Debate on repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 will begin with consideration of H.R. 2 --
Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act of 2011 (pdf) -- this afternoon. Following its probable passage this week, the House will consider another resolution that instructs committees “
to report legislation replacing the job-killing health care law” (pdf).
Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) has re-introduced the Empowering Patients First Act (H.R. 105). The bill was the GOP’s version of health care reform in 2009. It provides low-income individuals with tax credits to purchase insurance, a “safety net” for those with pre-existing conditions, malpractice reform and plenty more.
Medicare provisions include reforming the sustainable growth rate (SGR) in the Medicare program. First, the bill updates the conversion factor by pegging it to an economic index for 2012. It then creates new conversion factors for physician services grouped together by category, such as primary care, and applies separate “target growth rates” for each conversion factor.
Also, the bill would strengthen Medicare anti-fraud measures by conducting background checks on new providers and suppliers, and establishing fees to enroll in Medicare.
Finally, the bill includes a section that repeals and rescinds unused stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.