H.R. 1418, the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act, unanimously passes the Senate

H.R. 1418, the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act, passed the Senate on December 22 by unanimous consent. It had passed the House of Representatives on September 21, and now goes to the President for his signature. 

The ADA is a longtime advocate of this bill that would reform the McCarran-Ferguson Act of 1945 to ensure that health insurance companies are subject to the same federal antitrust laws that nearly all other industries in the U.S. are subject to. 

The ADA thanks Senators Daines (R-MT) and Leahy (D-VT) for their leadership in moving McCarran Ferguson reform in the Senate. Senator Daines’ press release on the bill passage can be found here: https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/daines-leahy-bipartisan-bill-promoting-affordable-health-insurance-passes-senate-heads-to-presidents-desk-.  The ADA also greatly appreciates the efforts of Reps. DeFazio (D-OR) and Gosar (R-AZ) for getting the bill passed in the House.  Rep. Paul Gosar has been the primary and leading Congressional advocate for the bill’s passage since he was elected in 2010.

The bill was supported by many other dental organizations, including: Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy of Periodontology, American Association of Endodontists, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Association of Orthodontists, American Association of Women Dentists, American Society of Dental Anesthesiologists, American College of Prosthodontists, National Dental Association, and the Organized Dentistry Coalition. It was also supported by other health care organizations such as the American Hospital Association, American Chiropractic Association, American College of Surgeons, National Community Pharmacists Association, and American Optometric Association. 

Several consumer groups are also in strong support of H.R. 1418 that would benefit consumers by bringing competition to the health insurance market including Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, and Consumer Action. A press release from Consumer Reports can be found here: https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/congress-acts-to-restore-competition-to-health-insurance-by-removing-75-year-old-antitrust-exemption/. 

Finally, this bill may not have achieved passage without the efforts of ADPAC -- its leaders and contributors -- as well as the advocacy of thousands of ADA grassroots members.