Current Status Bill Number:1009 Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution CR Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19980211 Primary Sponsor:McConnell All Sponsors:McConnell and Passailaigue Drafted Document Number:kgh\15410ac.98 Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19980528 Subject:Congress requests not to exempt health plans sponsored by associations and employer welfare from insurance standards
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________ Senate 19980528 Received from House House 19980528 Adopted, returned with concurrence House 19980527 Debate adjourned until Thursday, 19980528 House 19980521 Committee report: Favorable 24 HIMR House 19980310 Introduced, referred to Committee 24 HIMR Senate 19980305 Adopted, sent to House Senate 19980303 Polled out of Committee: 02 SBI Without report Senate 19980211 Introduced, referred to Committee 02 SBIView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
COMMITTEE REPORT
May 21, 1998
S. 1009
S. Printed 5/21/98--H.
Read the first time March 10, 1998.
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 1009), to memorialize the South Carolina Congressional Delegation and the United States Congress to reject any legislation, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
RICHARD M. QUINN, JR., for Committee.
TO MEMORIALIZE THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REJECT ANY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXEMPT HEALTH PLANS SPONSORED BY ASSOCIATIONS AND MULTIPLE EMPLOYER WELFARE ARRANGEMENTS FROM STATE INSURANCE STANDARDS AND OVERSIGHT.
Whereas, Congress is considering legislation to exempt insurance arrangements offered by associations and multiple employer welfare arrangements from state insurance reform standards; and
Whereas, this proposal would allow associations and multiple employer welfare arrangements to be regulated by the federal government under inadequate federal standards; and
Whereas, Congress explicitly gave states authority to regulate multiple employer welfare arrangements in 1983 after numerous cases of fraud, abuse, and insolvency regarding multiple employer welfare arrangements; and
Whereas, the states, as the primary regulators of the local insurance market, are better able to ensure effective regulation of these entities than the federal government; and
Whereas, federal preemption would undermine efforts states have made to protect consumers through establishing minimum standards for health plans; and
Whereas, federal preemption would undermine state insurance reforms passed in recent years at the urging of business groups to improve access and affordability for small employers; and
Whereas, this exemption would seriously erode the funding mechanisms of access measures for the uninsured and for uncompensated care enacted by the states. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, memorialize the South Carolina Congressional Delegation and the United States Congress to reject any legislation that would exempt health plans sponsored by associations and multiple employer welfare arrangements from state insurance standards and oversight.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the President of the United States Senate.