H.R. 1549 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1549 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 15, 2013 Mr. Pitts (for himself, Mr. Burgess, and Mrs. Wagner) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend Public Law 111–148 to transfer fiscal year 2013 through fiscal year 2016 funds from the Prevention and Public Health Fund to carry out the temporary high risk health insurance pool program for individuals with preexisting conditions, and to extend access to such program to such individuals who have had creditable coverage during the 6 months prior to application for coverage through such program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Helping Sick Americans Now Act. 2. Prioritizing funding for sick Americans Section 4002(c) of Public Law 111–148 (42 U.S.C. 300u–11(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Secretary shall transfer amounts that are in the Fund that are attributable to fiscal year 2013 that are not otherwise obligated as of the date of the enactment of this sentence and funds that would otherwise be made available to the Fund for fiscal year 2014, fiscal year 2015, and fiscal year 2016 to the account within the Department of Health and Human Services that provides for funding to carry out the temporary high risk health insurance pool program under section 1101 and such funds shall become available for obligation under such section on such date of enactment and remain so available through December 31, 2013.. 3. Immediate access to health care for sick Americans (a) In general Section 1101(d) of Public Law 111–148 (42 U.S.C. 18001(d)) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end and; (2) by striking paragraph (2); and (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2). (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to individuals applying for coverage through the high risk insurance pool program on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.