H.R. 986 - 116th Congress (2019-2020) - Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019

This bill nullifies the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Health and Human Services guidance titled "State Relief and Empowerment Waivers," published on October 24, 2018. The guidance pertains to Section 1332 waivers (also known as State Innovation Waivers or State Relief and Empowerment Waivers), which allow states to forego certain requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in order to implement experimental plans for health care coverage, as long as the resulting coverage meets certain statutory criteria.

The guidance, which supersedes earlier guidance from 2015, alters agency interpretation of how states may satisfy the statutory criteria for waiver approval. For example, the guidance (1) redefines acceptable coverage under such waivers to include short-term, limited-duration insurance and association health plans; (2) allows the comprehensiveness and affordability of coverage under such waivers to be assessed based on projected availability, rather than enrollment; and (3) allows the level of coverage to be assessed based on the effects over the entire course of the waiver, rather than per year.

Text (4)

Placed on Calendar Senate

May 15, 2019

Engrossed in House

May 9, 2019

Reported in House

April 30, 2019

Introduced in House

February 6, 2019

Amendments (11)

May 09, 2019

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 208

An amendment numbered 12 printed in Part A of House Report 116-51 to prohibit any action that would raise health insurance premiums.

Agreed To

May 09, 2019

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 207

An amendment numbered 11 printed in Part A of House Report 116-51 to prohibit the Secretaries from taking any action that would reduce the affordability of comprehensive coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

Agreed To

May 09, 2019

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 206

An amendment numbered 10 printed in Part A of House Report 116-51 to prohibit future administrative actions that would result in a reduction in the availability, affordability, and comprehensiveness of health insurance coverage for vulnerable populations.

Agreed To

May 09, 2019

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 205

An amendment numbered 9 printed in Part A of House Report 116-51 to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of the Treasury from taking any action to implement similar guidance or rule that would reduce the availability or affordability of coverage for substance use disorders, including opioid use disorders.

Agreed To

May 09, 2019

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 204

An amendment numbered 8 printed in Part A of House Report 116-51 to prohibit the Secretaries from taking any such action that would reduce the number of individuals enrolled in coverage that is at least as comprehensive as the coverage defined in section 1302 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Agreed To

May 09, 2019

Not Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 203

An amendment numbered 7 printed in Part A of House Report 116-51 to change the title of bill to "Insert Politically Punchy Title That Doesn't Reflect the Bill Substance Act.

Active

May 09, 2019

Withdrawn

Sponsorship

House Amendment 202

An amendment numbered 5 printed in Part A of House Report 116-51 to rename the bill, "This Bill Actually Has Nothing to do with Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act".

Active

May 09, 2019

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 201

An amendment numbered 4 printed in Part A of House Report 116-51 to request a GAO report on the impacts to mental health care and treatment, and how many individuals would lose care, if the waivers for State innovation are awarded.

Agreed To

May 09, 2019

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 200

An amendment numbered 3 printed in Part A of House Report 116-51 to specify that this restriction includes such actions that result in fewer people with coverage of Essential Health Benefits (as defined in Section 1302 of the Affordable Care Act), including maternity and newborn care.

Agreed To

May 09, 2019

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 199

An amendment numbered 2 printed in Part A of House Report 116-51 to ensure that nothing in the bill will be construed to affect the approval of waivers under section 1332 of the ACA that establish reinsurance programs that lower health insurance premiums, and protect health insurance coverage for people with preexisting conditions.

Agreed To

May 09, 2019

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 198

An amendment numbered 1 printed in Part A of House Report 116-51 to include findings that the new guidance entitled "State Relief and Empowerment Waivers" weakens protections for the millions of Americans living with a preexisting health condition, including the one in four Americans living with a disability.

Agreed To

Actions (43)

Show Only Major Actions

05/15/2019

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 90.

05/14/2019

Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

05/09/2019

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

05/09/2019

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 230 - 183, 1 Present (Roll no. 196).

05/09/2019

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 230 - 183, 1 Present (Roll no. 196).

05/09/2019

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 182 - 231 (Roll no. 195).

05/09/2019

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

05/09/2019

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Walden motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to prohibit the Secretary of HHS to waive protections for individuals with preexisting conditions, including guaranteed availablity and renewability of health insurance, the prohibition on using health status to vary premiums, and the prohibition on preexisting conditions exclusions.

05/09/2019

Mr. Walden moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text: CR H3548)

05/09/2019

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

05/09/2019

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 986.

05/09/2019

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Wild amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Wild demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to the amendment until a time to be announced.

05/09/2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 357, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Wild amendment No. 12.

05/09/2019

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Malinowski amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Malinowski demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to the amendment until a time to be announced.

05/09/2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 357, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Malinowski amendment No. 11.

05/09/2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 357, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rouda amendment No. 10.

05/09/2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 357, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pappas amendment No. 9.

05/09/2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 357, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Porter amendment No. 8.

05/09/2019

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Holding amendment No. 7, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to the amendment until a time to be announced.

05/09/2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 357, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Holding amendment No. 7.

05/09/2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 357, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Walden amendment No. 5.

05/09/2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 357, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Harder amendment No. 4.

05/09/2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 357, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pressley amendment No. 3.

05/09/2019

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Brown (MD) amendment, the Chair put the question on the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Brown (MD) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to the amendment until a time to be announced.

05/09/2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 357, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Brown (MD) amendment No. 2.

05/09/2019

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 357, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Langevin amendment No. 1.

05/09/2019

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 986.

05/09/2019

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 357 and Rule XVIII.

05/09/2019

The Speaker designated the Honorable Jesus G. "Chuy" Garcia to act as Chairman of the Committee.

05/09/2019

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 986 and H.R. 2157. Specified amendments are in order. Provides for consideration of H.R. 986 and H.R. 2157 both under structured rules. One hour of general debate provided for each measure.

05/09/2019

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 357. (consideration: CR H3519-3550)

05/07/2019

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 357 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 986 and H.R. 2157. Specified amendments are in order. Provides for consideration of H.R. 986 and H.R. 2157 both under structured rules. One hour of general debate provided for each measure.

04/30/2019

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 22.

04/30/2019

Committee on Ways and Means discharged.

04/30/2019

Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-44, Part I.

04/03/2019

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

04/03/2019

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

03/27/2019

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 13 .

03/27/2019

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

02/07/2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

02/06/2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

02/06/2019

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

02/06/2019

Introduced in House

Public Record

Record Updated

Nov 1, 2022 3:32:53 PM