Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-350
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
Introduced: 2019-02-06
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Competition and antitrust

Dental care

Health care costs and insurance

Insurance industry and regulation
Latest action: action_date: 2019-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-02-06
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of </b><b>2019</b></p> <p>This bill declares that nothing in the McCarran-Ferguson Act modifies, impairs, or supersedes the operation of antitrust laws with respect to the business of health insurance, including the business of dental insurance. This declaration does not apply to a contract, combination, or conspiracy to (1) collect, compile, or disseminate historical loss data; (2) determine a loss development factor for historical loss data; (3) perform actuarial services if the collaboration does not involve a restraint of trade; or (4) develop or disseminate a standard insurance policy form if adherence to the form is not required.</p> <p>Prohibitions against unfair methods of competition apply to the business of health insurance without regard to whether the business is for profit.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 350 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 6, 2019 Mr. Daines (for himself and Mr. Leahy ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2019 . 2. Restoring the application of antitrust laws to the business of health insurance (a) Amendment to Mccarran-Ferguson Act Section 3 of the Act of March 9, 1945 ( 15 U.S.C. 1013 ), commonly known as the McCarran-Ferguson Act, is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) (1) Nothing contained in this Act shall modify, impair, or supersede the operation of any of the antitrust laws with respect to the business of health insurance (including the business of dental insurance and limited-scope dental benefits). (2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to making a contract, or engaging in a combination or conspiracy— (A) to collect, compile, or disseminate historical loss data; (B) to determine a loss development factor applicable to historical loss data; (C) to perform actuarial services if such contract, combination, or conspiracy does not involve a restraint of trade; or (D) to develop or disseminate a standard insurance policy form (including a standard addendum to an insurance policy form and standard terminology in an insurance policy form) if such contract, combination, or conspiracy is not to adhere to such standard form or require adherence to such standard form. (3) For purposes of this subsection— (A) the term antitrust laws has the meaning given it in subsection (a) of the first section of the Clayton Act ( 15 U.S.C. 12 ), except that such term includes section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act ( 15 U.S.C. 45 ) to the extent that such section 5 applies to unfair methods of competition; (B) the term business of health insurance (including the business of dental insurance and limited-scope dental benefits) does not include— (i) the business of life insurance (including annuities); or (ii) the business of property or casualty insurance, including but not limited to— (I) any insurance or benefits defined as excepted benefits under paragraph (1), subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (2), or paragraph (3) of section 9832(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ( 26 U.S.C. 9832(c) ) whether offered separately or in combination with insurance or benefits described in paragraph (2)(A) of such section; and (II) any other line of insurance that is classified as property or casualty insurance under State law; (C) the term historical loss data means information respecting claims paid, or reserves held for claims reported, by any person engaged in the business of insurance; and (D) the term loss development factor means an adjustment to be made to reserves held for losses incurred for claims reported by any person engaged in the business of insurance, for the purpose of bringing such reserves to an ultimate paid basis. . (b) Related provision For purposes of section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act ( 15 U.S.C. 45 ) to the extent such section applies to unfair methods of competition, section 3(c) of the McCarran-Ferguson Act shall apply with respect to the business of health insurance without regard to whether such business is carried on for profit, notwithstanding the definition of Corporation contained in section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.