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Bill115th CongressFiled Feb 16, 2017Health
H.R. 1101

Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2017

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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What it doesSummary passed house amended (Mar 22, 2017)

Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) 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.

(Sec. 4) The bill establishes criminal penalties for willfully making false representations regarding an AHP.

What just happenedMar 23, 2017

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Johnson, Sam [R-TX-3](R-TX)Sponsor
37 cosponsors37 R
Read on Congress.gov
37cosponsors2committees22actions2amendments4related bills11subjects
  1. Mar 23, 2017IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

    Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  2. Mar 22, 2017FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. Mar 22, 2017FloorH37100

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 236 - 175 (Roll no. 186).

  4. Mar 22, 2017Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 236 - 175 (Roll no. 186).

  5. Mar 22, 2017FloorH36110

    On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 179 - 233 (Roll no. 185).

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  6. Mar 22, 2017FloorH8A000

    The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

  7. Mar 22, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minuted of debate on the Shea-Porter motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to require plans to provide coverage for substance use disorder treatments, including treatment for opioid use.

  8. Mar 22, 2017FloorH36100

    Ms. Shea-Porter moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Education and the Workforce. (text: CR H2328)

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  9. Mar 22, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 210, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Herrera Beutler amendment No. 1.

  10. Mar 22, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1101.

  11. Mar 22, 2017FloorH8D000

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1101 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendment is in order.

  12. Mar 22, 2017FloorH30000

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 210. (consideration: CR H2312-2330; text of measure as reported in House: CR H2312-2318)

  13. Mar 21, 2017FloorH1L220

    Rule H. Res. 210 passed House.

  14. Mar 20, 2017FloorH1L210

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 210 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1101 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.

  15. Mar 17, 2017CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 23.

  16. Mar 17, 2017CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 115-43.

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  17. Mar 17, 2017Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 115-43.

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  18. Mar 8, 2017Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 17.

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  19. Mar 8, 2017Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  20. Feb 16, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

    Education and the Workforce Committee
  21. Feb 16, 2017IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  22. Feb 16, 2017IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedMar 22, 201736

Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2017

(Sec. 2) 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.

(Sec. 4) The bill establishes criminal penalties for willfully making false representations regarding an AHP.

Introduced in HouseFeb 16, 2017

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.

Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2017 — Informed