H.R. 196 (103rd): Health Equity and Access Improvement Act of 1992

Introduced:
Jan 05, 1993 (103rd Congress, 1993–1994)
Sponsor:
Rep. Amory “Amo” Houghton Jr. [R-NY31]
Status:
Died (Referred to Committee)

The bill’s title was written by the bill’s sponsor. H.R. stands for House of Representatives bill.

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Status

This bill was introduced on January 5, 1993, in a previous session of Congress, but was not enacted.

Progress
Introduced Jan 05, 1993
Cosponsors
none
Committees

House Energy and Commerce

House Judiciary

House Ways and Means

The committee chair determines whether a bill will move past the committee stage.

Full Title

To provide improved access to health care, and for other purposes.

Summary

No summaries available.

Text

Read Bill Text »

Last updated Jan 05, 1993.
220 pages

Primary Source

View on THOMAS (The Library of Congress)

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Citation

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GovTrack’s Bill Summary

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Library of Congress Summary

The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.

1/5/1993--Introduced.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Title I - Tax Incentives for Health Care Access Title II: Health Care Reform Provisions Subtitle A: Model Health Care Insurance Benefits Plan Subtitle B: Managed Care Subtitle C: Small Employer Purchasing Groups Subtitle D: Insurance Market Reform Subtitle E: Uniform Standards for Reporting Services and Processing Claims Title III: Medical Liability Reform Subtitle A: Definitions and Findings Subtitle B: Expedited Medical Malpractice Settlements Subtitle C: Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures Subtitle D: Uniform Standards for Medical Malpractice Cases Subtitle E: Uniform Disciplinary Reforms Subtitle F: Medical Products Subtitle G: Community Health Centers Subtitle H: Miscellaneous Provisions Title IV: Public Health Provisions Subtitle A: New Basic Health Care Program Subtitle B: Medicaid Provisions Title V: Medically Underserved Areas Subtitle A: Public Health Service Act Provisions Subtitle B: Provision Relating to Social Security Title VI: Incentives to Encourage Preventive Services Title VII: Tax Treatment of Long-Term Care Insurance And Plans Subtitle A: Treatment of Long-Term Care Insurance Subtitle B: Employer Funding of Medical Benefits Subtitle C: Reverse Mortgage Insurance for Older Americans Subtitle D: Income Tax Credits Subtitle E: Treatment of Accelerated Death Benefits Subtitle F: Federal National Long-Term Care Reinsurance Corporation Title VIII: Improvements in Portability of Private Health Insurance Health Equity and Access Improvement Act of 1992
Title I - Tax Incentives for Health Care Access
Section 101 -
Amends the Internal Revenue Code regarding: (1) health expense credits; (2) health premium deductions; (3) small employer health credits; (4) health premium deductions for self-employed individuals; and (5) credits for primary health service providers in rural health professional shortage areas.
Section 105 -
Excludes from gross income payments made for a taxpayer by the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. Permits a rural health professional shortage area physician to expense certain property. Allows deductions for rural medical professionals' student loan interest.
Title II - Health Care Reform Provisions
Section 201 -
Mandates: (1) a model health care insurance benefits plan with standards that carriers should meet; and (2) standards that managed care plan insurers should meet. Establishes the Managed Care Advisory Committee. Preempts State law provisions as applied to managed care plans meeting the recommended standards.
Section 221 -
Provides for contracts between small employer purchasing groups and carriers.
Title III - Medical Liability Reform
Section 311 -
Regulates settlement offers in medical malpractice cases.
Section 321 -
Establishes an Alternative Dispute Resolution Board of Advisers to make recommendations concerning establishing a model voluntary medical malpractice dispute resolution program.
Section 332 -
Caps future losses, noneconomic damages, and attorneys' fees. Prohibits joint liability in civil actions for noneconomic damages. Establishes a medical malpractice statute of limitations.
Section 342 -
Imposes requirements on States regarding: (1) allocation of medical licensing fees; (2) disciplinary board membership; (3) risk management programs; and (4) health care disciplinary trust funds.
Section 351 -
Protects a drug or device producer from punitive damages if the drug or device was subject to approval or premarket approval.
Section 361 -
Amends the Public Health Service Act to mandate a grant to an entity representing recipients of assistance at migrant and community health centers to develop a business plan and establish a nationwide risk retention group. Authorizes appropriations.
Title IV - Public Health Provisions
Section 401 -
Amends the Social Security Act to create the BasiCare program. Authorizes appropriations for basic health care benefits for low-income uninsured individuals ineligible for coverage under title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act.
Section 412 -
Establishes the Federal Medical Waiver Demonstration Board, permitting it to waive provisions of: (1) the Public Health Service Act; (2) title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act; (3) Medicaid and BasiCare; (4) veterans' health care programs; and (5) the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
Title V - Medically Underserved Areas
Section 501 -
Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for the National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program and the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program.
Section 502 -
Mandates allotments to States for grants for community based primary health care entities providing services to pregnant women and children.
Section 503 -
Mandates grants to federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs) and other entities for services for medically underserved populations or in high impact areas not currently served by a FQHC. Authorizes appropriations.
Section 504 -
Authorizes grants for a plan for mental health outreach programs in rural areas. Authorizes appropriations.
Section 505 -
Mandates priority, in awarding grants regarding the research, teaching, and training activities of health personnel educational entities, to entities that demonstrate a commitment to serving medically underserved communities. Mandates grants for: (1) expanded training for individuals desiring to serve medically underserved communities; and (2) coordination among health professions programs, particularly in medically underserved rural areas. Authorizes appropriations.
Section 506 -
Authorizes grants: (1) to rural communities for stipends to physicians, nurses, or other health professional trainees; (2) for networks among rural and urban providers to preserve and share health care resources and enhance rural care; and (3) for cooperatives in rural areas to establish a case management and reimbursement system. Authorizes appropriations.
Section 511 -
Amends: (1) the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 to authorize appropriations for the Rural Health Care Transition Grant Program; and (2) Medicare to authorize appropriations for the Essential Access Community Hospital Program.
Title VI - Incentives to Encourage Preventive Services
Section 601 -
Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to provide credits for preventive services.
Section 602 -
Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for immunization grants.
Title VII - Tax Treatment of Long-Term Care Insurance and Plans
Section 701 -
Amends the IRC to provide for the treatment of long-term care insurance regarding: (1) taxation of life insurance companies; (2) taxation of fringe benefits; (3) amounts withdrawn from individual retirement accounts or qualified pension plans for purchasing insurance; and (4) the exchange of life policies for long-term policies.
Section 711 -
Revises provisions governing medical benefits for retired employees. Allows deductions for employer contributions to health benefits accounts. Defines funded reserve accounts and vesting requirements to qualify for such a deduction.
Section 712 -
Establishes a penalty on early distributions of medical benefits and an excise tax on allocated assets not used to provide retiree health benefits.
Section 721 -
Amends the National Housing Act to modify limits on the insurance benefits under an existing program concerning home equity conversion mortgages for elderly homeowners.
Section 731 -
Allows tax credits for: (1) households including a parent, grandparent, dependent, or spouse who requires custodial care; and (2) long-term care expenses of certain independent persons.
Section 741 -
Provides for: (1) the treatment of amounts paid to an individual who is terminally ill or permanently confined to a nursing home as death benefits; (2) accelerated death benefit riders on life insurance contracts; and (3) incorporation of the Federal National Long-Term Care Reinsurance Corporation.
Title VIII - Improvements in Portability of Private Health Insurance
Section 801 -
Imposes an excise tax on group health plans for failure to provide coverage for a preexisting condition.

House Republican Conference Summary

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United States Code

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