Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008

To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a nationwide health insurance purchasing pool for small businesses and the self-employed that would offer a choice of private health plans and make health coverage more affordable, predictable, and accessible.

6/9/2008--Introduced.
Small Business Health Options Program Act of 2008 or the SHOP Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to designate an office within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to administer a health insurance program for small businesses and self-employed individuals to purchase health insurance coverage meeting certain requirements. Establishes a Small Business Health Board to monitor the implementation of the program and make recommendations for improvements.
Requires the Administrator of the program to:
(1) enter into contracts with health insurance issuers to provide health insurance coverage under this Act; and
(2) enter into agreements with entities to serve as navigators to provide information about the program and assist in enrollment.
Requires a participating employer to ensure that each eligible employee has an opportunity to enroll in a plan. Sets forth requirements for health plans offered under this Act. Requires the Administrator to contract with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to study the rating requirements, administrative procedures, and standards of external and internal review that apply to such plans and to health insurance purchased in the small group markets in the states and to develop recommendations concerning rating requirements.
Sets forth premium-setting rules for plans under this Act.
Allows a state to prohibit participation in this program if the state offers alternative health benefit plans.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for small employers for qualified employee health insurance expenses under this Act.

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Sponsor

• Rep. Ronald Kind [D, WI-3]
• and 50 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Thomas Allen [D, ME-1]
  • Rep. Jason Altmire [D, PA-4]
  • Rep. John Barrow [D, GA-12]
  • Rep. Roscoe Bartlett [R, MD-6]
  • Rep. Shelley Berkley [D, NV-1]
  • Rep. Bruce Braley [D, IA-1]
  • Rep. Lois Capps [D, CA-23]
  • Rep. Russ Carnahan [D, MO-3]
  • Rep. Christopher Carney [D, PA-10]
  • Rep. André Carson [D, IN-7]
  • Rep. Donald Cazayoux [D, LA-6]
  • Rep. Travis Childers [D, MS-1]
  • Rep. Steve Cohen [D, TN-9]
  • Rep. Jerry Costello [D, IL-12]
  • Rep. Joe Courtney [D, CT-2]
  • Rep. Joseph Crowley [D, NY-7]
  • Rep. Diana DeGette [D, CO-1]
  • Rep. Charles Dent [R, PA-15]
  • Rep. Joe Donnelly [D, IN-2]
  • Rep. Brad Ellsworth [D, IN-8]
  • Rep. Rahm Emanuel [D, IL-5]
  • Rep. Jo Ann Emerson [R, MO-8]
  • Rep. Philip English [R, PA-3]
  • Rep. Bill Foster [D, IL-14]
  • Rep. Jim Gerlach [R, PA-6]
  • Rep. Gabrielle Giffords [D, AZ-8]
  • Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand [D, NY-20]
  • Rep. Kay Granger [R, TX-12]
  • Rep. Paul Hodes [D, NH-2]
  • Rep. Jesse Jackson [D, IL-2]
  • Rep. Steve Kagen [D, WI-8]
  • Rep. Daniel Lipinski [D, IL-3]
  • Rep. Tim Mahoney [D, FL-16]
  • Rep. Donald Manzullo [R, IL-16]
  • Rep. Michael Michaud [D, ME-2]
  • Rep. Patrick Murphy [D, PA-8]
  • Rep. Tim Murphy [R, PA-18]
  • Rep. Joseph Pitts [R, PA-16]
  • Rep. James Ramstad [R, MN-3]
  • Rep. Mike Ross [D, AR-4]
  • Rep. Allyson Schwartz [D, PA-13]
  • Rep. Christopher Shays [R, CT-4]
  • Rep. Carol Shea-Porter [D, NH-1]
  • Rep. Albio Sires [D, NJ-13]
  • Rep. Zackary Space [D, OH-18]
  • Rep. Peter Welch [D, VT-0]
  • Rep. Robert Wexler [D, FL-19]
  • Rep. Charles Wilson [D, OH-6]
  • Rep. Frank Wolf [R, VA-10]
  • Rep. C. W. Bill Young [R, FL-10]
  close

Committees

• House Energy and Commerce
• 4 more
  • House Ways and Means
  • House Rules
  • House Ways and Means
  • House Education and Labor
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to H.R.6210

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
June 09, 2008

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All Bill Actions

• Jun 17, 2008: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
• Jun 09, 2008: Referred to House Rules
• Jun 09, 2008: Referred to House Ways and Means
• Jun 09, 2008: Referred to House Education and Labor
• Jun 09, 2008: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
• Jun 09, 2008: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Ways and Means, and Rules, 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.
• Introduced on Jun 09, 2008.

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In the News

June 12, 2008 House Bill Would Allow Small Businesses To Form Statewide ...

A bipartisan coalition of House members on Tuesday introduced a bill (HR 6210) that would allow small businesses to form statewide or nationwide pools to ...

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Source: Medical News Today (press release), UK

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June 11, 2008 I-94 lanes reopen as threat subsides

The bill (HR 6210) is intended to soften the effect of soaring health care costs, which are putting increasing financial burdens on US workers and their ...

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Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI

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Blog Coverage

September 20, 2008 www.healthinsurancecolorado.net

... 2008-06-16T20:08:48+00:00 weekly 0.3 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/06/13/hr-6210-wont-solve-the-problem-for-small-groups/ 2008-06-13T15:13:48+00:00 weekly 0.3 ...

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September 06, 2008 Legislative Update: Helping Our Small Businesses

Joined by my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I have co-sponsored the bi-partisan Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Act or HR 6210. This important legislation is designed to make health insurance more available and ...

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Source: monticellolive

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August 18, 2008 small business get a leg up in health insurance

on Thursday promoted a bill (HR 6210) that would allow the establishment of statewide or nationwide health insurance purchasing pools for small businesses and self-employed individuals, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports. ...

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Source: my consult

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