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Government
& Public Affairs Update
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Government &
Public Affairs Team
Reginald M. Turner
John
Van Fossen, Practice Group Leader
Lucius A. Vassar
Chris Wagner
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House Approves Updated Health Care
Reform Bill, 220-215
On Saturday
evening, the House of Representatives narrowly approved H.R. 3962,
the Affordable Health Care for America Act, a sweeping reform bill
resulting from months of negotiations. Despite holding a 258 to
177 advantage in the House, 39 moderate Democrats joined all but one
Republican, Anh (Joseph) Cao of Louisiana's Second Congressional
District, in opposing the bill. Some key components of the bill
include:
- Establishes the Health Insurance
Exchange within the Administration to facilitate access of
individuals and employers to a variety of health insurance
options, including a public option
- Prohibits preexisting condition
exclusions
- Provides for an affordability premium
credit and an affordability cost-sharing credit for low-income
individuals
- Requires employers to offer health
benefits coverage and make contributions towards that coverage (exempts
small businesses with payrolls below $500,000 from this
requirement)
- Provides a tax credit for small
businesses who provide health care coverage to their employees
- Imposes a 5.4% surtax on individuals
whose adjusted gross income exceeds $500,000 ($1 million for
married couples filing jointly)
- Requires the option of extending
coverage for children under 27 years of age
- Prohibits aggregate dollar lifetime
limits on benefits
- Extends COBRA coverage until an
individual becomes eligible for health insurance coverage under
the Act
- Provides for grandfathered health
insurance coverage
- Limits premium variances
- Limits annual cost-sharing to $5,000
for individuals and $10,000 for a family
- Prohibits abortion services from being
required under an essential benefits package
- Expands Medicaid eligibility
for low-income individuals and families.
"It
provides coverage for 96 percent of Americans. It offers everyone,
regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from
knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they
need it," said Rep. John Dingell (D-MI).
After initially involving committee chairmen and the White
House, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) office has
taken control of the bill and is sharing scant details with other
Senators while crafting the final bill from the versions approved by
the Health, Education, Labor and Pesions Committee and the Finance
Committee. Whatever emerges from Reid's office will differ
greatly from the House bill.
Reid said his goal is to have health care reform wrapped up by year's
end.
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If you have
any questions concerning these issues, please contact Chris Wagner at
202.772.0924 or cwagner@clarkhill.com.
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To find out more
about Clark Hill and our Government & Public Affairs Practice
Group, visit clarkhill.com
or call 800.949.3124
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