AMERICAN HEALTH CARE REFORM ACT OF 2015 (H.R. 2653) was introduced in the House on June 4, 2015 (H.R. 2653) & sent to committee on June 15, 2015.
This bill proposes “to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and related reconciliation provision, to promote patient-centered health care to provide for the creation of a safe harbor for defendants in medical malpractice actions who demonstrate adherence to clinical practice guidelines and for other purposes.” This bill proposes to amend many items, including an amendment to current section 213, regarding Medical, dental, etc., expenses.
It is proposed to add “Certain Nutritional and Dietary Supplements to Be Treated as Medical Care”.
The Bill if amended would add the following language, “NUTRITIONAL AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. (A) IN
GENERAL. The term ‘medical care’ shall include amounts paid to purchase herbs, vitamins, minerals, homeopathic remedies, meal replacement products, and other dietary and nutritional supplements. (B) LIMITATION. Amounts treated as medical care under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed $1,000 with respect to any individual for any taxable year. (C) MEAL REPLACEMENT PRODUCT. For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘meal replacement product’ means any product that (1) is permitted to bear labeling making a claim described in section 403(r)(3) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and(2) is permitted to claim under such section that such product is low in fat and is a good source of protein, fiber, and multiple essential vitamins and minerals. (b) EFFECTIVE DATE. The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.”
Nature’s Sunshine Legal will monitor and provide updates on this newly introduced legislation.
What is a bill? The “H.R.” in “H.R. 2653” means the bill originated in the House of Representatives. Every proposed bill is assigned a number. The bill’s title is written by its sponsor. A bill must be passed by both the House and Senate in identical form and then be signed by the President to become law.
(Since we don’t live in fantasy land, we know that neither the House nor the Senate ever jointly agree on a bill).