December 10th, 2009 by B
Photographer: BobbyJean
The Attorney General will create Violent and Drug Crime Zones in various States for the purpose of creating drug and violent crime intervention teams. The job of these teams will be to reduce homicides and violent crimes in the States they are in. An amount of $15 million will be appropriated for this bill for the years 2010-2013. H.R. 4231 was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
November 4th, 2009 by B
Photographer: Pablo Peyrolón
Anyone facing prosecution for a marijuana offense may present evidence of compliance of State law regarding medical marijuana. If the evidence shows the defendant’s use of marijuana was not primarily medical, they may face charges. Any property seized in connection with a marijuana prosecution will not be destroyed if the Attorney General is notified the defense will be presenting the affirmative for medical marijuana use. H.R. 3939 was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
October 20th, 2009 by B
Photographer: bradleyjames
Under this bill, the sentencing between powder cocaine and crack cocaine would be equal. H.R. 3245 was referred to the House of Representatives.
October 15th, 2009 by B
Photographer: Aleks
Under this bill a State will have the ability to determine the growing and processing of industrial hemp. This bill will also amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the term ‘marihuana.’
H.R. 1866 was referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
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September 17th, 2009 by B
Author: .shock
This summary is the last portion of the United States National Health Care Act (USNHC).
The prices on pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and equipment will be negotiated every year by this program. Generic drugs will be promoted and brand-name drugs will be allowed.
A trust fund will be created for this USNHC program. The funding will come from the following sources: health care Federal revenues, higher taxes on the top five percent in income, higher excise taxes on payroll and self-employed income, and a small tax on stock and bond transactions.
Those in hospitals and insurance companies who lose their job due to this bill will be given first priority in retraining and job placement. They may also be eligible to receive two years of USNHC transition benefits which will equal the salary earned in the previous 12 months but will not exceed $100,000. H.R. 676 was referred to the House of Representatives.
September 16th, 2009 by B
Author: Andrey Rakhmatullin
Anyone living in the US and territories of the US will be covered under the United States National Health Care (USNHC) and will be given universal “best quality standard of care.” Everyone will receive a card containing a unique number after filling out the United States National Health Insurance form. Coverage of additional benefits, such as cosmetic, not covered under this bill may be sold individually.
Only public or not-for- profit institutions may participate in this program. A for-profit provider switching to not-for-profit will remain privately owned and will be compensated for the switch within a 15 year time frame. For-profit centers will be restricted from being investor owned. Patients will have the ability to choose from the participating physicians, facilities, and hospitals.
At the beginning of each month, this program will pay each provider of health care a lump sum based upon the developed budget. A “simplified fee schedule” will be created to pay doctors, nurses, psychologist, optometrist, and other providers of health care. A uniform payment will be created, regardless of location, to pay professionals (doctors, pharmacists, and other) according to their expertise. H.R. 676 was referred to the House of Representatives.
August 25th, 2009 by B
Author: Albert Lozano
Employer Regulations (Title III, Sec. 806):
An employer who provides health coverage participation but fails to meet the requirements will be fined $100 each day until the requirement is fulfilled.
Employers who Chose to not Provide Government Health Coverage (Title IV, Sec. 412):
An excise tax of up to 8 percent of the wages paid to employees will be imposed upon an employer for not offering qualified health coverage.
Tax on Individuals who do not Accept Health Coverage (Title IV, Sec. 59B):
A person who does not have private health coverage (no one may sign up after the bill goes into effect) or is not on any form of government health care will be fined 2.5 percent of their modified adjusted gross income.
Health Insurance Coverage Returns (Title IV, Sec. 6050X):
Any individual providing coverage to any other person will file a return with certain information the Secretary will require. There will be a penalty for failing to file.
Taxpayer Income Information (Title IV, Sec. 431):
The Secretary may divulge the return information of any taxpayer to the officers and employees of the Health Choices Administration. The information used will be what the Secretary deems necessary. This information is to be used for determining affordability credit.
August 24th, 2009 by B
Author: Keith Frith
Subsidies (Title II, Sec. 241):
Under this bill, the third year of government health care will allow individuals below the 400 percent poverty level and who are not eligible for Medicare, to received government subsidies to partake in the premium plan health insurance.
Employer Responsibility (Title III, Part 1, Sec. 311 & 312):
An employer is to offer a qualified health benefits individual plan and family plan. An employee is to be automatically enrolled in a health-benefits plan, but has the option to opt-out. The employer is to make a minimum contribution on the applicable premium up to 72.5 percent for the individual plan, and a minimum of 65 percent for family plans. The premiums range from 1.5 percent to ten percent. Eight percent of the average wages paid by the employer (this is added onto the premium being paid by the employer) will be deposited into the Health Insurance Exchange Trust Fund. The employer will provide the Health Choice Commissioner, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of the Treasury any information the Commissioner requires.
August 22nd, 2009 by B
Author: Keith Frith
Taxes (Title II, Sec. 207):
A trust fund will be created for the health insurance exchange program. The amount of money given to this fund will be what Congress deems necessary. Part of the trust fund money will be taken from taxes on individuals who do not obtain health insurance deemed acceptable under this bill. Also, employers who do not provide acceptable coverage will be taxed.
State Insurance Exchange (Title II, Sec. 208):
A State may opt to apply for a State-based Health Insurance Exchange. The Commissioner may deny the application until it is determined the State meets certain requirements of the Commissioner.
Start-up Cost (Title II, Sec. 222):
Before collection of premiums, the US Treasury will provide $2 billion for creating the public health insurance option. This money is to be payed back over a 10 year period.
Rates for Physicians & other Professionals(Title II, Sec. 223):
The Secretary of Health and Human Services will set the payment rates of health care providers, physicians, and other health care professionals who participate in Medicare and the public insurance option. The rates will be similar to what Medicare pays.
August 21st, 2009 by B
Author: Keith Frith
Concerning Retirees (Title I, Sec. 164):
A temporary $10 billion Retiree Reserve Trust Fund will be created to pay for retirees (55 or older and not on social security) through an employer health care plan. A claim exceeding $15,000 and less than $90,000 will be reimbursed up to 80 percent for the retiree. The trust fund will be used until the money is gone.
Concerning Children and Newborns (Title II, Sec. 205):
Any child born in the US may be enrolled in non-traditional Medicaid (normally has a higher copayment and fewer benefits). The child then may be enrolled under Medicaid after 60 days. If this bill passes, an eligible child for health assistance under the Social Security Act will automatically become part of the Health Insurance Exchange offered by the government.
Concerning Medicaid (Title II, Sec. 205):
Anyone who does not wish to take part in the exchange program the government is offering may instead use Medicaid. Those eligible for Medicaid will receive the proper benefits, and those not eligible for Medicaid will receive the non-traditional benefits.
