An original bill to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Detailed Summary
Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 - Amends title XXI (State Children's Health Insurance Program) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to reauthorize the program (referred to in this Act as CHIP) through FY2013 at increased levels.
Revises requirements for: (1) CHIP allotments; (2) optional coverage of low-income pregnant women; (3) outreach and enrollment activities; (4) verification of U.S. citizenship or nationality for CHIP and Medicaid (SSA title XIX); (5) state option for providing premium assistance, including coordination with private coverage; (6) child health quality improvement activities; (7) access to dental and mental health benefits; (8) child health assistance furnished through school-based health centers; and (9) program integrity and data collection, including the payment error rate measurement (PERM).
Establishes in the Treasury the Child Enrollment Contingency Fund.
Requires phase-out of CHIP coverage for nonpregnant childless adults.
Limits the matching rate for states that propose to cover children with effective family income that exceeds 300% of the poverty line.
Establishes the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) to review Medicaid and CHIP policies affecting children's access to covered items and services.
Denies federal funding for illegal aliens.
Prohibits initiation of new health opportunity account demonstration programs.
Establishes a task force to conduct a nationwide campaign of education and outreach for small business concerns regarding the availability of coverage for children through private insurance options, the Medicaid program, and CHIP.
Expresses the sense of the Senate affirming its intent to enact legislation this year that improves access to affordable and meaningful health insurance coverage for employees of small businesses and individuals.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the excise tax on tobacco products but allow a specified credit against tobacco floor stocks taxes.
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to study and make recommendations to Congress about the magnitude of tobacco smuggling in the United States.
Amends the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 to increase the amount of any required installment of corporate estimated tax which is otherwise due in July, August, or September 2013.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 1/16/2009: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 17.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
jjohnson
February 7, 2009, 5:13pm (report abuse)After reading this Bill it will most likely reduce the cost of the program per each family due to the elimination of taxes necessary to support the current level of medical aid given to illegal immigrants. I personally am all for any Bill that would discourage the illegal entry into our country of any nationality and welcome with open arms those people who enter it legally.
A Fellow American
February 21, 2009, 1:17pm (report abuse)I am not and never will be an advocate for any government to "single out one class of citizen" to pay for another class of citizen. This bill creates a tax on middle class americans, by raising the cost that "only" smokers will have to pay to support the bill. Unconstitutional to say the least! And I am not a smoker...What is next America, if you buy a certain product than you pay an extra tax...
Ce-ce
March 11, 2009, 6:06pm (report abuse)Why not tax the bejeezus out of the sex industry, elective abortion, etc? After all, sex is what creates these children in need of insurance and it's irresponsible to have sex when you can't afford to provide for your own offspring. That would make more sense than insuring that smokers will have less money to provide for their own children.