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 Secretary of Labor together with the Secretary of Treasury, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Commissioner, shall conduct a study to examine the impact of the employer responsibility requirements described in section 415(a) and make a recommendation to Congress about whether an employer hardship exemption would be appropriate.

(b) Items included in study.—Within such study the Secretaries and Commissioner shall examine cases where such employer responsibility requirements may pose a particular hardship, and specifically look at employers by industry, profit margin, length of time in business, and size. In this examination, the economic conditions shall be considered, including the rate of increase in business costs, the availability of short-term credit lines, and abilities to restructure debt. In addition, the study shall examine the impact an employer hardship waiver could have on employees.

(c) Report.—Not later than January 1, 2012, the Secretaries and Commissioner shall report to Congress on their findings and make a recommendation regarding the need or lack of need for a partial or complete employer hardship waiver. The Secretaries and Commissioner may also submit recommendations about the criteria Congress should include when developing eligibility requirements for the employer hardship waiver and what safeguards are necessary to protect the employees of that employer.