US Congress House Bill 261 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 51-0)
Status: Introduced on January 15 2013 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2013-01-18 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Health Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Public Option Deficit Reduction Act - Amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to offer through Exchanges a health benefits plan (public health insurance option) that ensures choice, competition, and stability of affordable, high-quality coverage throughout the United States. Declares that the Secretary's primary responsibility is to create a low-cost plan without compromising quality or access to care. Sets forth provisions related to the establishment and governance of the public health insurance option, including that such plan: (1) may be made available only through Exchanges; (2) must comply with requirements applicable to other health benefits plans offered through such Exchanges, including requirements related to benefits, benefit levels, provider networks, notices, consumer protections, and cost sharing; and (3) must offer bronze, silver, and gold plan levels. Requires the Secretary to: (1) establish an office of the ombudsman for the public health insurance option, (2) collect such data as may be required to establish premiums and payment rates, (3) establish geographically adjusted premiums at a level sufficient to fully finance the costs of the health benefits provided and administrative costs related to the operation of the plan, and (4) establish payment rates and provide for greater payment rates for the first three years. Requires repayment of start-up costs for the public health insurance option. Authorizes the Secretary to utilize innovative payment mechanisms and policies to determine payments for items and services under the public health insurance option.

Public Option Deficit Reduction Act

Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D-IL]	Rep. Judy Chu [D-CA]	Rep. David Cicilline [D-RI]	Rep. Lacy Clay [D-MO]
Rep. Steve Cohen [D-TN]	Rep. John Conyers [D-MI]	Rep. Elijah Cummings [D-MD]	Rep. Diana DeGette [D-CO]
Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D-CT]	Rep. Theodore Deutch [D-FL]	Rep. Donna Edwards [D-MD]	Rep. Keith Ellison [D-MN]
Rep. Eliot Engel [D-NY]	Rep. Sam Farr [D-CA]	Rep. Chaka Fattah [D-PA]	Rep. Alan Grayson [D-FL]
Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ]	Rep. Janice Hahn [D-CA]	Rep. Brian Higgins [D-NY]	Rep. Rush Holt [D-NJ]
Rep. Michael Honda [D-CA]	Rep. Henry Johnson [D-GA]	Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D-OH]	Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA]
Rep. Sander Levin [D-MI]	Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D-CA]	Sen. Ben Lujan [D-NM]	Rep. Doris Matsui [D-CA]
Rep. Betty McCollum [D-MN]	Rep. Jim McDermott [D-WA]	Rep. James McGovern [D-MA]	Rep. George Miller [D-CA]
Rep. Gwen Moore [D-WI]	Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D-NY]	Rep. Eleanor Norton [D-DC]	Rep. Frank Pallone [D-NJ]
Rep. Chellie Pingree [D-ME]	Rep. Mark Pocan [D-WI]	Rep. Jared Polis [D-CO]	Rep. Charles Rangel [D-NY]
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard [D-CA]	Rep. John Sarbanes [D-MD]	Rep. Jose Serrano [D-NY]	Rep. Carol Shea-Porter [D-NH]
Rep. Louise Slaughter [D-NY]	Rep. Mark Takano [D-CA]	Rep. Paul Tonko [D-NY]	Rep. Maxine Waters [D-CA]
Rep. Henry Waxman [D-CA]	Sen. Peter Welch [D-VT]	Rep. John Yarmuth [D-KY]

Date	Chamber	Action
2013-01-18	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
2013-01-15	House	Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/261/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr261/BILLS-113hr261ih.pdf