#aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ihf ,,an ,,act ,to provide that certain guidance related to waivers for ,state innovation under the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act shall have no force or effect4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,protecting ,americans with ,preexisting ,conditions ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,on ,october #bd1 #bjah1 the administration published new guidance to carry out section #accb of the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjeb7 entitled 8,state ,relief and ,empowerment ,waivers0 7#hc ,fed4 ,reg4 #ecege74 7#b7 ,the new guidance encourages ,states to provide health insurance coverage through insurance plans that may discriminate against individuals with preexisting health conditions1 including the one in four ,americans living with a disability4 7#c7 ,the implementation and enforcement of the new guidance weakens protections for the millions of ,americans living with preexisting health conditions and jeopardizes ,americans' access to quality1 affordable health insurance coverage4 #c4 ,providing that certain guidance related to waivers for ,state innovation under the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act shall have no force or effect ,beginning ,april #a1 #bjai1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services and the ,secretary of the ,treasury may not take any action to implement1 enforce1 or otherwise give effect to the guidance entitled ,state ,relief and ,empowerment ,waivers 7#hc ,fed4 ,reg4 #ecege 7,october #bd1 #bjah771 including any such action that would result in individuals losing health insurance coverage that includes the essential health benefits package 7as defined in subsection 7a7 of section #acjb of the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjbb7;a77 without regard to any waiver of any provision of such package under a waiver under such section #accb71 including the maternity and newborn care essential health benefit described in subsection 7b77#a77;,d7 of such section1 including any such action that would result in a decrease in the number of such individuals enrolled in coverage that is at least as comprehensive as the coverage defined in section #acjb7;a7 of the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjbb7;a77 compared to the number of such individuals who would have been so enrolled in such coverage had such action not been taken1 including any such action that would1 with respect to individuals with substance use disorders1 including opioid use disorders1 reduce the availability or affordability of coverage that is at least as comprehensive as the coverage defined in section #acjb7;a7 of the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjbb7;a77 compared to the availability or affordability1 respectively1 of such coverage had such action not been taken1 including any such action that would result1 with respect to vulnerable populations 7including low-income individuals1 elderly individuals1 and individuals with serious health issues or who have a greater risk of developing serious health issues71 in a decrease in the availability of coverage that is at least as comprehensive as the coverage defined in section #acjb7;a7 of the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjbb7;a77 with coverage and cost sharing protections required under section #accb7;b77#a77;,b7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjeb7;b77#a77;,b771 including any such action that would1 with respect to individuals with preexisting conditions1 reduce the affordability of coverage that is at least as comprehensive as the coverage defined in section #acjb7;a7 of the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjbb7;a77 compared to the affordability of such coverage had such action not been taken1 including any such action that would result in higher health insurance premiums for individuals enrolled in health insurance coverage that is at least as comprehensive as the coverage defined in section #acjb7;b7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjbb7;b771 and the ,secretaries may not promulgate any substantially similar guidance or rule4 ,nothing in the previous sentence shall be construed to affect the approval of waivers under section #accb of the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjeb7 that establish reinsurance programs that are consistent with the requirements under subsection 7b77#a7 of such section 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjeb7;b77#a771 lower health insurance premiums1 and protect health insurance coverage for people with preexisting conditions4 #d4 ,,gao report on affect of ,state innovation waivers on coverage of individuals and on mental health health care treatment ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report on the number of individuals expected to lose access to health insurance coverage 7as defined in section #bgia of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;gg-#ia77 if section #b were not enacted and waivers under section #accb of the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjeb7 were approved under the guidance described in such section #b4 ,such report shall include an analysis of the expected effect such waivers approved under such guidance would have on mental health care treatment4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,may #i1 #bjai4;,clerk4