Health Care Bill - 1990 Pages

1990 Pages of Health Care Regulations......What could ever possibly go wrong?

The latest bill from House Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats is now available on the internet, weighing in at 1,990 pages. 

If you want to download the bill, go to http://bit.ly/3HL23Z

Here is the bill's table of contents:

TITLE I--IMMEDIATE REFORMS

Sec. 101. National high-risk pool program.

Sec. 102. Ensuring value and lower premiums.

Sec. 103. Ending health insurance rescission abuse.

Sec. 104. Sunshine on price gouging by health insurance issuers.

Sec. 105. Requiring the option of extension of dependent coverage for uninsured young adults.

Sec. 106. Limitations on preexisting condition exclusions in group health plans in advance of applicability of new prohibition of preexisting condition exclusions.

Sec. 107. Prohibiting acts of domestic violence from being treated as preexisting conditions.

Sec. 108. Ending health insurance denials and delays of necessary treatment for children with deformities.

Sec. 109. Elimination of lifetime limits.

Sec. 110. Prohibition against postretirement reductions of retiree health benefits by group health plans.

Sec. 111. Reinsurance program for retirees.

Sec. 112. Wellness program grants.

Sec. 113. Extension of COBRA continuation coverage.

Sec. 114. State Health Access Program grants.

Sec. 115. Administrative simplification.

TITLE II--PROTECTIONS AND STANDARDS FOR QUALIFIED HEALTH BENEFITS PLANS

Subtitle A--General Standards

Sec. 201. Requirements reforming health insurance marketplace.

Sec. 202. Protecting the choice to keep current coverage.

Subtitle B--Standards Guaranteeing Access to Affordable Coverage

Sec. 211. Prohibiting preexisting condition exclusions.

Sec. 212. Guaranteed issue and renewal for insured plans and prohibiting rescissions.

Sec. 213. Insurance rating rules.

Sec. 214. Nondiscrimination in benefits; parity in mental health and substance abuse disorder benefits.

Sec. 215. Ensuring adequacy of provider networks.

Sec. 216. Requiring the option of extension of dependent coverage for uninsured young adults.

Sec. 217. Consistency of costs and coverage under qualified health benefits plans during plan year.

Subtitle C--Standards Guaranteeing Access to Essential Benefits

Sec. 221. Coverage of essential benefits package.

Sec. 222. Essential benefits package defined.

Sec. 223. Health Benefits Advisory Committee.

Sec. 224. Process for adoption of recommendations; adoption of benefit standards.

Subtitle D--Additional Consumer Protections

Sec. 231. Requiring fair marketing practices by health insurers.

Sec. 232. Requiring fair grievance and appeals mechanisms.

Sec. 233. Requiring information transparency and plan disclosure.

Sec. 234. Application to qualified health benefits plans not offered through the Health Insurance Exchange.

Sec. 235. Timely payment of claims.

Sec. 236. Standardized rules for coordination and subrogation of benefits.

Sec. 237. Application of administrative simplification.

Sec. 238. State prohibitions on discrimination against health care providers.

Sec. 239. Protection of physician prescriber information.

Sec. 240. Dissemination of advance care planning information.

Subtitle E--Governance

Sec. 241. Health Choices Administration; Health Choices Commissioner.

Sec. 242. Duties and authority of Commissioner.

Sec. 243. Consultation and coordination.

Sec. 244. Health Insurance Ombudsman.

Subtitle F--Relation to Other Requirements; Miscellaneous

Sec. 251. Relation to other requirements.

Sec. 252. Prohibiting discrimination in health care.

Sec. 253. Whistleblower protection.

Sec. 254. Construction regarding collective bargaining.

Sec. 255. Severability.

Sec. 256. Treatment of Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act.

Sec. 257. Actions by State attorneys general.

Sec. 258. Application of State and Federal laws regarding abortion.

Sec. 259. Nondiscrimination on abortion and respect for rights of conscience.

Sec. 260. Authority of Federal Trade Commission.

Sec. 261. Construction regarding standard of care.

Sec. 262. Restoring application of antitrust laws to health sector insurers.

Sec. 263. Study and report on methods to increase EHR use by small health care providers.

TITLE III--HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE AND RELATED PROVISIONS

Subtitle A--Health Insurance Exchange

Sec. 301. Establishment of Health Insurance Exchange; outline of duties; definitions.

Sec. 302. Exchange-eligible individuals and employers.

Sec. 303. Benefits package levels.

Sec. 304. Contracts for the offering of Exchange-participating health benefits plans.

Sec. 305. Outreach and enrollment of Exchange-eligible individuals and employers in Exchange-participating health benefits plan.

Sec. 306. Other functions.

Sec. 307. Health Insurance Exchange Trust Fund.

Sec. 308. Optional operation of State-based health insurance exchanges.

Sec. 309. Interstate health insurance compacts.

Sec. 310. Health insurance cooperatives.

Sec. 311. Retention of DOD and VA authority.

Subtitle B--Public Health Insurance Option

Sec. 321. Establishment and administration of a public health insurance option as an Exchange-qualified health benefits plan.

Sec. 322. Premiums and financing.

Sec. 323. Payment rates for items and services.

Sec. 324. Modernized payment initiatives and delivery system reform.

Sec. 325. Provider participation.

Sec. 326. Application of fraud and abuse provisions.

Sec. 327. Application of HIPAA insurance requirements.

Sec. 328. Application of health information privacy, security, and electronic transaction requirements.

Sec. 329. Enrollment in public health insurance option is voluntary.

Sec. 330. Enrollment in public health insurance option by Members of Congress.

Sec. 331. Reimbursement of Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Subtitle C--Individual Affordability Credits

Sec. 341. Availability through Health Insurance Exchange.

Sec. 342. Affordable credit eligible individual.

Sec. 343. Affordability premium credit.

Sec. 344. Affordability cost-sharing credit.

Sec. 345. Income determinations.

Sec. 346. Special rules for application to territories.

Sec. 347. No Federal payment for undocumented aliens.

TITLE IV--SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

Subtitle A--Individual Responsibility

Sec. 401. Individual responsibility.

Subtitle B--Employer Responsibility

PART 1--HEALTH COVERAGE PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

Sec. 411. Health coverage participation requirements.

Sec. 412. Employer responsibility to contribute toward employee and dependent coverage.

Sec. 413. Employer contributions in lieu of coverage.

Sec. 414. Authority related to improper steering.

Sec. 415. Impact study on employer responsibility requirements.

Sec. 416. Study on employer hardship exemption.

PART 2--SATISFACTION OF HEALTH COVERAGE PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

Sec. 421. Satisfaction of health coverage participation requirements under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

Sec. 422. Satisfaction of health coverage participation requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Sec. 423. Satisfaction of health coverage participation requirements under the Public Health Service Act.

Sec. 424. Additional rules relating to health coverage participation requirements.

TITLE V--AMENDMENTS TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986

PART 1--SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

SUBPART A--INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY

Sec. 501. Tax on individuals without acceptable health care coverage.

SUBPART B--EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY

Sec. 511. Election to satisfy health coverage participation requirements.

Sec. 512. Health care contributions of nonelecting employers.

PART 2--CREDIT FOR SMALL BUSINESS EMPLOYEE HEALTH COVERAGE EXPENSES

Sec. 521. Credit for small business employee health coverage expenses.

PART 3--LIMITATIONS ON HEALTH CARE RELATED EXPENDITURES

Sec. 531. Distributions for medicine qualified only if for prescribed drug or insulin.

Sec. 532. Limitation on health flexible spending arrangements under cafeteria plans.

Sec. 533. Increase in penalty for nonqualified distributions from health savings accounts.

Sec. 534. Denial of deduction for federal subsidies for prescription drug plans which have been excluded from gross income.

PART 4--OTHER PROVISIONS TO CARRY OUT HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM

Sec. 541. Disclosures to carry out health insurance exchange subsidies.

Sec. 542. Offering of exchange-participating health benefits plans through cafeteria plans.

Sec. 543. Exclusion from gross income of payments made under reinsurance program for retirees.

Sec. 544. CLASS program treated in same manner as long-term care insurance.

Sec. 545. Exclusion from gross income for medical care provided for Indians.

Subtitle B--Other Revenue Provisions

PART 1--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 551. Surcharge on high income individuals.

Sec. 552. Excise tax on medical devices.

Sec. 553. Expansion of information reporting requirements.

Sec. 554. Delay in application of worldwide allocation of interest.

PART 2--PREVENTION OF TAX AVOIDANCE

Sec. 561. Limitation on treaty benefits for certain deductible payments.

Sec. 562. Codification of economic substance doctrine; penalties.

Sec. 563. Certain large or publicly traded persons made subject to a more likely than not standard for avoiding penalties on underpayments.

PART 3--PARITY IN HEALTH BENEFITS

Sec. 571. Certain health related benefits applicable to spouses and dependents extended to eligible beneficiaries.

A Public Option I Can Support

Courtesy Michael Ramirez and IBDeditorials

Obama To End Freedom Of Speech

Funding our troops will end our ability speak our minds and hearts...

Many people are unaware the the National Defense Authorization Act, providing for the funding of our troops and set to win passage in Congress this week and then signed by President Obama, will forge the first links in the chains that will fundamentally shackle their freedom of speech.  The Democrats have inserted The Mathew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act in the Defense funding Bill, over the objectives of the Republicans.

The Hate Crimes Prevention act broadens the protected classes for hate crimes to include sexual orientation and "gender identity", defined as a victim's "actual or perceived gender related characteristics"  Although passed by the House earlier this year, this censorship bill would never have passed the Senate as a stand-alone Bill, therefor the legerdemain being used by the Democrats to force this Bill upon the citizenry of the United States.

The critics of the censorship bill argue that the hate crimes provision will chill freedom of speech by empowering federal authorities to accuse people of inciting hate crimes, even if the speech in question was not specifically related to a crime.  For example, clergy and others, professing the basis of their religious faith could be held accountable for a crime committed by others who may, or may not have even heard their speech.

If you care to see a clear example of the potential danger of this type of law, you only have to look North to Canada, where Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn, two authors and bloggers, have been battling with the Canadian  Human Rights Commission.

On February 14, 2006 the Western Standard drew the attention of the Muslim community by reprinting the controversial editorial cartoonsdepicting Muhammad, the prophet of Islam.^[26]

Levant republished the Muhammed cartoons on his website in January 2008 on the same day he appeared before a hearing of the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission investigating a complaint by Syed Soharwardy of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, and theEdmonton Council of Muslim Communities about Levant's earlier publication of the cartoon. Additionally, Sowharwardy has filed a complaint with Calgary police about Levant saying he fears for his safety because of "lies" he says Levant has been spreading about him claiming Levant is inciting hatred. Police said they were actively investigating the complaint.^[25]

Levant was called before the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission and asked to respond to the complaint. ......The complaint was dismissed by the Commission on August 5, 2008.  Source

 In 2007, a complaint was filed with the Ontario Human Rights Commission related to an article "The Future Belongs to Islam,"^[41] written by Mark Steyn, published in Maclean's magazine. The complainants alleged that the article and Maclean’s refusal to provide space for a rebuttal violated their human rights. The complainants also claimed that the article was one of twenty-two (22) Maclean’s articles, many written by Steyn, about Muslims.^[42] Further complaints were filed with the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal........

Soon afterwards, the head of the Canadian Human Rights Commission issued a public letter to the editor of Maclean’s magazine. In it, Jennifer Lynch said, "Mr. Steyn would have us believe that words, however hateful, should be give free reign. History has shown us that hateful words sometimes lead to hurtful actions that undermine freedom and have led to unspeakable crimes. That is why Canada and most other democracies have enacted legislation to place reasonable limits on the expression of hatred."^[47] The National Post subsequently defended Steyn and sharply criticized Lynch, stating that Lynch has "no clear understanding of free speech or the value of protecting it" and that "No human right is more basic than freedom of expression, not even the "right" to live one's life free from offence by remarks about one's ethnicity, gender, culture or orientation."^[48]

The federal Canadian Human Rights Commission dismissed the Canadian Islamic Congress' complaint against Maclean’s in June 2008. 

Steyn later wrote a lengthy reflection of his turmoil with the commissions and the tribunals. The reflection appears as the introduction to The Tyranny of Nice,^[50] a book authored by Kathy Shaidle and Pete Vere on Canada's human rights commissions. In it, Steyn writes:

I’ve learned a lot of lessons during my time in the crosshairs of the [Canadian human rights investigator Jennifer] Lynch mob. Although the feistier columnists have spoken out on this issue, the broad mass of Canadian media seems generally indifferent to a power grab that explicitly threatens to reduce them to a maple-flavoured variant of Pravda. One boneheaded “journalism professor” even attempted to intervene in the British Columbia trial on the side of the censors. As some leftie website put it, “Defending freedom of speech for jerks means defending jerks.” Well, yes. But, in this case, not defending the jerks means not defending freedom of speech for yourself. It’s not a left/right thing; it’s a free/unfree thing. But an alarming proportion of the Dominion’s “media workers” seem relatively relaxed about playing the role of eunuchs to the Trudeaupian sultans.  Source

If you have time, an even more compelling view of how difficult retrieving your right to freedom of speech can be, watch the folowing video's of Levant and Steyn testifying to the Canadian Parliament in an effort to have their equivalent of the Mathew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act repealed.  If you're concerned....call your Representative and Senator NOW!

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Video 5

Video 6

Video 7

Obama Needs A Win

Democrats need to "Git-R-Done"!

The Health Care debate has taken on a new dimension....we've reached the stage where getting a bill passed has transcended the possible original reason, such as fixing a serious issue impacting our lives, and now we've reached a higher plain....the Democrats version of "Win one for the Gipper".

On NPR's "Morning Edition" yesterday, the host Renee Montagne was speaking with NPR News Analyst Cokie Roberts about President Obama's current difficulties.  They started by recounting General Jones laying the groundwork for the possible defenestration of General McChrystal, slid right through the the Obama's failed Olympic begging fiasco, and then segued into the status of the health care debate.  Cokie went right to the nub of the issue...

Now, of course, if he had won - if Chicago had won - it would be seen as a great triumph. But that coming at the same time as the jobless numbers being very high, bad news out of Iran, a disagreement with the allies, all of that is troublesome, obviously, for the president. It's a rough patch for him, so he needs a win.

And of course, the most obvious win for him to have is on health care reform, and that's a reason to focus on it and push for it. And it's a reason for Democrats to get it done, because they too understand that the president needs a win. That works for them.

MONTAGNE: So, is all that going to work to the end that the president will get a win? I mean, is health care going to happen?

ROBERTS: It is really a tough one. In the end, I continue to believe it's going to happen, but the Senate Finance Committee is probably going to report out a bill this week. But you already have liberal members of that committee saying, well, they're not sure they're going to vote for it. They have floor strategy that they would like to bring up.

You've got governors taking a look at the bill and saying we can't afford this Medicaid - this is health care for the poor - we can't afford those expansions. The costs are a real problem. And as people look at it, the premiums in some cases might cost more than the penalties for not getting health care, so there's a lot still to work out.

But I do think that the impulse is all there to get it done before the end of the year, if for no other reason, to give the president a political victory.

So.....the Democratic Congress will transform our society and one sixth of our economy just to give Obama a victory....well now, isn't that just so supportive of them.  It would be terrible if Obama's self-esteem was diminished, even though the potential of that ever possibly happening is nil.

OK Democrats!  Man (and Woman) Up!...and "Git-R-Done" for Obama!

Obama's Lamp....

Three wishes? 
Don't think so....

Courtesy Michael Ramirez and IBD.com