Index for HR3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Mr. Dingell (for himself, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Waxman, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Stark, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Andrews) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, 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

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

(a) In general.—The Commissioner shall appoint within the Health Choices Administration a Qualified Health Benefits Plan Ombudsman who shall have expertise and experience in the fields of health care and education of (and assistance to) individuals.

(b) Duties.—The Qualified Health Benefits Plan Ombudsman shall, in a linguistically appropriate manner—

(1) receive complaints, grievances, and requests for information submitted by individuals through means such as the mail, by telephone, electronically, and in person;

(2) provide assistance with respect to complaints, grievances, and requests referred to in paragraph (1), including—

(A) helping individuals determine the relevant information needed to seek an appeal of a decision or determination;

(B) assistance to such individuals in choosing a qualified health benefits plan in which to enroll;

(C) assistance to such individuals with any problems arising from disenrollment from such a plan; and

(D) assistance to such individuals in presenting information under subtitle C (relating to affordability credits); and

(3) submit annual reports to Congress and the Commissioner that describe the activities of the Ombudsman and that include such recommendations for improvement in the administration of this division as the Ombudsman determines appropriate. The Ombudsman shall not serve as an advocate for any increases in payments or new coverage of services, but may identify issues and problems in payment or coverage policies.