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S 16 109th Congress Senate

Affordable Health Care Act

Official title: A bill to reduce to the cost of quality health care coverage and improve the availability of health care coverage for all Americans.

Introduced: January 24, 2005 See on congress.gov
Health Access to health careAdministrative procedureBlock grantsChild health
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Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesClinical trialsCommerceCommunication in medicineComputer softwareConflict of interestsCongressCongressional investigationsCongressional reporting requirementsConsumer educationContraceptivesCrime and Law EnforcementDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDrug abuseDrug abuse preventionDrug adulterationDrug industryDrug interactionsDrug therapyDrug trafficDrugsEconomics and Public FinanceEmployee health benefitsExecutive Office of the PresidentExecutive reorganizationExportsFamiliesFamily planning and birth controlFederal aid to child health servicesFederal aid to health facilitiesFederal employeesFederally-guaranteed loansFinance and Financial SectorFines (Penalties)Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Foreign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment publicityHealth counselingHealth information systemsHealth insuranceHealth planningHealth warningsImmigrant healthImmigrationImport restrictionsIncome taxInformation technologyInjunctionsInsurance premiumsLabor and EmploymentLawLegislationLicensesMaternal health servicesMedicaidMedical recordsMedical technologyMedically uninsuredPregnant womenPresidential appointmentsPublic-private partnershipsQuality of careRight of privacyScience, Technology, CommunicationsSmall businessSmokingSocial WelfareStandardsTax creditsTax deductionsTax exemptionTax refundsTax returnsTaxationWelfare eligibilityWhistle blowingWomenWomen's health
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This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 24, 2005
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S184-204)
Jan 24, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S183-184)
Jan 24, 2005
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action January 24, 2005

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S184-204)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Affordable Health Care Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to revise provisions governing the importation of prescription drugs. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations allowing the importation of prescription drugs from certain countries.

Allows the Secretary to require the sponsor of an approved drug to conduct one or more studies that confirms or refutes a credible hypothesis of a significant safety issue.

Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the Office of Health Information Technology to improve the quality and efficiency of health care delivery through the use of health information technology.

Requires the Secretary, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish uniform health care quality measures and public reporting requirements across all federally supported health delivery programs.

Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to give States the option to expand or add coverage of children, pregnant women, and legal immigrants under titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP).

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain small business employers a refundable tax credit for a portion of their employee health insurance costs.

Amends SSA to set forth provisions (as a new title XXII) addressing health insurance coverage for small businesses.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2
D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Jan 24, 2005
 D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Jan 24, 2005
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 16: Affordable Health Care Act. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-16/
MLA
"S. 16: Affordable Health Care Act." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-16/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 16, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-16/.
Markdown link
[S. 16: Affordable Health Care Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-S-16/)
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