Bill would allow more small businesses, including self-employed individuals, to form health plans on the basis of industry or geography…………………
May 4, 2018
The Labor Department sent a high-profile regulation to expand small-business association health plans to the White House May 3 for final review, the last step before publication.
The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs will now assess the draft final rule. The effort, a major initiative of President Donald Trump, is designed to boost access to health plans formed by associations by changing the definition of “employer.” This would allow more small businesses, including self-employed individuals, to form health plans on the basis of industry or geography.
OIRA review can take anywhere from weeks to months, or lead to a rejection that gets sent back to the DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration. The administration has been fast-tracking this rulemaking, part of an attempt to provide Americans with relief from the Affordable Care Act.
