House Republican aims to revive association health plan regulations

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg has 14 co-sponsors for a resolution that could overturn a recent DOL move to rescind multiple employer plans.

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A longtime supporter of the multi-employer association health plan concept is trying to bring the Trump-era AHP rules back to life.

Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., has introduced a House joint resolution that would kill a recent U.S. Labor Department move to kill the AHP rules.

In 2018, when Donald Trump was president, the department adopted rules intended to make it easier for employers to get their coverage from multi-employer AHPs.

The regulations would have helped employers get around state group health insurance requirements by joining multi-employer AHPs.

In May, the department overturned the multi-employer AHP regulations, arguing that the regulations fail to provide adequate solvency and care quality safeguards.

Related: DOL reverses Trump-era ‘multiple employer’ Association Health Plan Rule

Walberg is now working to reverse the reversal.

He introduced his proposed resolution Tuesday.

The measure has 14 co-sponsors. All of the co-sponsors are Republicans.

One of the co-sponsors is Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. House Education and the Workforce has jurisdiction over the bill.