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Federal health insurance policymaking has moved, over the past 20 years, from a world of grudging efforts at bipartisanship, to two years of Democratic steamrollering, to a world where it looked as if Republican bills were always about to pass but hardly ever did.
Now, policy has moved to another, strange new phase, in which it seems as if nothing can actually pass, but some bills will surprise everyone and pass.
The House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee today held a markup to go over some of the bills.
Here's a look at the current health bill brackets. Subcommittee members today approved all of the bills listed here, other than the bills in the Grand Health Reform Proposal Conference bracket, and forwarded them for consideration by the full House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The Marketing Conference Bracket
The "Marketing and Outreach Restoration to Empower Health Education Act of 2019″ bill, or the "MORE Health Education Act" bill — H.R. 987 (Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del.)
This bill would provide $100 million in funding for marketing and explaining the Affordable Care Act public exchange program. It would prohibit outreach programs from promoting use of short-term health insurance or association health plan programs.
The "Expand Navigators' Resources for Outreach, Learning and Longevity Act of 2019″ bill or the "ENROLL Act of 2019″ bill — H.R. 1386 (Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla.)
This bill would provide $100 million in funding for ACA exchange outreach and education efforts; require every state's exchange program to make at least one of its navigator organizations a consumer-focused nonprofit group; and prohibit a state from taking into account whether a prospective navigator organization promotes short-term health insurance or association health plans.
The Blocking Trump Administration Regulations Conference Bracket
H.R. 1010 (Castor)
This bill would block the new federal regulation that lets the same short-term health insurance coverage stay in place for up to three years. It would bring back the three-month coverage duration limit imposed by federal regulators under the administration of former President Barack Obama.
The "Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019″ bill — H.R. 986 (Rep. Ann Kuster, D-N.H.)
