HEALTH SECURITY ACT 103d CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. / S._ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES / IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES Mr. ________________ _(for himself, [insert cosponsor list attached])_ introduced the following bill; which was [read twice and] referred to the Committee on _XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX BILL To ensure individual and family security through health care coverage for all Americans in a manner that contains the rate of growth in health care costs and promotes responsible health insurance practices, to promote choice in health care, and to ensure and protect the health care of all Americans. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, Health Security Act Table SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF TITLES AND SUBTITLES. (a) Short Title._This Act may be cited as the ``Health Security Act''. (b) Table of Titles and Subtitles in Act._The following are the titles and subtitles contained in this Act: TITLE I_HEALTH CARE SECURITY Subtitle A_Universal Coverage and Individual Responsibility Subtitle B_Benefits Subtitle C_State Responsibilities Subtitle D_Health Alliances Subtitle E_Health Plans Subtitle F_Federal Responsibilities Subtitle G_Employer Responsiblities Subtitle J_General Definitions; Miscellaneous Provisions TITLE II_NEW BENEFITS Subtitle A_Medicare Outpatient Prescription Drug Benefit Subtitle B_Long-Term Care TITLE III_PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES Subtitle A_Workforce Priorities Under Federal Payments Subtitle B_Academic Health Centers Subtitle C_Health Research Initiatives Subtitle D_Core Functions of Public Health Programs; National Initiatives Regarding Preventive Health Subtitle E_Health Services for Medically Underserved Populations Subtitle F_Mental Health; Substance Abuse Subtitle G_Comprehensive School Health Education; School-Related Health Services Subtitle H_Public Health Service Initiatives Fund Subtitle I_Coordination With COBRA Continuation Coverage TITLE IV_MEDICARE AND MEDICAID Subtitle A_Medicare and the Alliance System Subtitle B_Savings in Medicare Program Subtitle C_Medicaid Subtitle D_Increase in SSI Personal Needs Allowance TITLE V_QUALITY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION Subtitle A_Quality Management and Improvement Subtitle B_Information Systems, Privacy, and Administrative Simplification Subtitle C_Remedies and Enforcement Subtitle D_Medical Malpractice Subtitle E_Fraud and Abuse Subtitle F_McCarran-Ferguson Reform TITLE VI_PREMIUM CAPS; PREMIUM-BASED FINANCING; AND PLAN PAYMENTS Subtitle A_Premium Caps Subtitle B_Premium-Related Financings Subtitle C_Payments to Regional Alliance Health Plans TITLE VII_REVENUE PROVISIONS Subtitle A_Financing Provisions Subtitle B_Tax Treatment of Employer-Provided Health Care Subtitle C_Employment Status Provisions Subtitle D_Tax Treatment of Funding of Retiree Health Benefits Subtitle E_Coordination With COBRA Continuing Care Provisions Subtitle F_Tax Treatment of Organizations Providing Health Care Services and Related Organizations Subtitle G_Tax Treatment of Long-term Care Insurance and Services Subtitle H_Tax Incentives for Health Services Providers Subtitle I_Miscellaneous Provisions TITLE VIII_HEALTH AND HEALTH-RELATED PROGRAMS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Subtitle A_Military Health Care Reform Subtitle B_Department of Veterans Affairs Subtitle C_Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Subtitle D_Indian Health Service Subtitle E_Amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 Subtitle F_Special Fund for WIC Program TITLE IX_AGGREGATE GOVERNMENT PAYMENTS TO REGIONAL ALLIANCES Subtitle A_Aggregate State Payments Subtitle B_Aggregate Federal Alliance Payments Subtitle C_Borrowing Authority to Cover Cash-Flow Shortfalls TITLE X_COORDINATION OF MEDICAL PORTION OF WORKERS COMPENSATION AND AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE Subtitle A_Workers Compensation Insurance Subtitle B_Automobile Insurance Subtitle C_Commission on Integration of Health Benefits Subtitle D_Federal Employees' Compensation Act Subtitle E_Davis-Bacon Act and Service Contract Act Subtitle F_Effective Dates TITLE XI_TRANSITIONAL INSURANCE REFORM TITLE XII_TEMPORARY ASSESSMENT ON EMPLOYERS WITH RETIREE HEALTH BENEFIT COSTS Findings SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds as follows: (1) Under the current health care system in the United States_ (A) individuals risk losing their health care coverage when they move, when they lose or change jobs, when they become seriously ill, or when the coverage becomes unaffordable; (B) continued escalation of health care costs threatens the economy of the United States, undermines the international competitiveness of the Nation, and strains Federal, State, and local budgets; (C) an excessive burden of forms, paperwork, and bureaucratic procedures confuses consumers and overwhelms health care providers; (D) fraud and abuse sap the strength of the health care system; and (E) health care is a critical part of the economy of the United States and interstate commerce, consumes a significant percentage of public and private spending, and affects all industries and individuals in the United States. (2) Under any reform of the health care system_ (A) health insurance and high quality health care should be secure, uninterrupted, and affordable for all individuals in the United States; (B) comprehensive health care benefits that meet the full range of health needs, including primary, preventive, and specialized care, should be available to all individuals in the United States; (C) the current high quality of health care in the United States should be maintained; (D) individuals in the United States should be afforded a meaningful opportunity to choose among a range of health plans, health care providers, and treatments; (E) regulatory and administrative burdens should be reduced; (F) the rapidly escalating costs of health care should be contained without sacrificing high quality or impeding technological improvements; (G) competition in the health care industry should ensure that health plans and health care providers are efficient and charge reasonable prices; (H) a partnership between the Federal Government and each State should allow the State and its local communities to design an effective, high-quality system of care that serves the residents of the State; (I) all individuals should have a responsibility to pay their fair share of the costs of health care coverage; (J) a health care system should build on the strength of the employment-based coverage arrangements that now exist in the United States; (K) the penalties for fraud and abuse should be swift and severe; and (L) an individual's medical information should remain confidential and should be protected from unauthorized disclosure and use. Purposes SEC. 3. PURPOSES. The purposes of this Act are as follows: (1) To guarantee comprehensive and secure health care coverage. (2) To simplify the health care system for consumers and health care professionals. (3) To control the cost of health care for employers, employees, and others who pay for health care coverage. (4) To promote individual choice among health plans and health care providers. (5) To ensure high quality health care. (6) To encourage all individuals to take responsibility for their health care coverage.