109th CONGRESS
1st Session

S. 1225

To expand access to affordable health care and to strengthen the health care safety net and make health care services more available in rural and underserved areas.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 13, 2005

Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Ms. LANDRIEU) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance


A BILL

To expand access to affordable health care and to strengthen the health care safety net and make health care services more available in rural and underserved areas.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

TITLE I--EXPANSION OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Subtitle A--Small Business Tax Credit

Subtitle B--Grants to States for Small Business Purchasing Groups

Subtitle C--Health Benefits Information for Small Employers

Subtitle D--Grant Program to Encourage State Innovation

TITLE II--EXPANSION OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Subtitle A--Internal Revenue Code Provisions

Subtitle B--FamilyCare

Subtitle C--Simplified Enrollment

Subtitle D--State Option to Extend Medicaid Coverage to Certain Low-Income Individuals

Subtitle E--Improving Welfare-to-Work Transition Under Medicaid

Subtitle F--Grants to Promote Innovative Outreach and Enrollment Under Medicaid and SCHIP

Subtitle G--Demonstration Programs to Improve Medicaid and SCHIP Outreach to Homeless Individuals and Families

TITLE III--STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH CARE SAFETY NET

TITLE IV--EXPANSION OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS

TITLE V--EXPANDED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE LONG-TERM CARE

TITLE VI--PROMOTING HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES

TITLE VII--MEDICARE FAIRNESS

Subtitle A--Medicare Value and Quality Demonstration

Subtitle B--Graduate Medical Education Demonstration

TITLE I--EXPANSION OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Subtitle A--Small Business Tax Credit

SEC. 101. CREDIT FOR EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE EXPENSES.

`SEC. 45J. EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE EXPENSES.

`Sec. 45J. Employee health insurance expenses.'.

Subtitle B--Grants to States for Small Business Purchasing Groups

SEC. 121. GRANTS FOR SMALL EMPLOYER PURCHASING GROUPS.

SEC. 122. QUALIFIED SMALL EMPLOYER PURCHASING GROUPS.

Subtitle C--Health Benefits Information for Small Employers

SEC. 131. GRANT PROGRAM TO FACILITATE HEALTH BENEFITS INFORMATION FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS.

Subtitle D--Grant Program to Encourage State Innovation

SEC. 141. GRANT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE STATE INNOVATION.

TITLE II--EXPANSION OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

Subtitle A--Internal Revenue Code Provisions

SEC. 201. REFUNDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS CREDIT.

`SEC. 36. HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS FOR UNINSURED ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.

`SEC. 6050U. RETURNS RELATING TO PAYMENTS FOR QUALIFIED HEALTH INSURANCE.

`Sec. 6050U. Returns relating to payments for qualified health insurance.'.

`SEC. 7276. PENALTIES FOR OFFENSES RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE TAX CREDIT.

`Sec. 36. Health insurance costs for uninsured eligible individuals.

`Sec. 37. Overpayments of tax.'.

`Sec. 7276. Penalties for offenses relating to health insurance tax credit.'.

SEC. 202. ADVANCE PAYMENT OF CREDIT TO ISSUERS OF QUALIFIED HEALTH INSURANCE.

`SEC. 7527A ADVANCE PAYMENT OF HEALTH INSURANCE CREDIT FOR PURCHASERS OF QUALIFIED HEALTH INSURANCE.

`Sec. 7527A. Advance payment of health insurance credit for purchasers of qualified health insurance.'.

Subtitle B--FamilyCare

SEC. 211. RENAMING OF TITLE XXI PROGRAM.

`TITLE XXI--FAMILYCARE PROGRAM'.

SEC. 212. FAMILYCARE COVERAGE OF PARENTS UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM AND TITLE XXI.

`SEC. 2111. OPTIONAL FAMILYCARE COVERAGE OF PARENTS OF TARGETED LOW-INCOME CHILDREN.

SEC. 213. OPTIONAL COVERAGE OF CHILDREN THROUGH AGE 20 UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM AND TITLE XXI.

SEC. 214. ELIMINATION OF `DIP' IN CHIP ALLOTMENTS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2003 AND 2004.

SEC. 215. ADDITIONAL CHIP REVISIONS.

SEC. 216. LIMITATIONS ON CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

SEC. 217. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO AUTHORITY TO PAY MEDICAID EXPANSION COSTS FROM TITLE XXI APPROPRIATION.

Subtitle C--Simplified Enrollment

SEC. 221. AUTOMATIC ENROLLMENT OF CHILDREN BORN TO TITLE XXI PARENTS.

SEC. 222. APPLICATION OF SIMPLIFIED TITLE XXI PROCEDURES UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM.

SEC. 223. ELIMINATION OF 100 HOUR RULE AND OTHER AFDC-RELATED ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS.

Subtitle D--State Option to Extend Medicaid Coverage to Certain Low-Income Individuals

SEC. 231. STATE OPTION TO EXTEND MEDICAID COVERAGE TO CERTAIN LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

Subtitle E--Improving Welfare-to-Work Transition Under Medicaid

SEC. 241. IMPROVING WELFARE-TO-WORK TRANSITION UNDER MEDICAID.

Subtitle F--Grants to Promote Innovative Outreach and Enrollment Under Medicaid and SCHIP

SEC. 251. GRANTS TO PROMOTE INNOVATIVE OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT UNDER MEDICAID AND SCHIP.

`SEC. 2112. EXPANDED OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.

SEC. 252. STATE OPTION TO PROVIDE FOR SIMPLIFIED DETERMINATIONS OF A CHILD'S FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE UNDER MEDICAID OR CHILD HEALTH ASSISTANCE UNDER SCHIP.

Subtitle G--Demonstration Programs to Improve Medicaid and SCHIP Outreach to Homeless Individuals and Families

SEC. 261. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE MEDICAID AND SCHIP OUTREACH TO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.

TITLE III--STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH CARE SAFETY NET

SEC. 301. INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THE CONSOLIDATED HEALTH CENTERS PROGRAM.

TITLE IV--EXPANSION OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS

SEC. 401. EXPANSION OF FUNDING.

SEC. 402. LOAN REPAYMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS.

TITLE V--EXPANDED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE LONG-TERM CARE

SEC. 501. TREATMENT OF PREMIUMS ON QUALIFIED LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE CONTRACTS.

`SEC. 224. PREMIUMS ON QUALIFIED LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE CONTRACTS.

`If the number of years of

--The applicable long-term

continuous coverage is--

--care percentage is--

--60

--70

--80

--90

--100.

`If the number of years of

--The applicable long-term

continuous coverage is--

--care percentage is--

--70

--85

--100.

`Sec. 224. Premiums on qualified long-term care insurance contracts.

`Sec. 225. Cross reference.'.

SEC. 502. CREDIT FOR TAXPAYERS WITH LONG-TERM CARE NEEDS.

`SEC. 25C. CREDIT FOR TAXPAYERS WITH LONG-TERM CARE NEEDS.

--The applicable

--credit amount is--

2005

--$1,000

2006

-- 1,500

2007

-- 2,000

2008

-- 2,500

2009 or thereafter

-- 3,000.

`Sec. 25C. Credit for taxpayers with long-term care needs.'.

SEC. 503. ADDITIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTIONS FOR LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE.

TITLE VI--PROMOTING HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES

SEC. 601. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES.

SEC. 602. WORKSITE WELLNESS GRANT PROGRAM.

SEC. 603. COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL HEALTH EDUCATION.

TITLE VII--MEDICARE FAIRNESS

Subtitle A--Medicare Value and Quality Demonstration

SEC. 701. FINDINGS.

SEC. 702. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO ENCOURAGE THE PROVISION OF HIGH-QUALITY, COST-EFFECTIVE INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES.

SEC. 703. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO ENCOURAGE THE PROVISION OF HIGH-QUALITY, COST-EFFECTIVE PHYSICIANS' SERVICES.

Subtitle B--Graduate Medical Education Demonstration

SEC. 711. CLINICAL ROTATION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

END