Bill to Eliminate Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Exemption Passes House

With broad bipartisan support, H.R. 1418, the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act, passed the House by voice vote on Sept. 21. Introduced by Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Paul Gosar, DDS, (R-Ariz.), the bill would help lower the cost of health insurance coverage for Americans by eliminating the antitrust exemption the health insurance industry currently enjoys under the McCarran-Ferguson Act of 1945. Long supported by organized neurosurgery, the legislation now goes to the Senate for further action. A Senate companion bill, S. 350, was introduced by Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).