Bill 1009

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    1009
Type of Legislation:            Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:               Senate
Introduced Date:                19980211
Primary Sponsor:                McConnell
All Sponsors:                   McConnell and Passailaigue 
Drafted Document Number:        kgh\15410ac.98
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19980528
Subject:                        Congress requests not to exempt
                                health plans sponsored by associations
                                and employer welfare from insurance
                                standards

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

Senate  19980528  Received from House
House   19980528  Adopted, returned with concurrence
House   19980527  Debate adjourned until
                  Thursday, 19980528
House   19980521  Committee report: Favorable              24 HIMR
House   19980310  Introduced, referred to Committee        24 HIMR
Senate  19980305  Adopted, sent to House
Senate  19980303  Polled out of Committee:                 02 SBI
                  Without report
Senate  19980211  Introduced, referred to Committee        02 SBI

COMMITTEE REPORT

May 21, 1998

S. 1009

S. Printed 5/21/98--H.

Read the first time March 10, 1998.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 1009), to memorialize the South Carolina Congressional Delegation and the United States Congress to reject any legislation, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

RICHARD M. QUINN, JR., for Committee.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO MEMORIALIZE THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REJECT ANY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EXEMPT HEALTH PLANS SPONSORED BY ASSOCIATIONS AND MULTIPLE EMPLOYER WELFARE ARRANGEMENTS FROM STATE INSURANCE STANDARDS AND OVERSIGHT.

Whereas, Congress is considering legislation to exempt insurance arrangements offered by associations and multiple employer welfare arrangements from state insurance reform standards; and

Whereas, this proposal would allow associations and multiple employer welfare arrangements to be regulated by the federal government under inadequate federal standards; and

Whereas, Congress explicitly gave states authority to regulate multiple employer welfare arrangements in 1983 after numerous cases of fraud, abuse, and insolvency regarding multiple employer welfare arrangements; and

Whereas, the states, as the primary regulators of the local insurance market, are better able to ensure effective regulation of these entities than the federal government; and

Whereas, federal preemption would undermine efforts states have made to protect consumers through establishing minimum standards for health plans; and

Whereas, federal preemption would undermine state insurance reforms passed in recent years at the urging of business groups to improve access and affordability for small employers; and

Whereas, this exemption would seriously erode the funding mechanisms of access measures for the uninsured and for uncompensated care enacted by the states. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, memorialize the South Carolina Congressional Delegation and the United States Congress to reject any legislation that would exempt health plans sponsored by associations and multiple employer welfare arrangements from state insurance standards and oversight.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the President of the United States Senate.