America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009

The House bill the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 is online. The bill has a public health care option. Tax credits will be given to small busineeses to help for to offer employees health coverage. The House bill will have greater regulation over the health insurance industry.

(3) INSURANCE REFORMS.—This division—

(A) enacts strong insurance market reforms;

(B) creates a new Health Insurance Exchange, with a public health insurance option alongside private plans;

(C) includes sliding scale affordability credits; and

(D) initiates shared responsibility among workers, employers, and the government; so that all Americans have coverage of essential health benefits.

A new executive branch office, the Health Choices Administration, will manage oversight. A commissioner will be appointed by the Obama administration. In making the appointment, President Obama will need the "advice and consent of the Senate." The Commissioner will oversee the health exchange. Private citizens and small businesses can shop for public or private insurance plans. States can offer their own public plans.

Health insurance companies face a greater possibility of fines and criminal prosecution. The House bill intends to cut fraud and overbilling. I say it is long overdue.

‘‘(3) CLARIFICATION.—Repayment of any overpayments (or refunding by withholding of future payments) by a provider of services or supplier does not otherwise limit the provider or supplier’s potential liability for administrative obligations such as applicable interests, fines, and specialties or civil or criminal sanctions involving the same claim if it is determined later that the reason for the overpayment was related to fraud by the provider or supplier or the employees or agents of such provider or supplier.

There is a whistleblower provision for employees that report employers not complying with the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act. The short answer is employees can not be fired for reporting their employers for not providing health insurance. There will be a tax penalty against companies not providing proper health coverage.

(B) EMPLOYMENT TAXES ON EMPLOYERS NOT PROVIDING ACCEPTABLE COVERAGE. — The amounts received in the Treasury under section 3111(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to employers electing to not provide health benefits).

(C) EXCISE TAX ON FAILURES TO MEET CERTAIN HEALTH COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS.—The amounts received in the Treasury under section 4980H(b) (relating to excise tax with respect to failure to meet health coverage participation requirements).

Employers will be taxed $100.00 a day for each violation. The tax ends when employers comply. Taxes will not be imposed if "such failure was due to reason18
able cause and not to willful neglect."

According to Reuters health care reform will be paid for by tax increases on the upper income brackets. I haven't found that portion of the bill yet.

TAXES

* Taxes on wealthy would raise $544 billion over ten years.

* Additional tax of 1 percent on income for couples above $350,000, 1.5 percent above $500,000, 5.4 percent over $1 million.

* Triggers a higher rates in 2013 of 2.0 percent for those above $350,000 income and 3 percent for those above $500,000.

I will try to post more about the bill tomorrow.