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CCH® BENEFITS — 6/22/07

New Benefits Bills In Congress

from Spencer’s Benefits Reports: Between May 8 and June 11, the following benefits-related bills were introduced in Congress. Included are House bills to expand health savings accounts (H.R. 2302) and to require de novo review of claims determinations made by employee benefit plans (H.R. 2622); and a Senate bill to expand the health care tax exclusion to domestic partners (S. 1556).

• H.R. 2205: To amend the Internal Revenue Code to encourage guaranteed lifetime income payments from annuities and similar payments of life insurance proceeds at dates later than death by excluding from income a portion of such payments. Sponsor: Stephanie Tubbs Jones (Ohio). Cosponsors (37). Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2232: To affirm that federal employees are protected from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and to repudiate any assertion to the contrary. Sponsor: Henry A. Waxman (Cal.). Cosponsors (18). Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.


• H.R. 2234: To amend the Internal Revenue Code to provide for an extension of the period of limitation to file claims for refunds on account of disability determinations by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Sam Farr (Cal.). Cosponsors (28). Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2244: To amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare beneficiaries with access to geriatric assessments and chronic care coordination services, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Gene Green (Texas). Cosponsors (2). Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2257: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of benefits claims representatives employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sponsor: Peter Welch (Vt.). Cosponsors (None). Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.


• H.R. 2260: To prohibit misleading and deceptive advertising or representation in the provision of health care services, and to require the identification of the license of certain health care providers. Sponsor: John Sullivan (Okla.). Cosponsors (3). Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.


• H.R. 2302: To amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow a deduction for premiums for high deductible health plans required with respect to health savings accounts. Sponsor: Steve King (Iowa). Cosponsors (14). Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2307: To amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide broader and more informed protection to Medicare-eligible individuals from abusive marketing practices of Medicare prescription drug plans and Medciare Advantage prescription drug plans to permit enrollees under Medicare prescription drug plans that have been sanctioned to elect to enroll under other plans. Sponsor: Allyson Y. Schwartz (Penn.). Cosponsors (3). Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2351: To expand the number of individuals and families with health insurance coverage, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Marcy Kaptur (Ohio). Cosponsors (5). Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Rules.


• H.R. 2355: To amend the Internal Revenue Code to extend the authority for penalty-free withdrawals from retirement plans by military reservists or national guardsmen called to active duty for extended periods. Sponsor: Dave Weldon (Fla.). Cosponsors (None). Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2357: To amend the Social Security Act to guarantee comprehensive health care coverage for all children born after 2008. Sponsor: Fortney Stark (Cal.). Cosponsors (27). Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2377: To amend the Internal Revenue Code to increase the deduction under IRC Sec. 179 for the purchase of qualified health care information technology by medical care providers, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Phil Gingrey (Ga.). Cosponsors (None). Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2387: To prohibit the use of federal funds for any universal or mandatory mental health screening program. Sponsor: Ron Paul (Texas). Cosponsors (13). Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, and Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2404: To reduce health care costs and promote improved health by providing supplemental grants for additional preventive health care services for women. Sponsor: Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.). Cosponsors (11). Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.


• H.R. 2409: To establish a program to provide child care through public-private partnerships. Sponsor: Nita M. Lowey (N.Y.). Cosponsors (None). Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.


• H.R. 2411: To amend the Internal Revenue Code to expand deductions allowed for education-related expenses and to allow an earned tuition credit against income tax for qualified tuition and related expenses. Sponsor: Nita M. Lowey (N.Y.). Cosponsors (None). Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2412: To require equitable coverage of prescription contraceptive drugs and devices and contraceptive services under health care plans. Sponsor: Nita M. Lowey (N.Y.). Cosponsors (None). Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor.


• H.R. 2461: To amend the Internal Revenue Code to permit distributions from individual retirement plans to be contributed to IRC Sec. 529 plans without including the distribution in gross income. Sponsor: Barney Frank (Mass.). Cosponsors (None). Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2484: To amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish new separate fee schedule areas for physicians’ services in states with multiple fee schedule areas to improve Medicare physician geographic payment accuracy, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sam Farr (Cal.). Cosponsors (7). Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2514 : To amend Title 38 of the United States Code to provide for an assured adequate level of funding for veterans’ health care. Sponsor: Phil Hare (Ill.). Cosponsors (73). Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.


• H.R. 2519: To amend Title 5 of the United States Code to provide for a corporate responsibility investment option under the Thrift Savings Plan. Sponsor: James R. Langevin (R.I.). Cosponsors (1). Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

H.R. 2549: To amend Sec. 1862 of the Social Security Act with respect to the application of Medicare secondary payer rules to workers’ compensation settlement agreements and Medicare set-asides under such agreements. Sponsor: John S. Tanner (Tenn.). Cosponsors (3). Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means.

• H.R. 2585: To amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to modify Medicare physician reimbursement policies to ensure a future physician workforce, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Michael C. Burgess (Texas). Cosponsors (2). Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2591: To amend Part B of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit the penalty for late enrollment under Part B of the Medicare Program to 10% and twice the period of no enrollment, and to exclude periods of COBRA and retiree coverage from such late enrollment penalty. Sponsor: Barney Frank (Mass.). Cosponsors (24). Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2622: To amend Title I of ERISA to require de novo review of claims determinations made by employee benefit plans. Sponsor: Carolyn McCarthy (N.Y.). Cosponsors (None). Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.


• H.R. 2626: To provide for incentives to encourage health insurance coverage, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Tom Price (Ga.). Cosponsors (None). Referred to the Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary.


• H.R. 2633: To improve the health of Americans and reduce health care costs by reorienting the nation’s health care system toward prevention, wellness, and self-care. Sponsor: Tom Udall (N.M.). Cosponsors (3). Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, House Administration, and Transportation and Infrastructure.


• H.R. 2644: To amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of marriage and family therapist services under Medicare Part B, and for other purposes. Sponsor: William J. Jefferson (La.). Cosponsors (None). Referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means.


• H.R. 2657: To amend ERISA to ensure that employees are not improperly disqualified from benefits under pension plans and welfare plans based on the misclassification or reclassification of their status. Sponsor: Carolyn McCarthy (N.Y.). Cosponsors (2). Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Senate Bills

• S. 1326: A bill to amend Title 38 of the United States Code to improve and enhance compensation and pension, health care, housing, burial, and other benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Bernard Sanders (Vt.). Cosponsors (None). Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.


• S. 1337: A bill to amend Title XXI of the Social Security Act to provide for equal coverage of mental health services under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Sponsor: John F. Kerry (Mass.). Cosponsors (11). Referred to the Committee on Finance.


• S. 1342: A bill to improve the health of Americans and reduce health care costs by reorienting the nation’s health care system toward prevention, wellness, and self-care. Sponsor: Tom Harkin (Iowa). Cosponsors (None). Referred to the Committee on Finance.


• S. 1357: A bill to amend the Law Enforcement Pay Equity Act of 2000 to permit certain annuitants of the retirement programs of the United States Park Police and United States Secret Service Uniformed Division to receive the adjustments in pension benefits to which such annuitants would otherwise be entitled as a result of the conversion of members of the United States Park Police and United Sates Secret Service Uniformed Division to a new salary schedule under the amendments made by such Act. Sponsor: Barbara A. Mikulski (Md.). Cosponsors (1). Referred to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’ subcommittee on oversight of government management, the federal workforce, and the District of Columbia.


• S. 1455: A bill to provide for the establishment of a health information technology and privacy system. Sponsor: Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.). Cosponsors (None). Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


• S. 1519: A bill to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a transition to a new voluntary quality reporting program for physicians and other health professionals. Sponsor: Benjamin L. Cardin (Md.). Cosponsors (1) Referred to the Committee on Finance.


• S. 1544: A bill to amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve the quality and efficiency of health care, to provide the public with information on provider and supplier performance, and to enhance the education and awareness of consumers for evaluating health care services through the development and release of reports based on Medicare enrollment, claims, survey, and assessment data. Sponsor: Judd Gregg (N.H.). Cosponsors (1). Referred to the Committee on Finance.


• S. 1556: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code to extend the exclusion from gross income for employer-provided health coverage to designated plan beneficiaries of employees, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Gordon H. Smith (Ore.). Cosponsors (7). Referred to the Committee on Finance (companion House bill H.R. 1820).


• S. 1588: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act, ERISA, and the Internal Revenue Code to require that group and individual health insurance coverage and group health plans provide coverage for treatment of a minor child’s congenital or developmental deformity or disorder due to trauma, infection, tumor, or disease. Sponsor: Mary L. Landrieu (La.). Cosponsors (6). Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

For more information on this and related topics, consult the CCH Pension Plan Guide, CCH Employee Benefits Management, and Spencer's Benefits Reports.

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