Create demonstration grants for states that develop innovative coverage expansions, pooling arrangements, market reforms, or subsidies for coverage.

The legislation would also create a new program to encourage innovation by awarding demonstration grants to states conducting innovative coverage expansions, such as alternative group purchasing or pooling arrangements, individual or small group market reforms, or subsidies to employers or individuals purchasing coverage.

She commits to a state innovation grant program for expanding coverage.

EXPANDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CA... | U.S. Senator Susan Collins
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.4-mini

Congress.gov lists S.191 as introduced on 2017-01-23, referred to Senate Finance, and still at status Introduced. CRS summary says it would give states options on ACA insurance reform, exchanges, and subsidies, including waivers and Roth HSA deposits with HHS payments for population health initiatives.

Collins later backed a concrete state-flexibility health coverage proposal, but it did not advance beyond introduction or become law.

never later_term A for effort

S.191 - Patient Freedom Act of 2017
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 90%

Collins said the Patient Freedom Act would allow states to keep the ACA or take an alternative route, with the federal government bundling funding otherwise used for ACA subsidies and Medicaid expansion so states could pursue a more creative route.

Official statement shows serious later-term effort toward state-based coverage alternatives and bundled federal funding, but it was a proposal rather than an enacted grant program.

never later_term A for effort

Senators Collins, Cassidy to Introduce ACA Replacement Plan to Expand Choices, Lower Health Care Costs
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 86%

Section 1311 appropriated funds for HHS awards to states for planning and establishing Exchanges. Section 1332 created Waiver for State Innovation and required pass-through funding to states for credits or reductions that otherwise would have been paid through Exchanges.

Federal law later created state exchange establishment grants and state innovation waivers with pass-through subsidy funding. This partially overlaps the commitment, though it was not a same-term demonstration-grant program and was not enacted with Collins's support.

partial later_term

Public Law 111-148 - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 84%

The Senate vote on H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, passed 60-39 on 2009-12-24. The roll call records Collins (R-ME) as Nay.

The later ACA vehicle that created related state exchange grants and innovation waivers passed the Senate over Collins's opposition, weakening attribution of any partial delivery to her.

partial later_term

U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 111th Congress - H.R. 3590 as Amended
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 90%

Latest action on S.191 was 2017-01-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. Congress.gov shows one action and no amendments, no CBO estimate, and no enacted law status.

The main identified Collins/Cassidy state-flexibility bill remained blocked in committee, so it did not create the promised demonstration grants or equivalent enacted program.

never later_term A for effort

S.191 - Patient Freedom Act of 2017
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 88%