IB
Union Calendar No. 507
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 1206
[Report No. 112–694]
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 17, 2011
Mr. Rogers of Michigan (for himself, Mr. Barrow, Mr. Walsh of Illinois, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Austria, Mr. Rokita, Mr. Boren, Mr. Carter, Mr. Heck, Mr. Ross of Arkansas, Mr. Stivers, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, Mr. Holden, Mr. Roskam, and Mr. McClintock) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
November 15, 2012
Additional sponsors: Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Griffin of Arkansas, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Yoder, Mr. Sessions, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. McCotter, Mr. Mulvaney, Mr. Kissell, Mr. Price of Georgia, Mr. Platts, Mr. Coble, Mr. Gingrey of Georgia, Mr. Rogers of Kentucky, Mr. Boustany, Mr. Huizenga of Michigan, Ms. Granger, Mr. Paul, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Akin, Mr. Dold, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Schrader, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. McKinley, Mr. Stutzman, Mr. Long, Mr. Benishek, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Woodall, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Barletta, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Stearns, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Coffman of Colorado, Mr. Harper, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Hultgren, Mr. Harris, Mr. Schock, Mr. Luetkemeyer, Mr. Nunnelee, Mr. Gerlach, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Kinzinger of Illinois, Mr. Ribble, Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Tiberi, Mr. Terry, Mr. Pompeo, Mr. Walden, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Ms. Jenkins, Mr. Matheson, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Posey, Mr. Sam Johnson of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. Schweikert, Mr. Thornberry, Mr. Fortenberry, Mr. Latta, Mr. Canseco, Mr. Altmire, Mr. Rehberg, Mr. Farenthold, Mr. Bass of New Hampshire, Mr. Guinta, Mr. Scalise, Mr. Paulsen, Mr. Latham, Mr. Petri, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Poe of Texas, Mr. Hanna, Mr. Smith of Texas, Mr. Miller of Florida, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, Mr. Renacci, Mr. Brooks, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. King of Iowa, Mr. Neugebauer, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Marino, Mr. Hall, Mr. Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Miller of Michigan, Mr. Gibson, Ms. Hayworth, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Nugent, Mr. Austin Scott of Georgia, Mr. Rahall, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Marchant, Mr. Bucshon, Mr. Young of Indiana, Mr. Duncan of South Carolina, Mr. Duffy, Mrs. Myrick, Mr. Graves of Missouri, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Owens, Ms. Buerkle, Mr. Tipton, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Goodlatte, Mrs. Biggert, Mrs. Bono Mack, Mr. Dent, Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Shuster, Mr. Hurt, Mr. Davis of Kentucky, Mr. Mica, Mr. Olson, Mr. Huelskamp, Ms. Herrera Beutler, Mr. Broun of Georgia, Mr. Wittman, Mr. West, Mrs. Ellmers, Mr. Frelinghuysen, Mr. Pence, Mr. Reed, Mrs. Adams, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Bishop of Utah, Mr. Manzullo, Mr. Bilbray, Mr. Duncan of Tennessee, Mr. Landry, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Gowdy, Mr. Kingston, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. Fincher, Mr. Lance, Mr. LaTourette, Mr. Reichert, Mr. Amodei, Mr. Pastor of Arizona, Mrs. Roby, Mr. Graves of Georgia, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. Womack, Mr. Labrador, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Palazzo, Mr. Runyan, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Schilling, Mr. Griffith of Virginia, Mr. Bonner, Mrs. Hartzler, Mr. Hensarling, Mr. Jones, Mr. Rigell, Mrs. Black, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California, Mr. Barton of Texas, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Towns, Mr. Southerland, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Gosar, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Mrs. Emerson, Mr. Chaffetz, Mr. McKeon, Mr. Hastings of Washington, Mr. Brady of Texas, Mr. Simpson, Mrs. Bachmann, Mr. Buchanan, Mrs. Noem, Mr. Clay, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Mack, Mr. Flake, Mrs. Lummis, Mr. Gary G. Miller of California, Mr. Grimm, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Rivera, Mr. Kline, Mr. Cravaack, Mr. Bishop of New York, Mr. Turner of Ohio, Mr. Flores, and Mr. Aderholt
November 15, 2012
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
A BILL
To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to preserve consumer and employer access to licensed independent insurance producers.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Access to Professional Health Insurance Advisors Act of 2011
.
Findings
Congress finds the following:
Licensed independent insurance producers (agents and brokers) provide a wide range of services for both individual consumers and the business community. Producers interface with insurers, acquire quotes, analyze plan options, and consult clients through the purchase of health insurance.
Licensed independent insurance producers provide guidance regarding benefit and contribution arrangements to ensure compliance with applicable State and Federal laws and regulations; assist with establishing section 125 plan tax savings under the Internal Revenue Code, health reimbursement arrangements, flexible spending arrangements, and other programs to maximize tax advantages and ensure compliance with applicable Internal Revenue Service guidelines; create educational materials and provide on-site assistance to aid in employee benefit communication; assist in managing eligibility for new hires and terminated employees; provide advocacy for employees through the health insurance claim process; and advocate for employers with insurers in developing proposals, renewals, and for service issues throughout the year.
In order to meet these responsibilities, licensed independent insurance producers are required to complete continuing education on an ongoing basis in order to maintain appropriate licenses. This requirement to maintain educational standards helps assure the insured public that producers remain current with the ever-evolving insurance market.
It is essential that licensed independent insurance producers continue to perform these duties, and others, as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has made significant changes to the regulatory environment for health plans. To understand these changes, employers and consumers will need professional guidance even more in the future. This service is especially important for small businesses, as such producers often fill the role of a human resources department as well as professional consultant.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners—whose core mission is to protect consumers in all aspects of the business of insurance—strongly advocates for the continuing role of licensed independent insurance producers in health insurance, and has expressed that the ability of insurance agents and brokers to continue assisting health insurance consumers at a time of rapid insurance market changes is more essential than ever.
It is critical that the indispensable role played by licensed independent insurance producers is recognized and protected.
Protecting the ability of licensed independent insurance producers to continue to serve the public
In general
Section 2718 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg et seq.), as inserted by section 1001 and amended by section 10101(f) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, is amended—
in subsection (a)(3), by inserting , remuneration paid for licensed independent insurance producers,
after State taxes
;
in subsection (b)(1)(A)—
in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting , remuneration paid for licensed independent insurance producers,
after State taxes
;
in clause (ii), by inserting or small group market
before in such State
; and
by adding at the end the following new sentence:
In the case of a State request for an adjustment pursuant to clause (ii), the Secretary shall defer to the State’s findings and determinations regarding destabilization.
;
in subsection (b)(1)(B), by inserting , remuneration paid for licensed independent insurance producers,
after State taxes
;
in subsection (d), by inserting or small group market
after individual market
; and
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
Independent insurance producer remuneration definitions
For purposes of this section:
The term independent insurance producer means an insurance agent or broker, insurance consultant, benefit specialist, limited insurance representative, and any other person required to be licensed under the laws of the particular State to sell, solicit, negotiate, service, effect, procure, renew or bind policies of insurance coverage or offer advice, counsel, opinions, or services related to insurance.
The term remuneration means compensation paid by or accrued from an insurance issuer or health plan for services rendered under contractual agreement which may include fees, commissions, or rebates.
.
Regulations
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, shall amend any applicable regulations so as to take the amendments made by subsection (a) into account.
November 15, 2012
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
