The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3962, the "Affordable Health Care for America Act," in a vote of 220-215. H.R. 3962 contains a provision that repeals the antitrust exemption in the McCarran-Ferguson Act for health insurers. The provision excludes property and casualty insurers.
According to the Automotive Service Association (ASA), U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is expected to introduce similar language to the health care bill on the Senate floor, via amendment.
ASA says it supports a repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act, including those antitrust protections for property and casualty insurers. A full repeal is proposed in H.R. 1583, which was introduced by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., and is co-sponsored by Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., and would impact property and casualty insurers.
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