House Energy and Commerce Committee

• Senate Introduces MLR Bill Excluding Agent Compensation from Formula

  By Elizabeth Festa, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  March 22, 2013

  The Medical Loss Ratio bill is back in the Senate after a long hiatus, or death, as some might say, in committee last year.

• House May Revive MLR Bill, Rep. Blackburn Says

  By Elizabeth Festa, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  February 28, 2013

  Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., vice chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee today told the National Association of Health Underwriters to keep its eye on her committee and the Ways and Means Committee for action this year on health-reform policy-change initiatives, including a revival of the medical-loss ratio bill....

• CBO Says Widely-Supported Medicare Secondary Payment Bill Will Save Money

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  November 13, 2012

  The Congressional Budget Office has projected that passage of legislation that would streamline enforcement of the Medicare Secondary Payment program would save the government money.

• Knowledge Is Power for P&C Agencies Looking to Take On Life, Health and Employee-Benefits Business

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  October 22, 2012

  The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has brought a degree of uncertainty to property and casualty independent agencies’ sale of employees benefits, but some experts say it may also be a time of opportunity for them as clients learn to navigate the new health care benefits landscape.

• Bill Exempting Agent Commissions from MLR Passes Committee, but Faces Hurdles

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com, Elizabeth Festa, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  September 20, 2012

  Legislation that would exempt agent commissions from the medical loss ratio calculation mandated under the healthcare-reform law passed a House committee today.

• Medicare Secondary Payment Bill Moves Forward; Enjoys Wide Support

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  September 20, 2012

  A House panel today reported out legislation that would streamline enforcement of the Medicare Secondary Payment program.

• Frank Bill Would Bar Use of Insurance to Protect Financial Execs from Penalties

  By Arthur D. Postal PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 30, 2012

  A bill introduced in the House would bar financial firm officials who are found liable for actions harming their companies from purchasing insurance to cover the cost of the penalties imposed.

• House Panel Could Move Soon on MLR Issue

  By Elizabeth Festa, PropertyCasualty360.com, Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  April 10, 2012

  A House panel plans to act soon on legislation that would exempt agent commissions from the Medical Loss Ratio provision of the healthcare reform law.

• HHS Rejects NAIC MLR Request

  By Elizabeth Festa & Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  December 2, 2011

  The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ request for an exemption from the medical loss ratio provisions of the healthcare reform law for insurance agents has been rejected.

• Industry, CMS Clash on Medicare Second Payer Act at House Hearing

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 22, 2011

  Medicare officials clashed today with some members of Congress and industry, legal and consumer representatives over proposed changes to the current system for reimbursing the government for medical payments made by insurance companies.

• House Committee Removes State Farm Amendment From NFIP Extension

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 16, 2011

  The house of representatives is likely to take up legislation that would reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program for five years before Memorial Day, hopefully providing certainty for a program that has lived on the edge since 2008.

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  House Committee Backs Medical Malpractice Reform Bill

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 12, 2011

  The House Energy and Commerce Committee has reported to the full House legislation that would cap non-economic damages in malpractice cases at $250,000 and set other restrictions on lawsuits against doctors.

• PPACA: Democrats Expound on MLR Definition

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  August 24, 2010

  The new minimum medical loss ratio (MLR) rules are generating fierce debate in Congress over context and intent.

• Health Industry To Cover Children With Existing Conditions

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  April 1, 2010

  The health insurance industry has notified federal officials it will comply with a health care reform law provision requiring them to cover children with pre-existing medical conditions within six months.

• IIABA To Hear From Rep. Braley

  By Staff Writer  |  March 2, 2010

  The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America said U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, will address the organization's annual Young Agents & InsurPac State Chairpersons Legislative Luncheon.

• Toyota Auto Claims Data Sent To Congress

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  February 23, 2010

  So far State Farm is the only insurer to unearth data linking auto accident claims to problems with Toyota manufactured cars and trucks, but airing industry statistics is still likely during two House hearings.