FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
The 2026 MCAA Annual Online Auction ↗

Healthcare Alert

Words: Williams Macdonald
/Public/News/20090721084000-1.jpg" width="530" height="298" border="0" alt="Lawmakers have begun negotiating the terms of a controversial healthcare overhaul.">
Lawmakers have begun negotiating the terms of a controversial healthcare overhaul.

America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 has held the limelight over the past two days in the nation's capital as lawmakers began negotiating the terms of a controversial healthcare overhaul. Following is an overview of the bill and its current status:

With the stimulus package in process and climate change passing the House and being considered in the Senate, Congress, with mounting pressure from the Administration, has turned its focus to comprehensive healthcare reform. H.R. 3200, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act, seeks to provide affordable healthcare for all Americans and control healthcare cost growth. Much of the current legislation focuses on expanding coverage and choice, affordability, shared responsibility, controlling costs, providing preventive services, and investing in the healthcare workforce.

What does this 1,080-page bill mean for business?
  • The bill would create a health insurance exchange, which would act as a marketplace for individuals and employers to shop for insurance.


    • Along with private insurance plans, a new public health insurance option will be present. An essential benefit package, as determined by a new Advisory Committee, will serve as the baseline package for the minimum benefits that must be offered.

  • Medicare and Medicaid will be expanded, and affordability credits will be available for lower-income individuals and families so that every American can have health insurance.


    • All Americans will be required to have health insurance, unless they have a hardship exemption. Otherwise, those who choose not to have insurance will pay a 2.5 percent penalty tax of modified adjusted gross income above a specified level.

  • All employers must either provide health insurance coverage or contribute funds on their behalf. Employers choosing to contribute will have to provide a contribution based on their payroll.


  • The bill also would limit the amount of co-pays or deductibles, and enact a cap on annual healthcare spending by families. It prevents coverage being denied for pre-existing conditions, and coverage will include mental health services and other formerly optional coverage.
There is much controversy over the public option plan, as detractors argue that with caps on spending and mandated benefits, private insurers will reduce their coverage levels and Americans may lose benefits. Also, a public plan may lead to government-run healthcare, as private insurers wouldn't be able to compete with the federal government and may be forced to participate in the health exchange. Many questions about the rationing of healthcare also persist.

What is the current status of the legislation?
The House, and possibly the Senate, could pass healthcare reform legislation by the August recess. Committees are currently engaged in negotiating amendments to the legislation in keeping with this timeline. The House Energy & Commerce Committee has scheduled a 5-day markup process in the coming week.

Stay tuned for comprehensive updates.

For more information or inquiries, please contact Matt Keelen at mkeelen@keelengroup.com or Mike Falencki at mfalencki@keelengroup.com.

Williams Mullen Government Relations Legislative UPDATE Copyright 2009. Editorial inquiries should be directed to Jerry Kilgore, 1021 East Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23219, 804.643.1991. This information is provided as an educational service and is not meant to be and should not be construed as legal advice Readers with particular needs on specific issues should retain the services of competent counsel. For more information visit www.williamsmullen.com/keelen.
About: Legislative
 0
The Enduring Aesthetic Power of Brick
March 2026

For centuries, brick has shaped the built environment in ways that few materials can match. From the stately facades of historic campuses to the bold, contemporary forms of modern civic buildings, brick is both a foundation of architectural tradition and

Tim Leese
MAP Partner
Read More
Expert Tips for Brick Installation
March 2026

Clay brick has long been valued for both its durability and aesthetic appeal, but achieving a clean, consistent build that will endure for a lifetime depends just as much on jobsite discipline, install strategy, and preventative moisture management as it

Allison Goley
Technical Talks
Read More
OSHA’s 2025 Top Violations: What the Numbers Reveal for Masonry and Construction
March 2026

Each year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) publishes its list of the most frequently cited workplace safety standards based on federal inspection data. The purpose is simple: show employers where hazards are consistently being fou

Greg Brown
MAP Partner
Read More
Combining Modern Healthcare with Tribal Design: Nisqually Health & Wellness Center
March 2026

The Nisqually Health & Wellness Center is a project that the wonderful team here at Warfield Masonry completed in 2020. Built on the Nisqually Reservation (near Olympia, Washington), this project incorporates a variety of masonry materials into its tribal

Jake Sulya
Case Study
Read More