H.R. 3590 - Sec. 1002. Health Insurance Consumer Information lyrics

Part C of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg-91 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: SEC. 2793. HEALTH INSURANCE CONSUMER INFORMATION. (a) In General: The Secretary shall award grants to States to enable such States (or the Exchanges operating in such States) to establish, expand, or provide support for: (1) offices of health insurance consumer a**istance; or (2) health insurance ombudsman programs. (b) Eligibility: (1) IN GENERAL: To be eligible to receive a grant, a State shall designate an independent office of health insurance consumer a**istance, or an ombudsman, that, directly or in coordination with State health insurance regulators and consumer a**istance organizations, receives and responds to inquiries and complaints concerning health insurance coverage with respect to Federal health insurance requirements and under State law. (2) CRITERIA: A State that receives a grant under this section shall comply with criteria established by the Secretary for carrying out activities under such grant. (c) Duties: The office of health insurance consumer a**istance or health insurance ombudsman shall-- (1) a**ist with the filing of complaints and appeals, including filing appeals with the internal appeal or grievance process of the group health plan or health insurance issuer involved and providing information about the external appeal process; (2) collect, track, and quantify problems and inquiries encountered by consumers; (3) educate consumers on their rights and responsibilities with respect to group health plans and health insurance coverage; (4) a**ist consumers with enrollment in a group health plan or health insurance coverage by providing information, referral, and a**istance; and (5) resolve problems with obtaining premium tax credits under section 36B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (d) Data Collection: As a condition of receiving a grant under subsection (a), an office of health insurance consumer a**istance or ombudsman program shall be required to collect and report data to the Secretary on the types of problems and inquiries encountered by consumers. The Secretary shall utilize such data to identify areas where more enforcement action is necessary and shall share such information with State insurance regulators, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of the Treasury for use in the enforcement activities of such agencies. (e) Funding: (1) INITIAL FUNDING: There is hereby appropriated to the Secretary, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $30,000,000 for the first fiscal year for which this section applies to carry out this section. Such amount shall remain available without fiscal year limitation. (2) AUTHORIZATION FOR SUBSEQUENT YEARS: There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each fiscal year following the fiscal year described in paragraph (1), such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.'