Health Care Waiver Transparency Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 17, 2011

Health Care Waiver Transparency Act - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish detailed criteria used by the Secretary to approve a waiver, adjustment, or other compliance relief provided for under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, including how significant of a decrease in benefits or increase in premiums would need to occur in order to be approved for a waiver. Directs the Secretary to publish each application for a waiver and the approval or rejection of the waiver while ensuring the confidentiality of proprietary information of each applicant.

Prohibits any preferential treatment to be given to an applicant based on political contributions or association with a labor union, a health plan provided for under a collective bargaining agreement, or another organized labor group.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV] · R–NV

Committees

Finance Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Mar 17, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mar 17, 2011
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Mar 17, 2011 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 1184 · Health Care Waiver Transparency Act

Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Analyze S.650 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.650, 112th Congress: Health Care Waiver Transparency Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/650

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-03-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s650/BILLS-112s650is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:20:05Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.650 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Progressive lens

Examine S.650 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.650, 112th Congress: Health Care Waiver Transparency Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/650

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-03-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s650/BILLS-112s650is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:20:05Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.650 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Examine S.650 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.650, 112th Congress: Health Care Waiver Transparency Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/650

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-03-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s650/BILLS-112s650is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:20:05Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.650 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Examine S.650 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.650, 112th Congress: Health Care Waiver Transparency Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/650

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2011-03-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s650/BILLS-112s650is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-14T14:20:05Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.650 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.