Library / Laws / 113th / hr / H.R. 2165 / Introduced in House
I
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2165
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 23, 2013
Mr. Heck of Nevada
(for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and
Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on
Education and the
Workforce, Ways and
Means, and the
Judiciary, 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
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide
individual and group market reforms to protect health insurance consumers, to
make such reforms and protections contingent on the enactment of legislation
repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and for other
purposes.
1.
Short title; table of
contents
(a)
Short
title
This Act may be cited
as the Ensuring Quality Health Care
for All Americans Act of 2013.
(b)
Table of
contents
The table of
contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Effective date contingent on repeal of
PPACA.
Sec. 3. Prohibiting discrimination based on health
status.
Sec. 4. Guaranteed renewability of coverage.
Sec. 5. Prohibition of preexisting condition exclusions and
other discrimination based on health status.
Sec. 6. No lifetime or annual limits.
Sec. 7. Prohibition on rescissions.
Sec. 8. Extension of dependent coverage.
Sec. 9. Application of group market reforms to ERISA and the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Sec. 10. Catastrophic plan.
Sec. 11. Grants for health insurance risk adjustment
mechanisms.
Sec. 12. Liability protections for health care
providers.
2.
Effective date
contingent on repeal of PPACA
(a)
In
general
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take
effect upon the enactment of PPACA repeal legislation described in subsection
(b) and this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall have no force or
effect if such PPACA repeal legislation is not enacted.
(b)
PPACA repeal
legislation described
For
purposes of subsection (a), PPACA repeal legislation described in this
subsection is legislation that—
(1) repeals Public Law
111–148, and restores or revives the provisions of law amended or repealed,
respectively, by such Act as if such Act had not been enacted and without
further amendment to such provisions of law; and
(2) repeals title I
and subtitle B of title II of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act
of 2010 (Public Law 111–152), and restores or revives the provisions of law
amended or repealed, respectively, by such title or subtitle, respectively, as
if such title and subtitle had not been enacted and without further amendment
to such provisions of law.
3.
Prohibiting
discrimination based on health status
(a)
Group
market
Subpart 3 of part A of
title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by striking section
2711 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–11) and inserting the following:
2711.
Guaranteed
availability of coverage
(a)
Guaranteed
issuance of coverage in the group market
(1)
In
general
Subject to
subsections (b) through (e), each health insurance issuer that offers health
insurance coverage in the group market in a State shall accept every employer
and every individual in a group in the State that applies for such
coverage.
(2)
Special rule for
associations
An association
shall be treated as an employer for purposes of this section if such
association seeks to provide group health insurance coverage to not less than
200 qualified individuals.
(b)
Enrollment
(1)
Restriction
A
health insurance issuer described in subsection (a) may restrict enrollment in
coverage described in such subsection to open or special enrollment
periods.
(2)
Establishment
A
health insurance issuer described in subsection (a) shall, in accordance with
the regulations promulgated under paragraph (3), establish special enrollment
periods for qualifying events (as such term is defined in section 603 of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974).
(3)
Special rules
for associations
(A)
Qualifying
events
For purposes of
applying
paragraph (2) to an
association—
(i) the term
covered employee in section 603 of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 shall include a qualified individual (as such term is
defined in section 2701(d)(2)(D));
(ii) the term
employer shall include an association (as such term is defined in
section 2701(d)(2)(A)); and
(iii) the term
termination (other than by reason of such employee's gross misconduct),
or reduction of hours, of the covered employee's employment shall
include the termination of membership to the association.
(B)
Enrollment
With respect to health insurance coverage
provided to an association under
subsection (a)(2), a health insurance
issuer shall permit a qualified individual who is eligible, but not enrolled
(or a dependent of such individual if the dependent is eligible, but not
enrolled) for such coverage to enroll for coverage under the terms of such
coverage when any one of the following events occur:
(i)
New members and
employees
A qualified
individual, and any dependent of such individual, may enroll during the 30-day
period following the end of the period described under section 2701(d)(2)(D)
that applies to such individual.
(ii)
Annual
enrollment
A qualified individual, and any dependent of such
individual, may enroll during the annual enrollment period established under
the terms of the coverage
(C)
Termination of
enrollment
With respect to group health insurance coverage
provided by an association, a qualified individual or dependent who terminates
enrollment in such coverage may only re-enroll in such coverage during the
annual enrollment period described under
subparagraph (B)(ii).
(D)
Definitions
For purposes of this section, the terms
association and qualified individual have the meaning
given such terms in section 2701(d)(2).
(4)
Regulations
The
Secretary shall promulgate regulations with respect to enrollment periods under
this subsection.
(c)
Special Rules
for Network Plans
(1)
In
general
In the case of a health insurance issuer that offers
health insurance coverage in the group market in a State through a network
plan, the issuer may—
(A) limit the
employers that may apply for such coverage to those with eligible individuals
who live, work, or reside in the service area for such network plan; and
(B) within the service
area of such plan, deny such coverage to such employers if the issuer has
demonstrated, if required, to the applicable State authority that—
(i) it
will not have the capacity to deliver services adequately to enrollees of any
additional groups because of its obligations to existing group contract holders
and enrollees; and
(ii) it is applying
this paragraph uniformly to all employers without regard to—
(I) the claims
experience of those employers and their employees (and their dependents);
or
(II) any
health-status-related factor relating to such employees and dependents.
(2)
180-day
suspension upon denial of coverage
An issuer, upon denying health
insurance coverage in any service area in accordance with
paragraph (1)(B), may not offer
coverage in the group market within such service area for a period of 180 days
after the date such coverage is denied.
(d)
Application of
Financial Capacity Limits
(1)
In
general
A health insurance issuer may deny health insurance
coverage in the group if the issuer has demonstrated, if required, to the
applicable State authority that—
(A) it does not have
the financial reserves necessary to underwrite additional coverage; and
(B) it is applying
this paragraph uniformly to all employers and individuals in the group market
in the State—
(i) in
a manner that is consistent with applicable State law; and
(ii) without regard
to—
(I) the claims
experience of those individuals, employers, and their employees (and their
dependents); or
(II) any
health-status-related factor relating to such individuals, employees, and
dependents.
(2)
180-day
suspension upon denial of coverage
A health insurance issuer upon
denying health insurance coverage in connection with group health plans in
accordance with paragraph (1) in a State may not offer coverage in connection
with group health plans in the group market in the State for a period of 180
days after the date such coverage is denied or until the issuer has
demonstrated to the applicable State authority, if required under applicable
State law, that the issuer has sufficient financial reserves to underwrite
additional coverage, whichever is later. An applicable State authority may
provide for the application of this subsection on a service-area-specific
basis.
.
(b)
Individual
market
Subpart 1 of part B of
title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by striking section
2741 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–41) and inserting the following:
2741.
Guaranteed
availability of coverage
The
provisions of section 2711 (other than subsection (a)(2) and subsection (b)(3))
shall apply to health insurance coverage offered to individuals by a health
insurance issuer in the individual market in the same manner as such provisions
apply to health insurance coverage offered to employers by a health insurance
issuer in connection with health insurance coverage in the group market. For
purposes of this section, the Secretary shall treat any reference of the word
employer in such section as a reference to the term
individual.
.
4.
Guaranteed
renewability of coverage
Section 2712 of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–12) is amended—
(1) in subsection
(a)—
(A) by inserting
, including coverage offered before in connection with a
group health plan; and
(B) by inserting
employer or other before plan sponsor of the
plan;
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) in the matter
before paragraph (1), by striking health insurance coverage in
connection with a group health plan in the small or large group market
and insert such health insurance coverage; and
(B) in paragraph (6)
by striking one or more bona fide associations and inserting
one or more associations (as such term is defined in section
2701(d)(2)(A));
(3) in subsection
(c)(1)(B), by striking to a group health plan;
(4) in subsection (d)—
(A) in matter before
paragraph (1), by striking to a group health plan; and
(B) in paragraph (2),
by striking bona fide associations and inserting
associations (as such term is defined in section 2701(d)(2)(A));
and
(5) in subsection (e),
by inserting (as such term is defined in section 2701(d)(2)(A))
after one or more associations.
5.
Prohibition of
preexisting condition exclusions and other discrimination based on health
status
(a)
Group
market
Subpart 1 of part A of
title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg et seq.) is
amended by striking section 2701 and inserting the following:
2701.
Prohibition of
preexisting condition exclusions and other discrimination based on health
status
(a)
In
General
A group health plan or a health insurance issuer offering
group health insurance coverage may not impose any preexisting condition
exclusion with respect to such plan or coverage.
(b)
Definitions
For
purposes of this part:
(1)
Preexisting
condition exclusion
(A)
In
general
The term preexisting condition exclusion
means, with respect to a group health plan or health insurance coverage, a
limitation or exclusion of benefits relating to a condition based on the fact
that the condition was present before the date of enrollment in such plan or
for such coverage, whether or not any medical advice, diagnosis, care, or
treatment was recommended or received before such date.
(B)
Treatment of
genetic information
Genetic information shall not be treated as a
preexisting condition in the absence of a diagnosis of the condition related to
such information.
(2)
Date of
enrollment
The term date of enrollment means, with
respect to an individual covered under a group health plan or health insurance
coverage, the date of enrollment of the individual in the plan or coverage or,
if earlier, the first day of the waiting period for such enrollment.
(3)
Waiting
period
The term waiting period means, with respect
to a group health plan and an individual who is a potential participant or
beneficiary in the plan, the period that must pass with respect to the
individual before the individual is eligible to be covered for benefits under
the terms of the plan.
(c)
Special
Enrollment Periods
(1)
Individuals
losing other coverage
A group health plan, and a health insurance
issuer offering group health insurance coverage in connection with a group
health plan, shall permit an employee who is eligible, but not enrolled, for
coverage under the terms of the plan (or a dependent of such an employee if the
dependent is eligible, but not enrolled, for coverage under such terms) to
enroll for coverage under the terms of the plan if each of the following
conditions is met:
(A) The employee or
dependent was covered under a group health plan or had health insurance
coverage at the time coverage was previously offered to the employee or
dependent.
(B) The employee
stated in writing at such time that coverage under a group health plan or
health insurance coverage was the reason for declining enrollment, but only if
the plan sponsor or issuer (if applicable) required such a statement at such
time and provided the employee with notice of such requirement (and the
consequences of such requirement) at such time.
(C) The employee's or
dependent's coverage described in subparagraph (A)—
(i) was under a COBRA
continuation provision and the coverage under such provision was exhausted;
or
(ii) was not under
such a provision and either the coverage was terminated as a result of loss of
eligibility for the coverage (including as a result of legal separation,
divorce, death, termination of employment, or reduction in the number of hours
of employment) or employer contributions toward such coverage were
terminated.
(D) Under the terms of
the plan, the employee requests such enrollment not later than 30 days after
the date of exhaustion of coverage described in subparagraph (C)(i) or
termination of coverage or employer contribution described in subparagraph
(C)(ii).
(2)
For dependent
beneficiaries
(A)
In
general
If—
(i) a
group health plan makes coverage available with respect to a dependent of an
individual;
(ii) the individual is
a participant under the plan (or has met any waiting period applicable to
becoming a participant under the plan and is eligible to be enrolled under the
plan but for a failure to enroll during a previous enrollment period);
and
(iii) a person becomes
such a dependent of the individual through marriage, birth, or adoption or
placement for adoption,
the
group health plan shall provide for a dependent special enrollment period
described in subparagraph (B) during which the person (or, if not otherwise
enrolled, the individual) may be enrolled under the plan as a dependent of the
individual, and in the case of the birth or adoption of a child, the spouse of
the individual may be enrolled as a dependent of the individual if such spouse
is otherwise eligible for coverage.
(B)
Dependent
special enrollment period
A dependent special enrollment period
under this subparagraph shall be a period of not less than 30 days and shall
begin on the later of—
(i) the date dependent
coverage is made available; or
(ii) the date of the
marriage, birth, or adoption or placement for adoption (as the case may be)
described in subparagraph (A)(iii).
(C)
No waiting
period
If an individual seeks to enroll a dependent during the
first 30 days of such a dependent special enrollment period, the coverage of
the dependent shall become effective—
(i) in
the case of marriage, not later than the first day of the first month beginning
after the date the completed request for enrollment is received;
(ii) in the case of a
dependent's birth, as of the date of such birth; or
(iii) in the case of a
dependent's adoption or placement for adoption, the date of such adoption or
placement for adoption.
(3)
Special rules
for application in case of Medicaid and chip
(A)
In
general
A group health plan, and a health insurance issuer
offering group health insurance coverage in connection with a group health
plan, shall permit an employee who is eligible, but not enrolled, for coverage
under the terms of the plan (or a dependent of such an employee if the
dependent is eligible, but not enrolled, for coverage under such terms) to
enroll for coverage under the terms of the plan or coverage if either of the
following conditions is met:
(i)
Termination of
medicaid or chip coverage
The employee or dependent is covered
under a Medicaid plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act or under a
State child health plan under title XXI of such Act and coverage of the
employee or dependent under such a plan is terminated as a result of loss of
eligibility for such coverage and the employee requests coverage under the
group health plan (or health insurance coverage) not later than 60 days after
the date of termination of such coverage.
(ii)
Eligibility for
employment assistance under medicaid or chip
The employee or
dependent becomes eligible for assistance, with respect to coverage under the
group health plan or health insurance coverage, under such Medicaid plan or
State child health plan (including under any waiver or demonstration project
conducted under or in relation to such a plan), if the employee requests
coverage under the group health plan or health insurance coverage not later
than 60 days after the date the employee or dependent is determined to be
eligible for such assistance.
(B)
Coordination
with medicaid and chip
(i)
Outreach to
employees regarding availability of medicaid and chip coverage
(I)
In
general
Each employer that maintains a group health plan in a
State that provides medical assistance under a State Medicaid plan under title
XIX of the Social Security Act, or child health assistance under a State child
health plan under title XXI of such Act, in the form of premium assistance for
the purchase of coverage under a group health plan, shall provide to each
employee a written notice informing the employee of potential opportunities
then currently available in the State in which the employee resides for premium
assistance under such plans for health coverage of the employee or the
employee's dependents. For purposes of compliance with this subclause, the
employer may use any State-specific model notice developed in accordance with
section 701(f)(3)(B)(i)(II) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974 (29 U.S.C. 1181(f)(3)(B)(i)(II)).
(II)
Option to
provide concurrent with provision of plan materials to
employee
An employer may provide the model notice applicable to
the State in which an employee resides concurrent with the furnishing of
materials notifying the employee of health plan eligibility, concurrent with
materials provided to the employee in connection with an open season or
election process conducted under the plan, or concurrent with the furnishing of
the summary plan description as provided in section 104(b) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
(ii)
Disclosure
about group health plan benefits to States for medicaid- and CHIP-eligible
individuals
In the case of an enrollee in a group health plan who
is covered under a Medicaid plan of a State under title XIX of the Social
Security Act or under a State child health plan under title XXI of such Act,
the plan administrator of the group health plan shall disclose to the State,
upon request, information about the benefits available under the group health
plan in sufficient specificity, as determined under regulations of the
Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultation with the Secretary that
require use of the model coverage coordination disclosure form developed under
section 311(b)(1)(C) of the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of
2009, so as to permit the State to establish (under paragraph (2)(B), (3), or
(10) of section 2105(c) of the Social Security Act or otherwise) the cost
effectiveness of the State providing medical or child health assistance through
premium assistance for the purchase of coverage under such group health plan
and in order for the State to provide supplemental benefits required under
paragraph (10)(E) of such section or other authority.
(d)
Application to
association plans
(1)
In
general
A group health plan or health insurance issuer that
provides coverage to an association as required under section 2711(a)(2) shall
accept every qualified individual that the association seeks health insurance
coverage for, without regard to the health status of such individual.
(2)
Definitions
related to associations
For purposes of this subsection:
(A)
Association
The
term association means an association that—
(i) has a constitution
and bylaws;
(ii) is determined by
the Secretary to be an association which is operating in good faith for a
primary purpose other than that of obtaining insurance; and
(iii) has been in
existence for a period of at least 5 years.
(B)
Dependent
The
term dependent, with respect to a qualified individual, has the
meaning given such term in section 2714, with respect to a policy
holder.
(C)
Qualified
actuary
The term qualified actuary means a member in
good standing of the American Academy of Actuaries, or a successor organization
approved by the Secretary.
(D)
Qualified
individuals
The term
qualified individual means, with respect to an association, an
individual who meets any of the following:
(i) A member of the
association who has been such a member for a period of at least 30 days.
(ii) An employee of
such member who has been employed by such member for a period of at least 30
days.
(iii) An employee of
the association who has been employed by the association for a period of at
least 30
days.
.
(b)
Individual
market
Subpart 1 of part B of
title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–41 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
2746.
Prohibition of
preexisting condition exclusions or other discrimination based on health
status
The provisions of
section 2701 (other than subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (B) of subsection (c)(3))
shall apply to health insurance coverage offered to individuals by a health
insurance issuer in the individual market in the same manner as it applies to
health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in the group
market.
.
6.
No
lifetime or annual limits
(a)
Group
market
Subpart 2 of part A of
title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–4 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
2708.
No lifetime or
annual limits
(a)
In
general
A group health plan and a health insurance issuer
offering group health insurance coverage may not establish—
(1) lifetime limits on
the dollar value of benefits for any participant or beneficiary; or
(2) unreasonable annual limits (within the
meaning of section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) on the dollar
value of benefits for any participant or beneficiary.
(b)
Per Beneficiary
Limits
A group health plan or
health insurance coverage may not place annual or lifetime per beneficiary
limits on specific covered benefits unless such limits are otherwise permitted
under Federal or State
law.
.
(b)
Individual
market
Subpart 2 of part B of
title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–51 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
2754.
No lifetime or
annual limits
The provisions
of section 2708 shall apply to health insurance coverage offered to individuals
by a health insurance issuer in the individual market in the same manner as it
applies to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in
the group
market.
.
7.
Prohibition on
rescissions
(a)
Group
market
Subpart 1 of part A of
title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
2703.
Prohibition on
rescissions
A group health
plan and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage
shall not rescind such plan or coverage with respect to an enrollee once the
enrollee is covered under such plan or coverage involved, except that this
section shall not apply to a covered individual who has performed an act or
practice that constitutes fraud or makes an intentional misrepresentation of
material fact as prohibited by the terms of the plan or coverage. Such plan or
coverage may not be cancelled except with prior notice to the enrollee, and
only as permitted under section
2712(b).
.
(b)
Individual
market
Subpart 1 of part B of
title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–41 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
2747.
Prohibition on
rescissions
The provisions of
section 2703 shall apply to health insurance coverage offered to individuals by
a health insurance issuer in the individual market in the same manner as it
applies to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance issuer in
the group
market.
.
8.
Extension of
dependent coverage
(a)
Group
market
(1)
In
general
Subpart 1 of part A
of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end:
2703A.
Extension of
dependent coverage
(a)
In
General
A group health plan and a health insurance issuer
offering group health insurance coverage that provides dependent coverage of
children shall continue to make such coverage available for such a dependent
after such dependent turns 18 years of age until the first of the following
events occurs:
(1) The dependent
turns 26 years of age.
(2) The dependent
marries.
(3) Subject to
subsection (c), the dependent no longer
resides in the home of—
(A) the policy holder
through which such dependent is eligible for dependent coverage; or
(B) in the case that
the policy holder through which such dependent is eligible for dependent
coverage provides such coverage subject to an order to provide child support,
the dependent’s parent or legal guardian.
(b)
Exception for
college students
Paragraph (3) of
subsection (a) shall not apply to a
dependent for any period of time during which such dependent is enrolled as a
full-time student at a postsecondary educational institution (including an
institution of higher education as defined in section 102 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965).
(c)
Limitation
Nothing
in this section shall require a plan or an issuer described in
subsection (a) to make coverage
available for a child of an individual receiving dependent coverage pursuant to
this section.
(d)
Rule of
Construction
Nothing in this section shall be construed to modify
the definition of dependent as used in the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 with respect to the tax treatment of the cost of
coverage.
.
(2)
Regulations
The
Secretary shall promulgate regulations to define the dependents to which
coverage shall be made available under section 2703A of the Public Health
Service Act, as added by paragraph (1).
(b)
Individual
market
Subpart 1 of part B of
title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–41 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
2748.
Extension of
dependent coverage
The
provisions of section 2703A shall apply to health insurance coverage offered to
individuals by a health insurance issuer in the individual market in the same
manner as it applies to health insurance coverage offered by a health insurance
issuer in the group
market.
.
9.
Application of
group market reforms to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(a)
ERISA
(1)
In
general
Subpart A of title VII of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1181 et seq.) is amended—
(A) by striking
sections 701 and 703; and
(B) by inserting
before section 702 the following:
701.
Application of
certain PHSA requirements
(a)
In
general
Sections 2701, 2703, 2703A, 2708, 2711, and 2712 of the
Public Health Service Act shall apply to group health plans, and health
insurance issuers providing health insurance coverage in connection with group
health plans, as if included in this subpart.
(b)
Conflict
To
the extent that any provision of this part conflicts with a provision of any
section of the Public Health Service Act listed in
subsection (a) with respect to group
health plans, or health insurance issuers providing health insurance coverage
in connection with group health plans, the provisions of such sections shall
apply.
.
(2)
Conforming
amendment
The table of
contents in section 1 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1001 note) is amended—
(A) by striking the
item related to section 701 and inserting Sec. 701. Application of
certain PHSA requirements.; and
(B) by striking the
item related to section 703.
(b)
Internal Revenue
Code of 1986
Subchapter A of
chapter 100 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to group health plan
requirements) is amended—
(1) by striking
sections 9801 and 9803; and
(2) by inserting
before section 9802 the following:
9801.
Application of
certain PHSA requirements
(a)
In
general
Sections 2701, 2703,
2703A, 2708, 2711, and 2712 of the Public Health Service Act shall apply to
group health plans, and health insurance issuers providing health insurance
coverage in connection with group health plans, as if included in this
subchapter.
(b)
Conflict
To the extent that any provision of this
subchapter conflicts with a provision of any section of the Public Health
Service Act listed in
subsection (a) with respect to group
health plans, or health insurance issuers providing health insurance coverage
in connection with group health plans, the provisions of such sections shall
apply.
.
10.
Catastrophic
plan
Subpart 1 of part B of
title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–41 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
2749.
Catastrophic
plan
(a)
In
general
Each health insurance
issuer that offers health insurance coverage in the individual market in a
State shall offer a catastrophic plan in such State in such market.
(b)
Coverage
requirements
To meet the
requirements of this section, a catastrophic plan must provide for the
essential health benefits, as defined by the Secretary under subsection
(c).
(c)
Essential health
benefits
The Secretary shall
define the essential health benefits, except that such benefits shall
include—
(1) coverage for at least three primary care
visits during a plan year; and
(2) at least the
following general categories and the items and services covered within the
categories:
(A) Ambulatory patient
services.
(B) Emergency
services.
(C) Hospitalization.
(D) Maternity and
newborn care.
(E) Mental health and
substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment.
(F) Prescription
drugs.
(G) Rehabilitative and
habilitative services and devices.
(H) Laboratory
services.
(I) Preventive and
wellness services and chronic disease management.
(J) Pediatric
services, including oral and vision care.
(d)
Restriction to
individual market
If a health insurance issuer offers a health
plan described in this section, the issuer may only offer the plan in the
individual
market.
.
11.
Grants for
health insurance risk adjustment mechanisms
(a)
In
general
The Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall make grants to States for planning for the
establishment and implementation of health insurance risk adjustment
mechanisms.
(b)
Amount
(1)
In
general
The Secretary shall determine the amount of a grant made
to a State under this section pursuant to a formula, issued by rule not later
than one year after the date of the enactment of the PPACA repeal legislation
described in section 2(b), that takes into account the number of high-risk
individuals in such State.
(2)
Limitation
The amount of a grant made to a State under
this section shall not exceed $1,000,000 for any fiscal year.
(c)
Use of
funds
The grant funds made
available to a State under this section may only be used by a State for the
cost associated with planning for the establishment and implementation of
health insurance risk adjustment mechanisms. Such funds may not be used for
costs related to administering such mechanisms.
(d)
Definitions
For
purposes of this section:
(1)
High-risk
individual
The term
high-risk individual means an individual who—
(A) is a citizen or
national of the United States or is lawfully present in the United
States;
(B) has not been
covered under creditable coverage (as defined in section 2701(c)(1) of the
Public Health Service Act as in effect on March 22, 2010) during the previous
6-month period; and
(C) has a preexisting
condition, as determined in a manner consistent with guidance issued by the
Secretary.
(2)
Health insurance
risk-adjustment mechanisms
(A)
In
general
With respect to a State, the term health insurance
risk-adjustment mechanism shall be a mechanism that applies to—
(i) all health
insurance issuers who offer health insurance coverage in such State; and
(ii) all covered lives
for health insurance coverage offered in such State that is subject to the
requirements of section 2711 or section 2741 of the Public Health Service Act,
as added by section 3 of this Act.
(B)
Further
definition
With respect to a State, any further definition of
such term shall be determined by the State insurance commissioner, acting in
cooperation with health insurance issuers who offer health insurance coverage
in such State.
(3)
State
The
term State means each of the 50 States and the District of
Columbia.
(e)
Sunset
date
The Secretary may not make any grants under
this section after the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of
the PPACA repeal legislation described in section 2(b).
12.
Liability protections
for health care providers
(a)
Health care
providers protected
The
liability protections in subsection (c) shall apply in any civil action,
including an action before any court of any State, against a health care
provider, arising from health care goods or services that—
(1) were provided by a health care provider in
a hospital to which the requirements of section 1867 of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395dd) apply; and
(2) were provided only because they were
required under section 1867 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395dd).
(b)
Burden of
proof
In any proceeding under subsection (a), the burden of proof
shall be on the defendant to establish the elements in paragraphs (1) and (2)
of subsection (a).
(c)
Liability
protections
(1)
Cap on
noneconomic damages
The amount of noneconomic damages, if
available, shall not exceed $250,000, regardless of the number of parties
against whom the action is brought with respect to the same injury. An award
for noneconomic damages in excess of $250,000 shall be reduced either before
entry of the order granting judgment, or by amendment of such order.
(2)
Installment
payments
If the award for damages exceeds $50,000, the defendant
may pay such damages in installments, as determined by the court.
(3)
Attorney
fees
Any contingent fee for a party’s attorney shall not
exceed—
(A) 40 percent of the
portion of the award amount that does not exceed $50,000;
(B) 331/3
percent of the portion of the award amount that exceeds $50,000 but does not
exceed $100,000;
(C) 25 percent of the
portion of the award amount that exceeds $100,000 but does not exceed $600,000;
and
(D) 15 percent of the
portion of the award amount that exceeds $600,000.
(4)
Disclosure of
collateral source benefits
Any person bringing a civil action
described in subsection (a) shall, and any party may, disclose or introduce
evidence of collateral source benefits.
(5)
Preemption
(A)
In
general
The provisions of this Act preempt, subject to
subparagraphs (B) and (C), State law to the extent that State law prevents the
application of any provisions of law established by or under this Act. The
provisions governing an action described in subsection (a) set forth in this
Act supersede chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to the extent that
such chapter—
(i) provides for a
greater amount of damages or contingent fees, a longer period in which a health
care lawsuit may be commenced, or a reduced applicability or scope of periodic
payment of future damages, than provided in this Act; or
(ii) prohibits the
introduction of evidence regarding collateral source benefits, or mandates or
permits subrogation or a lien on collateral source benefits.
(B)
Greater
protections preserved
This
Act shall not preempt or supersede any State or Federal law that imposes
greater procedural or substantive protections for health care providers from
liability, loss, or damages than those provided by this Act or create a cause
of action.
(C)
Rule of
construction
No provision of
this Act shall be construed to preempt—
(i) any State law (whether effective before,
on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act) that specifies a particular
monetary amount of compensatory or punitive damages (or the total amount of
damages) that may be awarded in an action described in subsection (a),
regardless of whether such monetary amount is greater or lesser than is
provided for under this Act; or
(ii) any defense available to a party in an
action described in subsection (a) under any other provision of State or
Federal law.
(6)
Definitions
(A)
Collateral
source benefits
As used in this section, the term
collateral source benefits means any amount paid or reasonably
likely to be paid in the future to or on behalf of the claimant, or any
service, product, or other benefit provided or reasonably likely to be provided
in the future to or on behalf of the claimant, as a result of the personal
harm, pursuant to—
(i) any
State or Federal health, sickness, income-disability, accident, or workers’
compensation law;
(ii) any
health, sickness, income-disability, or accident insurance that provides health
benefits or income-disability coverage;
(iii) any contract or
agreement of any group, organization, partnership, or corporation to provide,
pay for, or reimburse the cost of medical, hospital, dental, or
income-disability benefits; and
(iv) any
other publicly or privately funded program.
(B)
Noneconomic
damages
As used in this section, the term noneconomic
damages means damages for physical and emotional pain, suffering,
inconvenience, physical impairment, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of
enjoyment of life, loss of society and companionship, loss of consortium (other
than loss of domestic service), hedonic damages, injury to reputation, and all
other nonpecuniary losses of any kind or nature.
(C)
Health care
provider
As used in this section, the term health care
provider means any person or entity required by State or Federal laws or
regulations to be licensed, registered, or certified to provide health care
services, and being either so licensed, registered, or certified, or exempted
from such requirement by other statute.
(D)
Health care
goods or services
As used in
this section, the term health care goods or services means any
goods or services provided by a health care organization, provider, or by any
individual working under the supervision of a health care provider, that
relates to the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of any human disease or
impairment, or the assessment or care of the health of human beings.