In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) blasted the health insurance industry for becoming “one of the least transparent and most anti-competitive industries in the United States.” He also added that “hospitals, doctors and patients alike all benefit when health insurers compete to provide quality coverage.”

Rep. Gosar has introduced similar versions of this bill in recent years, with a version stalling in a House committee in 2011 during the 112th Congress, and another in 2013 during the 113th Congress.

Of the 20 cosponsors in the House that this bill has, two are Democrats.

Of Note: The Congressional Budget Office analyzed related legislation in 2009, and found that any effect on health care premiums would be small. Meanwhile, the likelihood of an increase or decrease in premiums was difficult to determine. 

Kaiser Health News published an article in 2010, estimating that eliminating the antitrust law exemption could increase the number of lawsuits. However, they found that because health insurers may need to change the way they do business, consumers would benefit.

For its part, the primary regulator of the health insurance industry — the Federal Trade Commission — hasn’t directly weighed in on the existing antitrust exemption. But, it has stated that: 

“Competition in health care markets benefits consumers because it helps contain costs, improve quality, and encourage innovation.”

• Sponsoring Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) Press Release
• DickinsonWright
• American Dental Association (In Favor)
• American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (In Favor - Previous Version)
• Kaiser Health News (Context)
• U.S. News and World Report (Context - In Favor)
  

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Flickr user CarbonNYC)