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[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 256 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 256

     Expressing the sense of Congress that any health care reform 
     legislation should preserve the right of bona fide trade and 
 professional associations to continue to offer group health insurance 
within the framework established to expand comprehensive and affordable 
    health insurance and prevent discriminatory insurance practices.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 16, 1994

  Mr. Moran submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
  referred jointly to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and 
                     Means, and Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
     Expressing the sense of Congress that any health care reform 
     legislation should preserve the right of bona fide trade and 
 professional associations to continue to offer group health insurance 
within the framework established to expand comprehensive and affordable 
    health insurance and prevent discriminatory insurance practices.

Whereas bona fide trade and professional associations have been instrumental in 
        providing comprehensive, cost-effective health care to their members for 
        decades, championing small employer plans when the group health needs of 
        these groups were largely unserved, and providing access to group health 
        insurance when it was otherwise unavailable;
Whereas trade and professional associations act as purchasing cooperatives by 
        combining employers and their employees into health insurance pools and 
        offering them the advantages of economy of scale, professional plan 
        management, and greater access to health care coverage;
Whereas recent estimates are that over ten million Americans are covered under 
        association health plans;
Whereas trade and professional associations have been in the forefront of 
        increasing access to their plans for those with preexisting conditions 
        and providing choices of plans to their members;
Whereas bona fide association group health plans are designed, managed, and 
        directed by members of the association;
Whereas bona fide association group health plans are just one of many services 
        for businesses or individuals who have organized themselves around a 
        particular trade, industry, or profession; and
Whereas trade and professional association group health benefit plans are 
        uniquely qualified to remain an integral part of the American health 
        system, and help reach the goals of universal coverage and health 
        security for all Americans: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that: Health care reform legislation 
shall allow bona fide trade and professional associations to continue 
to provide health insurance to their members. However, they must comply 
with any national reforms which improve access to and affordability of 
health insurance, such as, but not limited to, the provision of a 
standard benefit package, termination of discriminatory insurance 
practices, and compliance with any mandated employer responsibilities.

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