H.R. 2775, a bill to condition the provision of premium and cost-sharing subsidies under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act upon a certification that a program to verify household income and other qualifications for such subsidies is operation

As introduced in the House of Representatives on July 22, 2013

H.R. 2775 would make the availability of premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies to eligible individuals and families under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) contingent on a certification to the Congress by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) that a program is in place that verifies, consistent with section 1411 of the ACA, the household income and coverage qualifications of people applying for such credits and cost-sharing subsidies. Section 1411 of the ACA establishes requirements for a program to determine whether someone meets the income and coverage qualifications for such premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies (among other things).

CBO and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimate that enacting H.R. 2775 would not affect direct spending or revenues. A program is currently being put in place to verify income and coverage qualifications for the tax credits and subsidies, and that program appears to CBO and JCT to be in accordance with section 1411. Accordingly, we expect that the Secretary would certify before the beginning of 2014, when premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies would first be paid, that the requirements in H.R 2775 are satisfied.

Pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply to H.R. 2775 because enacting the bill will not affect direct spending or revenues in CBO and JCT’s estimation.

H.R. 2775 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.