Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to facilitate the development, establishment, and capacity of State-based or State-directed health plan purchasing alliances to create greater access to lower-cost health benefits for small employers.
Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program to award grants of up to $ 1 million to each State that has not created, as of enactment, a qualified high risk pool for the State's costs of creation and initial operation of such a pool.
Amends titles XIX (Medicaid) and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance) (SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to provide optional coverage for parents with Medicaid eligible children and low-income pregnant women. Provides for the automatic enrollment of eligible children upon birth.
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage for an individual between the ages of 62 to 65 who would be eligible for benefits if such individual were 65 and is not eligible for other group health insurance.