Democrats introduce Bill to Repeal Health Insurance Anti-Trust Exemption

[JohnWxy]

http://www.delawareliberal.net/2010/02/04/democrats-introduce-bill-to-repeal-health-insurance-anti-trust-exemption/


WASHINGTON—Congressman Tom Perriello and Congresswoman Betsy Markey will introduce legislation this week that will repeal the special anti-trust exemption for health insurance companies and medical malpractice insurance companies. The measure would end special treatment for the insurance industry that allows them to fix prices, collude with each other, and set their own markets without fear of being investigated. Removing this exemption has been a common priority of these two freshmen lawmakers, though they voted differently on the initial House health care reform bill.

“It’s time for Washington to decide whether we stand with patients or profiteering, whether we believe in market competition or a collusion between politicians and insurance monopolies. It’s time to end the monopoly protections that Washington has protected for decades as prices skyrocketed. It’s time for a simple, clean bill – no carve-outs or special deals – that forces insurance companies to compete. It’s time to put patients and cost relief first,” said Rep. Perriello. “Americans deserve to know who stands with them against the price gouging of middle-class and working-class folks. Today, we do.”

“I’ve heard from tens of thousands of Coloradans across my district, and though people’s opinions may vary, the common message is clear: the current health care system is crushing our families and businesses,” said Rep. Markey. “Support for removing this unfair exemption cuts across party lines, and is a major piece of common ground that I’ve been working toward in our country’s health care debate. This is about bringing sorely-needed competition back into an industry that has for too long wielded monopoly control over hard-working American families.”

Under the Perriello-Markey bill, health insurers will no longer be protected from liability for price fixing, dividing up market territories, or bid rigging. In the last 14 years, there have been 400 mergers among health care insurers so that 95% of health insurance markets are “highly concentrated,” which means consumers have little or no choice between insurers. This non-competitive market has played a role in health insurance premiums having more than doubled in the past decade.
(more)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COUNT ON THE REPUBLICANS TO BE AGAINST THIS - EN MASSE!

[elocs]

1. Why shouldn't the Republicans be against it en masse. It sure the hell has worked for them so far.

Although it's nice to introduce bills, what's more important is to actually get them passed and signed into law.

[JohnWxy]

3. Yes, and that brings us to the Corporate Lobbyist party. Bravely protecting the profits of their

owners.

[Hello_Kitty]

2. Sadly, there's no way President Lieberman and VP Nelson are going to let this pass. eom

[JohnWxy]

4. come on , let's not give up before the fight is joined. I know it's an uphill battle but hang in

there and email your legislators. WE can't stop fighting 'the good fight'. :thumbsup:

[Hello_Kitty]

5. Yeah I know. Can this be done through reconciliation?

I just don't see it getting 60 votes. Or it would be great if they picked something like this to force them to filibuster.

[Uncle Joe]

6. 2010 is an excellent time to do it, let those Senators go on record defending the

"health" insurance cartel and I believe for many of them; payback will be a career change.

[JohnWxy]

9. You got it!

[mzmolly]

7. I don't it think it can

pass via reconciliation because it's not a matter of funding anything? I wish we'd find a way to kill the filibuster shit though.

[elocs]

8. Here is a thread I posted last month about better understanding reconciliation and HCR:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7480650

It is from last summer and concerns the HCR bills then, but it explains a lot about the process of reconciliation and how it relates to HCR, what can and cannot be done. I think that once there is a better understanding of the reconciliation process there will be a better understanding of just what can and cannot be done. The bottom line is that reconciliation could get a healthcare bill passed, but it is certainly not going to be the glorious healthcare bill that some envision it could be.

[JohnWxy]

10. this is not legislation that would affect budget so no reconciliation. but the HCR bill does affect

the budget but Obama did not want them to use reconciliation. YOu can count on it, the Corp Lobbyist Party will NOT LET THIS PASS. They will use the filibuster but now the Democrats don't have the votes to break it.