[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2947 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2947

    To establish a demonstration grant program to assist States in 
providing subsidies for group health insurance premiums for low-income, 
                     Medicaid-eligible individuals.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 25, 2003

   Mr. Langevin (for himself, Mr. Crowley, Ms. Norton, Ms. Lee, Mr. 
Lantos, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Murtha, and Mr. Frost) introduced 
 the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To establish a demonstration grant program to assist States in 
providing subsidies for group health insurance premiums for low-income, 
                     Medicaid-eligible individuals.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Making Health Care Available for 
Low-Income Workers Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. WORKING POOR HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM SUBSIDY DEMONSTRATION 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
provide grants to States for demonstration programs under which 
payments are made to reduce the premiums for health benefits coverage 
under group health plans for individuals--
            (1) who are eligible for benefits under a State's medicaid 
        program (or, at the option of a State, who would be so eligible 
        but for their eligibility or coverage under a group health 
        plan); and
            (2) whose income does not exceed 185 percent of the income 
        official poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management 
        and Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 
        673(2) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981) 
        applicable to a family of the size involved.
    (b) Amount of Grant.--The amount of a grant to a State under this 
section may not exceed 50 percent of the premiums for health benefits 
coverage under a group health plan for which coverage is provided under 
the demonstration program for eligible low-income workers described in 
subsection (a). Of the amount so provided--
            (1) the amount shall first be used to reduce the employee 
        share (if any) of any premiums; and
            (2) the remainder (if any) shall be used to reduce the 
        employer's cost of providing the coverage.
    (c) Preference.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall 
provide preference for States that have increased the income 
eligibility threshold under the medicaid program.
    (d) Applications, Etc.--No grant shall be made to a State under 
this section unless the Secretary has approved an application by the 
State that meets such conditions as the Secretary establishes.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 2 years after funding is first made 
available to States under this section, the Secretary shall submit a 
report to Congress on the success of such grants under this section and 
shall include in the report such recommendations as the Secretary deems 
appropriate.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for grants under this section $30,000,000 for the 5-
fiscal-year period beginning with fiscal year 2004. Amounts 
appropriated under this subsection shall be available for obligation 
without fiscal year limitation through the end of such period.
    (g) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            (1) Group health plan.--The term ``group health plan'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 2791(a)(1) of the Public 
        Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg-91(a)(1)).
            (2) Medicaid program.--The term ``medicaid program'' means 
        a State plan established under title XIX of the Social Security 
        Act.
            (3) Premium.--The term ``premium'' includes, with respect 
        to a group health plan, the cost of providing coverage under 
        the plan, including the cost to employees of such coverage.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.
            (5) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such 
        term for purposes of the medicaid program.
                                 <all>