Bill Summary & Status for the 106th Congress

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S.2888
Sponsor: Sen Wellstone, Paul D.(introduced 7/19/2000)
Latest Major Action: 7/19/2000 Referred to Senate committee
Title: A bill to guarantee for all Americans quality, affordable, and comprehensive health insurance coverage.
Jump to: Titles, Status, Committees, Related Bill Details, Amendments, Cosponsors, Summary

TITLE(S):  (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)
STATUS: (color indicates Senate actions)
7/19/2000:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7232-7238)

COMMITTEE(S):
RELATED BILL DETAILS:

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AMENDMENT(S):

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COSPONSOR(S):

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SUMMARY AS OF:
7/19/2000--Introduced.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Health Security for All Americans Act - Title I: Health Security for All Americans - Expansion Phase (Phase I) - Amends the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new title XXII (Health Security For All Americans) with a part A (Expansion Phase (Phase I) Plans) providing funds to participating States to enable them to ensure universal health insurance coverage by voluntarily establishing State administered systems which offer at least the benefits provided under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program standard Blue Cross-Blue Shield preferred provider option service benefit plan. Makes appropriations.

Title II: Health Security for All Americans - Universal Phase (Phase II) - Amends SSA title XXII to add a part B (Universal Phase (Phase II) Plans) requiring States by January 1, 2006, to establish and implement State-administered systems to ensure universal health insurance coverage equal to the benefits provided under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program standard Blue Cross-Blue Shield preferred provider option service benefit plan. Provides for funds to States for the establishment and implementation of such systems. Makes necessary appropriations.

(Sec. 202) Adds a part C (Consumer Protections) listing home care standards and providing for consumer protection: (1) in the event of termination or suspension of health services; (2) through disclosure of information regarding health care workers; and (3) through notice of changes in health care delivery.

Title III: Patient Protections - Enacts into Federal law certain provisions of H.R. 2723 of the 106th Congress, as introduced on August 5, 1999, and H.R. 137 of the 106th Congress, as introduced on January 6, 1999.

Title IV: Health Care Quality, Patient Safety, and Workforce Standards - Establishes within the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Health Care Quality, Patient Safety, and Workforce Standards Institute to: (1) demonstrate how patient safety issues and workplace conditions are linked to quality patient care and the reduction of the incidence of medical errors; and (2) reduce the incidence of medical errors and improve patient safety and quality of care. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 402) Establishes a Health Care Quality, Patient Safety, and Workforce Standards Committee to advise the Director of the Health Care Quality, Patient Safety, and Workforce Standards Institute.

Title V: Improving Medicare Benefits - Requires that each individual entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) or enrolled under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) be provided full mental health and substance abuse treatment parity under Medicare consistent with SSA title XXII (as added by this Act).

(Sec. 502) Directs the Director of the Institute of Medicine to study and report to Congress and the President legislative recommendations for adding a comprehensive, accessible, and affordable prescription drug benefit to Medicare.

Title VI: Long-Term and Home Health Care - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) conduct studies and demonstration projects, through grant, contract, or interagency agreement, that are designed to identify model programs for the provision of long-term and home health care services; and (2) report to Congress on results.

Title VII: Miscellaneous - Makes specified provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) inapplicable to health benefits provided under a group health plan qualified to offer such benefits under an expansion phase (phase I) plan or a universal phase (phase II) plan under SSA title XXII.

(Sec. 702) Expresses the sense of Congress that any sums necessary for the implementation of this Act should be offset by: (1) general revenues available as a result of an on-budget surplus for a fiscal year; (2) direct savings in health care expenditures resulting from the implementation of this Act; and (3) reductions in unnecessary Federal tax benefits available only to individuals and large corporations in the maximum tax brackets.