Health Care Access Expansion Act of 2007 [Passed]

[Verily]

Health Care Access Expansion Act of 2007
§1. Findings
  (a) Fifty percent of Atlasian businesses that are considered "small businesses" do not offer health care plans to their employees.
  (b) Small business owners have virtually no leverage for negotiation and limited access to affordable health care plan offerings, limiting the number of Atlasians who are currently insured through their main workplace.
  (c) By pooling these small business health insurance policies, it is expected that the Atlasian Government can negotiate lower rates not only for these small business owners, but for the insurance policies Atlasia currently offers to governmental employees.

CHAPTER 1 - EXPANSION OF THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFIT PROGRAM
§11. New Name.
     The Federal Employees Health Benefit Program will hence be renamed to the Federal Employees/SBA Health Benefit Program.  (Herein refered to as "the Program.")
§12. Bulk Coverage Negotiation.
     The Program is directed to immediately begin negotiations with private insurers who currently offer coverage to governmental employees.  These negotiations shall be based on the expectation of enrolling one million new Atlasians under the Program.
§13. Competitive Bidding.
     The provisions in §12 shall not be construed as a requirement for the Atlasian Government to renew contracts with existing insurers, or to restrict access to government contracts for health care companies not currently offering plans through the Program.
§14. Expansion of Coverage.
     Any Atlasian business defined as a "small business" by the Small Business Administration (SBA) shall be eligible to seek coverage for their employees through the Program, beginning at the start of FY 2008.  No minimum or maximum employer contribution shall be required to do so.
§15. Employee Choice.
     Employees of "small businesses" participating in the Program shall have the option to purchase any health care plan currently available to Atlasian governmental employees in their state.

CHAPTER 2 - EXPIRATION
§21. Circuit Breaker—Fiscal Savings Requirement.
     This bill will only take effect if the rates negotiated under §12 for fiscal year 2008 are at least 0.5% lower than current rates for each individual health care plan option offered to the Atlasian Government's employees in FY 2007.
§22. Expiration upon Universal Healthcare Passage.
     This bill will be considered repealed any time the Atlasian Government is found to pass a law offering a "universal health care" plan in which a supermajority (two-thirds plus one) of Atlasian citizens are to be enrolled.

(Sponsor: Moderate)


[Although you, Moderate, said to assume this withdrawn if the Universal Health Care Act passed, it changed enough (to only affect the territories and DC) that I suspect you would like for it to be introduced.]

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

[Although you, Moderate, said to assume this withdrawn if the Universal Health Care Act passed, it changed enough (to only affect the territories and DC) that I suspect you would like for it to be introduced.]

Yes, that is correct.

[Speed of Sound]

The bill seems rock solid. I like it alot. I just wish we could do the same for the states....

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

The bill seems rock solid. I like it alot. I just wish we could do the same for the states....

With a national health care bill seemingly unconstitutional, I feel this is a "next best thing" in significantly increasing the number of insured nationwide.  And best of all, it should produce a net savings to the government and to a number of persons who are currently enrolled in privately purchased and COBRA insurance plans.

I thank the Senator for his support, and hope for the speedy passage of this important legislation.

[Sensei]

This is a great piece of legislation, and I commend Sen. Moderate for coming up with it.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

This is a great piece of legislation, and I commend Sen. Moderate for coming up with it.

The support is greatly appreciated!

[Verily]

If no one has any further points to debate regarding this legislation, I will motion for a final vote in twenty-four hours.

[Verily]

Almost forgot about this one... Anyway. Debate having ceased for over twenty-four hours, I motion for a final vote.


We are now voting on the final passage of the following legislation. Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.


Health Care Access Expansion Act of 2007
§1. Findings
  (a) Fifty percent of Atlasian businesses that are considered "small businesses" do not offer health care plans to their employees.
  (b) Small business owners have virtually no leverage for negotiation and limited access to affordable health care plan offerings, limiting the number of Atlasians who are currently insured through their main workplace.
  (c) By pooling these small business health insurance policies, it is expected that the Atlasian Government can negotiate lower rates not only for these small business owners, but for the insurance policies Atlasia currently offers to governmental employees.

CHAPTER 1 - EXPANSION OF THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFIT PROGRAM
§11. New Name.
     The Federal Employees Health Benefit Program will hence be renamed to the Federal Employees/SBA Health Benefit Program.  (Herein refered to as "the Program.")
§12. Bulk Coverage Negotiation.
     The Program is directed to immediately begin negotiations with private insurers who currently offer coverage to governmental employees.  These negotiations shall be based on the expectation of enrolling one million new Atlasians under the Program.
§13. Competitive Bidding.
     The provisions in §12 shall not be construed as a requirement for the Atlasian Government to renew contracts with existing insurers, or to restrict access to government contracts for health care companies not currently offering plans through the Program.
§14. Expansion of Coverage.
     Any Atlasian business defined as a "small business" by the Small Business Administration (SBA) shall be eligible to seek coverage for their employees through the Program, beginning at the start of FY 2008.  No minimum or maximum employer contribution shall be required to do so.
§15. Employee Choice.
     Employees of "small businesses" participating in the Program shall have the option to purchase any health care plan currently available to Atlasian governmental employees in their state.

CHAPTER 2 - EXPIRATION
§21. Circuit Breaker—Fiscal Savings Requirement.
     This bill will only take effect if the rates negotiated under §12 for fiscal year 2008 are at least 0.5% lower than current rates for each individual health care plan option offered to the Atlasian Government's employees in FY 2007.
§22. Expiration upon Universal Healthcare Passage.
     This bill will be considered repealed any time the Atlasian Government is found to pass a law offering a "universal health care" plan in which a supermajority (two-thirds plus one) of Atlasian citizens are to be enrolled.


Aye

[Speed of Sound]

aye

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Aye.

[afleitch]

Aye

[Ebowed]

Abstain

[Bacon King]

Aye

[Verily]

This bill has enough votes to pass. Senators have twenty-four hours to change their votes.

[Sam Spade]

Yes

[Verily]

Result on Final Passage
Aye: 6 (Verily; Speed of Sound; Moderate; Afleitch; Bacon King; Sam Spade)
Nay: 0
Abstain [Voted]: 1 (Ebowed)
Abstain [Didn't vote]: 3 (Friz; Jake; Sensei)

With six in favor, this legislation has passed and is presented to the President for his signature.

[Jake]

Aye

[Verily]

Just a reminder to Mr. President that this legislation has two days before it enters into law regardless of his signature.

[Colin]

I don't know why I didn't see this sooner. I guess it's been quite a long week for me.

X Colin Wixted