation is intended to apply to actions that might result in individuals losing coverage, a decrease in comprehensive coverage, or reduced affordability of coverage for those with preexisting conditions or substance use disorders, among other provisions. H.R. 986 passed the House of Representatives on May 9, 2019, by a vote of 230-183 with one member present. The bill is now in the Senate. If passed by the Senate and signed by the President, it would become law. The bill also mandates a report from the Government Accountability Office within one year of enactment regarding the impact of certain state innovation waivers on health insurance coverage.
- Has H.R. 986 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 986. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 986?
- H.R. 986 was sponsored by Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2] (D-NH), with 19 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 986?
- Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 90. (15 May 2019).
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