(wire)
House votes to remove antitrust exemption
The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to remove the health insurance industry's antitrust exemption by a margin of 406-19, sending the bill to the Senate.
The Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act would reverse a portion of the McCarran-Ferguson Act allowing an antitrust exemption to all sectors of insurance. Similar legislation was part of the House's health care reform bill, but advocates decided to attempt to advance it as a stand-alone bill instead.
The two versions had notable differences, though, as the medical professional liability industry was originally included in earlier versions of the bill was not included in this version.
The Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act would reverse a portion of the McCarran-Ferguson Act allowing an antitrust exemption to all sectors of insurance. Similar legislation was part of the House's health care reform bill, but advocates decided to attempt to advance it as a stand-alone bill instead.
The two versions had notable differences, though, as the medical professional liability industry was originally included in earlier versions of the bill was not included in this version.
