PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4883-4884)
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 6, 2006
Health Care Access for Small Businesses Act of 2006 - Amends the Social Security Act to create a new title XXII to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants for the startup and operation of 50 eligible three-share pilot programs for a five-year period. Characterizes a three-share program as three-way health insurance premium sharing among employer, employee, and the grant funds.
Authorizes the use of grants to establish three-share programs, provide for contributions to premiums, and establish risk pools.
Requires grant applicants to: (1) be either nonprofits or local governmental entities; (2) define the program's service region; (3) have the capacity to carry out administrative functions associated with managing health plans; and (4) have demonstrated community involvement.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Requires programs to pay for the costs of services through monthly premiums, divided among employee, employer, and grant funds according to specified percentages.
Sets forth minimal coverage requirements for three-share program eligibility.
Requires the Administrator to develop a formula to determine which businesses qualify as distressed businesses for purposes of this Act.
People & committees
Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI] · D–MI
Legislative record
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Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4883-4884)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 15, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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