Extracted Text (may have errors)

AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE TO H.R. 3200 OFFERED BY MR. BARTON OF TEXAS (AINS-EC_OOl) Strike subtitle B of title II of division A (relating to the public health insurance option) and insert the following: Subtitle B-Protecting Affordability through Reinsurance or High Risk Pooling SEC. 221. ENSURING AFFORDABILITY FOR ALL THROUGH SPECIAL POOLING OF COST FOR THOSE WITH PRE- EXISTING CONDITIONS AND MANY HEALTH CARE NEEDS. (a) STATE REQUIREMENT.- (1) IN GENERAL.-.Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act,each State ensure an adequate financial backstop to mitigate the cost of high risk individuals in the state through either- (A) a qualified State reinsurance program described in subsection (b); or (B) a qualifying State high risk pool described in subsection (c)(1); and (C) subject to paragraph (4), contribute to the ongoing stability of the arrangement through state assessments or allocation of other state funds that are not otherwise used on State health care programs. (2) PREFERENcE.-Beginning 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in awarding any competitive grant and for which only States are eligible to apply, shall give preference to any State with a program or that meets the requirements of paragraph (1).