Bill > HR191

Introduced Session

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.

Committee Categories

Gary Ackerman (D),  Tammy Baldwin (D),  Leonard Boswell (D),  Michael Capuano (D),  Judy Chu (D),  Lacy Clay (D),  Steve Cohen (D),  John Conyers (D),  Elijah Cummings (D),  Diana DeGette (D),  Rosa DeLauro (D),  Theodore Deutch (D),  Michael Doyle (D),  Donna Edwards (D),  Keith Ellison (D),  Eliot Engel (D),  Sam Farr (D),  Chaka Fattah (D),  Bob Filner (D),  Barney Frank (D),  John Garamendi (D),  Al Green (D),  Raúl Grijalva (D),  Luis Gutiérrez (D),  Janice Hahn (D),  Alcee Hastings (D),  Brian Higgins (D),  Maurice Hinchey (D),  Mazie Hirono (D),  Rush Holt (D),  Michael Honda (D),  Jesse Jackson (D),  Sheila Jackson-Lee (D),  Hank Johnson (D),  Marcy Kaptur (D),  Dennis Kucinich (D),  James Langevin (D),  Barbara Lee (D),  Zoe Lofgren (D),  Ben Ray Luján (D),  Stephen Lynch (D),  Doris Matsui (D),  Betty McCollum (D),  Jim McDermott (D),  Jim McGovern (D),  George Miller (D),  Gwen Moore (D),  Chris Murphy (D),  Jerry Nadler (D),  Eleanor Holmes Norton (D),  John Olver (D),  Donald Payne (D),  Chellie Pingree (D),  Jared Polis (D),  David Price (D),  Charles Rangel (D),  Silvestre Reyes (D),  Laura Richardson (D),  Steven Rothman (D),  Lucille Roybal-Allard (D),  Tim Ryan (D),  Linda Sánchez (D),  John Sarbanes (D),  Jan Schakowsky (D),  Bobby Scott (D),  José Serrano (D),  Louise Slaughter (D),  Jackie Speier (D),  Fortney Stark (D),  Mike Thompson (D),  Paul Tonko (D),  Niki Tsongas (D),  Maxine Waters (D),  Anthony Weiner (D),  Peter Welch (D),  Lynn Woolsey (D),  John Yarmuth (D), 

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. (on 02/01/2011)

Official Document