UCLA Presents voteview.com beta 3
115th Congress > House > Vote 184
Clerk session vote number: 185
Sponsor: JOHNSON, Sam (R-TX)
Description: Small Business Health Fairness Act
Bill summary: Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2017
This bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for the establishment and governance of association health plans (AHPs), which are group health plans sponsored by business associations.
The bill establishes requirements for AHPs relating to certification, sponsors and boards of trustees, participation and coverage, nondiscrimination, contribution rates, and voluntary termination.
AHPs offering benefits that are
not health insurance must: (1) establish and maintain sufficient reserves and stop-loss insurance to cover those benefits, and (2) make annual payments to a fund to be used to pay for stop-loss insurance for such AHPs for which there is a reasonable expectation that claims would not be satisfied without such insurance. AHPs that fail to meet these requirements are subject to termination.
The Department of Labor must establish a Solvency Standards Working Group.
States may tax contributions to AHPs, with certain conditions.
The bill preempts state laws that preclude health insurers from: (1) offering health insurance in connection with a certified AHP; or (2) offering health insurance of the same policy type to other employers in the state that are eligible for coverage under AHPs.
The bill establishes criminal penalties for willfully making false representations regarding an AHP.
Bill titles: To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees.
Links for more info on the vote: congress.gov