SENATE BILL: Glasses are Good to See Act (Passed)

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

SENATE BILL

to help people with sight problems get their much needed visual aids

Be it enacted by both houses of Congress assembled:

SECTION I: NAME.
1. This Act may be cited as the Glasses are Good to See Act.

SECTION II: BENEFICIARIES
1. All Atlasian citizens or permanent residents shall be elegible for this bill as long as they have one or more of the following visual problems:
a) Myopia lower than -0.5 dioptres
b) Hypermetropia higher than +0.5 dioptres
c) Astigmatism
d) Any other kind of visual problem where the most adequate solution is the use of glasses or contact lenses, as prescribed by an ophthalmologist

SECTION III: IMPLEMENTATION.
1. All beneficiaries described in Section II shall be given a 110$ subsidy after they buy a new pair of glasses
2. No single beneificiary shall receive this subsidy more than once every 24 months.

SECTION IV: COST
1. This bill shall be funded through the following new taxes:
a) A 5% tax on video game sales
b) A 5% tax on movie ticket sales
c) A 5% tax on TV sales
d) A 5% tax on the sale of PC desktops and laptops
e) A 5% tax on the sale of lightbulbs

SECTION V: TIMING
1. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its passage.

People's Regional Senate
Pending

Sponsor: Tack50
Senate Designation: SB 9016

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The sponsor has 24 hours to begin an advocacy here. MEmbers have a subsequent 48 hours to post their initial comments, questions, concerns.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Sorry to drop a bomb on discussion in this thread so far, but once again, ATLASCARE!!!!

b. The health care benefits under AtlasCare cover all medically necessary services, including at least the following:
Primary care and prevention.
Inpatient care.
Outpatient care.
Emergency care.
Prescription drugs.
Durable medical equipment.
Long-term care.
Palliative care.
Mental health services.
The full scope of dental services (other than cosmetic dentistry).
Substance abuse treatment services.
Chiropractic services.
Basic vision care and vision correction (other than laser vision correction for cosmetic purposes).
Hearing services, including coverage of hearing aids.
Podiatric care.
Contraceptive services.
End of Life Care - Shall be limited in hospital settings up to the cost of such care when attained through a hospice setting.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The discussion we should be having is to what extent this would supplement that coverage and if clarifications should be made to the 2017 healthcare law as it relates to vision.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The discussion we should be having is to what extent this would supplement that coverage and if clarifications should be made to the 2017 healthcare law as it relates to vision.

Would Atlascare include the glasses themselves or just the visits to the doctor?

I guess it comes down to what is considered basic vision care.

If not then yes this bill certainly has a purpose in that regards.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

If it helps, in the South our definition which was approved by SoIA Rfayette is "Medically necessary eye and vision surgery, and an eye exam every 18 months. Laser vision corrective surgery may be excluded, unless glasses or contact lenses would not function as a medically adequate substitute;"

So southern insurance plans are not mandated to cover glasses, just the eyetest to get your prescription. But federal law made glasses completely over the counter and eligibile for purchase under Atlascare HSAs.

I seem to recall something like this but can you provide a link on the over the counter aspect?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

So where are at with the underlying bill?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

SENATE BILL

to help people with sight problems get their much needed visual aids

Be it enacted by both houses of Congress assembled:

SECTION I: NAME.
1. This Act may be cited as the Glasses are Good to See Act.

SECTION II: BENEFICIARIES
1. All Atlasian citizens or permanent residents shall be elegible for this bill as long as they have one or more of the following visual problems:
a) Myopia lower than -0.5 dioptres
b) Hypermetropia higher than +0.5 dioptres
c) Astigmatism
d) Any other kind of visual problem where the most adequate solution is the use of glasses or contact lenses, as prescribed by an ophthalmologist

SECTION III: IMPLEMENTATION.
1. All beneficiaries described in Section II shall be given a 110 75$ subsidy after they buy a new pair of glasses
2. No single beneificiary shall receive this subsidy more than once every 24 months.
3. This subsidy shall only be given to individuals living in households with annual earnings lower than 39200$ a year

SECTION IV: COST
1. This bill shall be funded through the following new taxes:
a) A 5% tax on video game sales
b) A 5% tax on movie ticket sales
c) A 5% tax on TV sales
d) A 5% tax on the sale of PC desktops and laptops
e) A 5% tax on the sale of lightbulbs

SECTION V: TIMING
1. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its passage.

People's Regional Senate
Pending

Sponsor Feedback: Origination
Status: Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Depends on the type of lenses you need as well.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The amendment has of course passed.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

what is the new estimate for the balance after the amendment?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

SENATE BILL

to help people with sight problems get their much needed visual aids

Be it enacted by both houses of Congress assembled:

SECTION I: NAME.
1. This Act may be cited as the Glasses are Good to See Act.

SECTION II: BENEFICIARIES
1. All Atlasian citizens or permanent residents shall be elegible for this bill as long as they have one or more of the following visual problems:
a) Myopia lower than -0.5 dioptres
b) Hypermetropia higher than +0.5 dioptres
c) Astigmatism
d) Any other kind of visual problem where the most adequate solution is the use of glasses or contact lenses, as prescribed by an ophthalmologist

SECTION III: IMPLEMENTATION.
1. All beneficiaries described in Section II shall be given a $75 subsidy after they buy a new pair of glasses
2. No single beneificiary shall receive this subsidy more than once every 24 months.
3. This subsidy shall only be given to individuals living in households with annual earnings lower than 39200$ a year.

SECTION IV: COST
1. This bill shall be funded through the following new taxes:
a) A 5% tax on video game sales
b) A 5% tax on movie ticket sales
c) A 5% tax on TV sales
d) A 5% tax on the sale of PC desktops and laptops
e) A 5% tax on the sale of lightbulbs

SECTION V: TIMING
1. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its passage. October 1st, 2019.

People's Regional Senate
Pending

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

SENATE BILL

to help people with sight problems get their much needed visual aids

Be it enacted by both houses of Congress assembled:

SECTION I: NAME.
1. This Act may be cited as the Glasses are Good to See Act.

SECTION II: BENEFICIARIES
1. All Atlasian citizens or permanent residents shall be elegible for this bill as long as they have one or more of the following visual problems:
a) Myopia lower than -0.5 dioptres
b) Hypermetropia higher than +0.5 dioptres
c) Astigmatism
d) Any other kind of visual problem where the most adequate solution is the use of glasses or contact lenses, as prescribed by an ophthalmologist

SECTION III: IMPLEMENTATION.
1. All beneficiaries described in Section II shall be given a $75 subsidy after they buy a new pair of glasses
2. No single beneificiary shall receive this subsidy more than once every 24 months.
3. This subsidy shall only be given to individuals living in households with annual earnings lower than 39200$ a year.

SECTION IV: COST
1. This bill shall be funded through the following new taxes:
a) A 5% tax on video game sales
b) A 5% tax on movie ticket sales
c) A 5% tax on TV sales
d) A 5% tax on the sale of PC desktops and laptops
e) A 5% tax on the sale of lightbulbs

SECTION V: TIMING
1. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its passage. October 1st, 2019.

People's Regional Senate
Pending

Sponsor Feedback: Friendly
Status: Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Amendment S17:14 is adopted.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

A Final vote is now open on this legislation, Senators please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Aye FTR

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Vote on Final Passage of the Glasses are Good to See Act:

Aye (4): Devout, Maineiac4434, OntarioProgressive and Tack50
Nay (0):
Abstain (0):

Didn't Vote (2): NC Yankee (3 hrs too late), and Vern1988

With four votes in the affirmative, the bill has been passed and is sent to the VP for House action.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

SENATE BILL

to help people with sight problems get their much needed visual aids

Be it enacted by both houses of Congress assembled:

SECTION I: NAME.
1. This Act may be cited as the Glasses are Good to See Act.

SECTION II: BENEFICIARIES
1. All Atlasian citizens or permanent residents shall be elegible for this bill as long as they have one or more of the following visual problems:
a) Myopia lower than -0.5 dioptres
b) Hypermetropia higher than +0.5 dioptres
c) Astigmatism
d) Any other kind of visual problem where the most adequate solution is the use of glasses or contact lenses, as prescribed by an ophthalmologist

SECTION III: IMPLEMENTATION.
1. All beneficiaries described in Section II shall be given a $75 subsidy after they buy a new pair of glasses
2. No single beneificiary shall receive this subsidy more than once every 24 months.
3. This subsidy shall only be given to individuals living in households with annual earnings lower than 39200$ a year.

SECTION IV: COST
1. This bill shall be funded through the following new taxes:
a) A 5% tax on video game sales
b) A 5% tax on movie ticket sales
c) A 5% tax on TV sales
d) A 5% tax on the sale of PC desktops and laptops
e) A 5% tax on the sale of lightbulbs

SECTION V: TIMING
1. This Act shall take effect October 1st, 2019.

People's Regional Senate
Passed 4-0 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Since no one voted, I ask unanimous consent to extend the vote 48 hours, Senators have 24 hours to object. I will also PM the link to the Senators, since some may have been confused by the shift from not having a vote to having a vote and thus why people didn't see it.

AYE