Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said an amendment to repeal the antitrust exemption that exists for health and medical malpractice insurers will be offered during action on proposed health care reform legislation.

Even though debate on a national health care reform bill in the U.S. Senate is grabbing all the headlines, federal legislation that would radically alter how insurers are regulated remains on the front burner in Congress.

A concern that a so-called "navigator" provision will limit the ability of insurance agents to sell health insurance products will be front and center on the agenda of the industry's lobbyists as the U.S. Senate begins debate Nov. 30.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has won significant changes to legislation creating a Federal Insurance Office, giving state regulators more say in its operations.

Health care reform legislation unveiled by the Senate Democratic leadership last week includes a "public plan" that states could reject.

Health insurance representatives said they are concerned lawmakers may still move to amend health care legislation on the Senate floor to include a repeal of their industry's antitrust exemption.

Health care reform legislation unveiled by the Senate Democratic leadership last week does not kill the federal antitrust exemption for health and med mal carriers, but that step could be taken in an amendment during floor debate.

A provision in the Senate version of healthcare reform legislation dealing with so-called "Navigators" that would be created to help people under the alternative "Exchange" market system has industry officials concerned.