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Senators to strip health insurers of antitrust exemption

By Michael O'Brien - 10/21/09 09:58 AM ET

A group of Senate Democratic leaders is set to announce Wednesday that they have decided to strip health insurers of their antitrust exemption.

According to a post on Twitter from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) this morning, Reid, Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Democratic Caucus Chairman Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) would make the announcement about the antitrust rules this morning.

Reid tweeted Wednesday:

Leahy, Schumer and I will announce today @ 11:30am ET that we will strip the health ins industry of its exemption from antritrust laws

The move mirrors actions taken by House leaders to also include the change in antitrust rules in their version of health reform legislation.

The House and Senate Democrats' jab toward insurers also comes after the industry had launched critical reports over the differing health bills, warning that the reform plans would result in higher premiums for consumers, were they to become law.

Reid's words serve as confirmation that the Senate will move on the initiative, first floated by Leahy, after momentum appeared to move toward the new antitrust rule.

Cross-posted to the Twitter Room.

Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/64079-senators-to-strip-health-insurers-of-antitrust-exemption
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Comments (26)

Here it comes, the Democratic Leadership has decided to make unconditional war on anyone who disagrees with their view of destiny.I have never seen a more corrupt and power-mad group in control of the Congress in my entire life.BY Vikso on 10/21/2009 at 12:02
as opposed to the senators that are taking money from the insurance companies… i havent heard one good argument why ANY group should be exempt from anti-trust laws. Visco, you sir are a sheep.BY adamamp on 10/21/2009 at 12:37
Vikso - do you not remember the last 8 years of the corrupt/power mad Bush/Cheney regime? Go stick your head back in the sand.BY Jim on 10/21/2009 at 13:09
Actualy, Adam, the argument is that since they are not allowed to compete across state lines due to there being 50 different regulatory environments, it makes no sense for Federal anti-trust rules to apply. Applying the anti-trust rules only makes sense if insurers are going to be allowed to compete across state lines, and yet that is specifically excluded from this bill. (The various States do have their own in-state laws which apply to in-state operations)Ther e, now you have heard one good argument for why things are the way they are. Personally, I think 50 state competition would be better than all of this; but adding the regulation *without* adding the competition is purely punitive, as it serves no other purpose. In a way it serves the insurers right for having played pattycake with this legislation for so long. They were all for it as long as they thought they were going to profit by it - now, surprise! They're going to get their heads chopped off.BY wws on 10/21/2009 at 13:13
This is excellent news. The insurance companies and HMO's have been raping the system by being free of anti-trust laws (see any of their quarterly income statements, usually raking in billions of dollars). It's about time the Democrats grew a pair and started standing up to the corporations, lobbyists, and Republicans who continually pursue lining their own pockets over the good of America.BY rev on 10/21/2009 at 13:32
Vikso: Hey, I'm thinking about becoming a professional right-wing internet sock puppet, too. How's it like? Is it true that you get an automated script to generate regurgitated replies? Is the pay decent? What benefit packages are available?BY Robert on 10/21/2009 at 14:02
Here it comes, the Democratic Leadership has decided to make unconditional war on anyone who disagrees with their view of destiny.I have never seen a more corrupt and power-mad group in control of the Congress in my entire life.BY Vikso on 10/21/2009 at 12:02Except maybe the Bush Administration.BY Pen on 10/21/2009 at 14:28
Robert: Is your entire family slow, or just you?BY RobertANDJimRsheeple on 10/21/2009 at 14:31
Vikso: So how did hibernating from 2000 till now feel? I mean, sleeping 8 years, that's just crazy.BY ocsibrm on 10/21/2009 at 14:49
WWS: Do you know how much difference it makes to have different companies in different states? None at all. See companies routinely provide "management services" to each other, including actual legal partnerships and oversight. And this easily happens across state lines. So if I'm company "A", and I want to compete in another state, I can simply start a company (it costs a couple thousand dollars - peanuts to any reasonably-sized company) such that my company "A" assumes legal control of company "B". I could even set up Company "A" to share in the the profits, but not the losses! This means if Company "B" doesn't work out, Company "A" can't even be held liable! Companies do stuff like this so often it's par for the course, and it's why laws that regulate company behavior can be so complicated and often meaningless. Anti-trust law certainly should apply, here!BY PublicOptionNow on 10/21/2009 at 15:49

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