Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the penalties for an individual who does not maintain health insurance and amends the calculation of Medicare payment rates to physicians.

Highlights:

• Requires the monthly penalty be $0 for an individual who does not maintain “minimum essential” health insurance coverage for any month until January 1, 2019 (Sec. 10).

• Amends the implementation date for certain penalties for an individual who does not maintain “minimum essential” health insurance coverage from 2015 to 2019 (Sec. 10).

• Requires the current method used to calculate Medicare payments to physicians for primary care services to end in 2013 (Sec. 2).

• Establishes the following single conversion factors to be used to calculate the Medicare payments to physician for primary care services (Sec. 2):
• 0.5 percent for each year from 2014 to 2018;
• 0.0 percent for each year from 2019 to 2023;
• 1.0 percent for each year after 2023 if the individual is a qualifying participant in the “advanced payment method” program; and
• 0.5 percent for each year after 2023 if the individual is not a qualifying participant in the “advanced payment method program.  

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text