S.Amdt. 1212

Mr. Durbin submitted amendment SA 1212, which focuses on protecting health coverage and benefits for children. If we want to hold our elected officials accountable, we need to know what they are trying to change behind closed doors. This amendment adds a specific rule to the Senate, known as a point of order, to stop certain changes from being pushed through easily.

What The Amendment Aims To Change Or Add

The Main Goal

The amendment aims to add a rule in the Senate stating it will not be in order to consider any bill, joint resolution, motion, amendment, amendment between the Houses, or conference report that makes changes to the Medicaid program, the Children's Health Insurance Program, or Federal requirements for private health insurance coverage.

The CBO Certification Requirement

Before any of those changes can be considered, the Congressional Budget Office must certify that the changes would not result in:

• Lower coverage rates for children

• Reduced benefits for children

• Decreased affordability for children

This protection applies to children receiving coverage through Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, or the private insurance markets established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for lifesaving medical services, including for pediatric patients with cancer, complex birth defects, asthma, allergies, diabetes, or epilepsy.

How To Bypass The Rule

The amendment also sets up how this rule can be set aside. Subsection (a) may be waived or suspended in the Senate only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. Furthermore, an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, is required to sustain an appeal of the ruling of the Chair on a point of order raised under subsection (a).