On
The Issues: Feingold-Graham State-Based Health Care
Reform Act Fact Sheet
April 25, 2007
Overview
The bill is designed to provide more uninsured Americans
with health care coverage. The legislation seeks to accomplish
this goal by establishing a pilot grant program to enable
states or localities to propose and administer health insurance
expansion projects. These state-based reforms will provide
the country with the evidence and experience necessary to
address nationwide health care reform.
Pilot Project
This bill will provide grants for states to participate
in a five-year pilot project. States with approved proposals
will be required to provide some matching funds. States are
expected to provide some limited financial protections for
low-income individuals, meet a baseline of coverage, and expand
coverage within the five-year period. States are also expected
to improve the efficiency of health care spending and lower
administrative health care costs.
Health Care Coverage Task Force
The legislation creates a Health Care Coverage Task
Force. The Task Force will approve grant proposals, oversee
the implementation of the demonstration projects, and review
the progress toward achieving established goals. The Task
Force will be comprised of both political and non-political
appointees. The Secretary of the Department of Health and
Human Services will be responsible for housing the Task Force
and will be a member as well.
Congressional Approval
Because the states can propose amendments to federal
law, the proposals will need to be passed by Congress. In
order to hasten passage, the state plans will be sent from
the Task Force en bloc and under expedited procedure. No amendments
to the plans will be allowed. Once the plans are passed by
Congress, the states will receive the authority and funding
needed to implement their plans for reform.
Meaningful Health Care Coverage
Participating states will be required to submit an
annual report to the Task Force detailing their progress.
The Task Force will then be responsible for submitting an
evaluation of all demonstration projects to Congress at the
end of the five-year period. The Task Force will provide recommendations
for further reform based on the states’ experiences,
and the bill will require congressional debate of these recommendations
and findings. This will help ensure that meaningful reform
for the entire country will be considered by Congress.
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