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American Health Care Reform Act of 2013

Introduced: September 18, 2013 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 22, 2014
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
Oct 15, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Oct 15, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.
Sep 23, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee Indian and Alaska Native Affairs.
Sep 20, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Sep 18, 2013
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce, the Judiciary, Natural Resources, House Administration, Appropriations, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sep 18, 2013
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

American Health Care Reform Act of 2013 - Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of their enactment. Restores or revives provisions amended or repealed by such Act or such health care provisions.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to allow an income tax standard deduction for a specified percentage of an individual's health insurance costs, regardless of whether or not the taxpayer itemizes other deductions. Excludes the amount of such a deduction from employment taxes.

Allows a taxpayer, for earned income credit purposes, to exclude from earned income any employer contributions to a qualified accident or health plan.

Allows double additional contributions to a health savings account (HSA) if both spouses are age 55 or older and one spouse is not an account beneficiary.

Prescribes special rules for HSA coverage eligibility for certain individuals: (1) participating in a Medicare Advantage Medical Savings Account (MSA), (2) receiving periodic hospital care or medical services for a service-connected disability, (3) eligible for Indian Health Service assistance, or (4) eligible for TRICARE coverage.

Prescribes requirements for interaction of health flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) and health reimbursement arrangements with HSAs.

Prohibits the payment of health insurance premiums from HSAs, with certain exceptions.

Prescribes circumstances in which certain medical expenses incurred before establishment of an HSA may still be qualified expenses.

Prescribes requirements for protection of any HSA in a bankruptcy proceeding.

Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to authorize additional health opportunity account demonstration programs.

Treats membership in a health care sharing ministry as coverage under a high deductible health plan.

Renames high deductible health plans as HSA qualified plans.

Allows payments from an HSA for: (1) direct primary care service arrangements, (2) certain exercise equipment and physical fitness programs, (3) certain nutritional and dietary supplements, and (4) periodic fees paid to a primary care physician for the right to receive medical services on an as-needed basis.

Increases the maximum limit on contributions to an HSA to match deductible and out-of-pocket expenses limitations.

Prescribes requirements for establishment of child health savings accounts, for which an income tax deduction shall be allowed a taxpayer equal to the aggregate cash amount paid into the account during the taxable year.

Amends the IRC to include in gross income any distributions from an HSA for an abortion.

Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), and the IRC to authorize premium and cost-sharing variances in group health plans based on certain financial incentives for participation (or lack of it) in a standards-based wellness program.

Amends the PHSA to direct the Secretary to provide a grant of up to $5 million to each state for the costs of creation and initial operation of a qualified high risk pool if it has not created such a pool as of September 1, 2013. Limits participation in such a pool to U.S. citizens and nationals.

Declares that the laws of the state designated by a health insurance issuer (primary state) shall apply to individual health insurance coverage offered by that issuer in the primary state and in any other state (secondary state), but only if the coverage and issuer comply with conditions of this Act.

Prohibits a health insurance issuer from offering, selling, or issuing individual health insurance coverage in a secondary state if its insurance commissioner does not use a risk-based capital formula for determining capital and surplus requirements for all health insurance issuers.

Amends the McCarran-Ferguson Act to declare that nothing in it shall modify, impair, or supersede the operation of any of the antitrust laws with respect to the business of health insurance (including the business of dental insurance).

Amends SSA title XI (General Provisions) to require the Secretary to make available to the public Medicare claims and payment data, including data on payments made to any provider of services or supplier.

Authorizes a state to establish a Health Plan and Provider Portal website to standardize information on: (1) health insurance plans available in the state, and (2) price and quality information on health care providers (including physicians, hospitals, and other health care institutions).

Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to interfere with the doctor-patient relationship or the practice of medicine.

Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to eliminate the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research.

Amends ERISA to prescribe requirements for establishment and governance of association health plans, which are group health plans meeting certain ERISA certification criteria whose sponsors are trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations.

Limits the commencement of a health care lawsuit, except in certain cases including fraud or intentional concealment, to three years after the date of manifestation of injury or one year after the claimant discovers, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have discovered, the injury, whichever occurs first.

Limits to $250,000 the amount of noneconomic damages in such a lawsuit, but allows a claim for the full amount of any economic damages.

Requires the court, in any health care lawsuit, to supervise the arrangements for payment of damages to protect against conflicts of interest that may have the effect of reducing the amount of damages awarded that are actually paid to claimants.

Specifies criteria for the award of punitive damages, limited to the greater of $250,000 or double the amount of economic damages.

Preempts state law with respect to health care lawsuits.

Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) require any health plan to provide coverage of or access to abortion services; or (2) allow the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor, or any other federal or non-federal person or entity in implementing this Act to require coverage of, or access to, abortion services.

Prohibits the use of funds authorized or appropriated by this Act to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes abortion coverage, except: (1) if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest; or (2) in the case where a pregnant female suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the female in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.

What's happening now January 22, 2014

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

 Committees of jurisdiction 13
 Cosponsors 39
R
Latta, Robert E.
Ohio · Jul 29, 2014
R
Barr, Andy
Kentucky · Apr 4, 2014
R
Rogers, Mike D.
Alabama · Jan 9, 2014
R
Schweikert, David
Arizona · Jan 8, 2014
R
Aderholt, Robert B.
Alabama · Nov 22, 2013
R
Thompson, Glenn
Pennsylvania · Nov 18, 2013
R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · Nov 14, 2013
R
Scott, Austin
Georgia · Nov 13, 2013
R
Womack, Steve
Arkansas · Nov 13, 2013
R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Nov 12, 2013
R
Bilirakis, Gus M.
Florida · Oct 28, 2013
R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · Oct 23, 2013
R
Wagner, Ann
Missouri · Oct 7, 2013
R
Huizenga, Bill
Michigan · Oct 3, 2013
R
Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck"
Tennessee · Oct 2, 2013
R
Amodei, Mark E.
Nevada · Sep 30, 2013
R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Sep 30, 2013
R
Cramer, Kevin
North Dakota · Sep 27, 2013
R
DesJarlais, Scott
Tennessee · Sep 27, 2013
R
Hudson, Richard
North Carolina · Sep 27, 2013
R
Kelly, Mike
Pennsylvania · Sep 27, 2013
R
McCaul, Michael T.
Texas · Sep 27, 2013
R
Simpson, Michael K.
Idaho · Sep 27, 2013
R
Williams, Roger
Texas · Sep 27, 2013
R
McClintock, Tom
California · Sep 25, 2013
R
Foxx, Virginia
North Carolina · Sep 23, 2013
R
Perry, Scott
Pennsylvania · Sep 20, 2013
R
Stutzman, Marlin A.
Indiana · Sep 20, 2013
R
Weber, Randy K. Sr.
Texas · Sep 20, 2013
R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · Sep 19, 2013
R
Guthrie, Brett
Kentucky · Sep 19, 2013
R
Harris, Andy
Maryland · Sep 19, 2013
R
Lummis, Cynthia M.
Wyoming · Sep 19, 2013
R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Sep 18, 2013
R
Cotton, Tom
Arkansas · Sep 18, 2013
R
Gosar, Paul A.
Arizona · Sep 18, 2013
R
Jordan, Jim
Ohio · Sep 18, 2013
R
Scalise, Steve
Louisiana · Sep 18, 2013
R
Walberg, Tim
Michigan · Sep 18, 2013