S.Amdt. 2925Senate111th Congress (2009-2011)2nd degree
S.Amdt. 2925
Sponsored by
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Submitted December 5, 2009
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Senate amendment submitted
December 5, 2009
Text
Submitted
SA 2925. Ms. STABENOW submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2786 proposed by Mr. Reid (for himself, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Dodd, and Mr. Harkin) to the bill H.R. 3590, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the first-time homebuyers credit in the case of members of the Armed Forces and certain other Federal employees, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place in title I, insert the following: SEC. __. STATE HEALTH ACCESS PROGRAM GRANTS. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall award grants to States (as defined for purposes of title XIX of the Social Security Act) to establish programs to expand access to affordable health care coverage for the uninsured populations in that State in a manner consistent with reforms to take effect under this title (and the amendments made by this title) in 2014. (b) Types of Programs.--The types of programs for which grants are available under subsection (a) include the following: (1) State insurance exchanges.--State insurance Exchanges that develop new, less expensive, portable benefit packages for small employers and part-time and seasonal workers. (2) Community coverage program.--Community coverage with shared responsibility between employers, governmental or nonprofit entities, and the individual. [[Page S12518]] (3) Reinsurance plan program.--Reinsurance plans that subsidize a certain share of carrier losses within a certain risk corridor health insurance premium assistance. (4) Transparent marketplace program.--Transparent marketplace that provides an organized structure for the sale of insurance products such as a web-based exchange or portal. (5) Automated enrollment program.--Statewide or automated enrollment systems for public assistance programs. (6) Innovative strategies.--Innovative strategies to insure low-income childless adults. (7) Purchasing collaboratives.--Business and consumer collaboratives that provides direct contract health care service purchasing options for group plan sponsors. (c) Eligibility and Administration.-- (1) Implementation of key statutory or regulatory changes.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this section for a program, a State shall demonstrate that-- (A) it has achieved the key State and local statutory or regulatory changes required to begin implementing the new program within 1 year after the initiation of funding under the grant; and (B) it will be able to sustain the program without Federal funding after the end of the period of the grant. (2) Ineligibility.--A State that has developed a comprehensive health insurance access program prior to the date of enactment of this Act shall not eligible for a grant under this section. (3) Application required.--No State shall receive a grant under this section unless the State has approved by the Secretary such an application, in such form and manner as the Secretary specifies. (4) Administration based on current program.--The program under this section is intended to build on the State Health Access Program funded under the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-8). (d) Funding Limitations.-- (1) In general.--A grant under this section shall-- (A) only be available for expenditures before 2014; and (B) only be used to supplement, and not supplant, funds otherwise provided. (2) Matching fund requirement.-- (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), no grant may be awarded to a State under this section unless the State demonstrates the seriousness of its effort by matching at least 20 percent of the grant amount through non-Federal resources, which may be a combination of State, local, and private dollars from insurers, providers, and other private organizations. (B) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the requirement of subparagraph (A) if the State demonstrates to the Secretary financial hardship in complying with such requirement. (e) Study.--The Secretary shall review, study, and benchmark the progress and results of the programs funded under this section. (f) Report.--Each State receiving a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary a report on best practices and lessons learned through the grant to inform the health reform coverage expansions under this title beginning in 2014. (g) Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. ______