HR 241 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

January 5, 2007

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas (for himself, Mr. MCKEON, Mr. KLINE of Minnesota, Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, Mr. KING of Iowa, and Mrs. DRAKE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and LaborCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This title may be cited as the `Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2007'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 2. Rules governing association health plans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 3. Clarification of treatment of single employer arrangements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 4. Enforcement provisions relating to association health plans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 5. Cooperation between Federal and State authorities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 6. Effective date and transitional and other rules.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. RULES GOVERNING ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS.

(a) In General- Subtitle B of title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 is amended by adding after part 7 the following new part:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`PART 8--RULES GOVERNING ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS

`SEC. 801. ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS.

`(a) In General- For purposes of this part, the term `association health plan' means a group health plan whose sponsor is (or is deemed under this part to be) described in subsection (b).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Sponsorship- The sponsor of a group health plan is described in this subsection if such sponsor--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) is organized and maintained in good faith, with a constitution and bylaws specifically stating its purpose and providing for periodic meetings on at least an annual basis, as a bona fide trade association, a bona fide industry association (including a rural electric cooperative association or a rural telephone cooperative association), a bona fide professional association, or a bona fide chamber of commerce (or similar bona fide business association, including a corporation or similar organization that operates on a cooperative basis (within the meaning of section 1381 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986)), for substantial purposes other than that of obtaining or providing medical care;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) is established as a permanent entity which receives the active support of its members and requires for membership payment on a periodic basis of dues or payments necessary to maintain eligibility for membership in the sponsor; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) does not condition membership, such dues or payments, or coverage under the plan on the basis of health status-related factors with respect to the employees of its members (or affiliated members), or the dependents of such employees, and does not condition such dues or payments on the basis of group health plan participation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Any sponsor consisting of an association of entities which meet the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) shall be deemed to be a sponsor described in this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 802. CERTIFICATION OF ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS.

`(a) In General- The applicable authority shall prescribe by regulation a procedure under which, subject to subsection (b), the applicable authority shall certify association health plans which apply for certification as meeting the requirements of this part.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Standards- Under the procedure prescribed pursuant to subsection (a), in the case of an association health plan that provides at least one benefit option which does not consist of health insurance coverage, the applicable authority shall certify such plan as meeting the requirements of this part only if the applicable authority is satisfied that the applicable requirements of this part are met (or, upon the date on which the plan is to commence operations, will be met) with respect to the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Requirements Applicable to Certified Plans- An association health plan with respect to which certification under this part is in effect shall meet the applicable requirements of this part, effective on the date of certification (or, if later, on the date on which the plan is to commence operations).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Requirements for Continued Certification- The applicable authority may provide by regulation for continued certification of association health plans under this part.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Class Certification for Fully Insured Plans- The applicable authority shall establish a class certification procedure for association health plans under which all benefits consist of health insurance coverage. Under such procedure, the applicable authority shall provide for the granting of certification under this part to the plans in each class of such association health plans upon appropriate filing under such procedure in connection with plans in such class and payment of the prescribed fee under section 807(a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(f) Certification of Self-Insured Association Health Plans- An association health plan which offers one or more benefit options which do not consist of health insurance coverage may be certified under this part only if such plan consists of any of the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) a plan which offered such coverage on the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2007,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) a plan under which the sponsor does not restrict membership to one or more trades and businesses or industries and whose eligible participating employers represent a broad cross-section of trades and businesses or industries, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) a plan whose eligible participating employers represent one or more trades or businesses, or one or more industries, consisting of any of the following: agriculture; equipment and automobile dealerships; barbering and cosmetology; certified public accounting practices; child care; construction; dance, theatrical and orchestra productions; disinfecting and pest control; financial services; fishing; food service establishments; hospitals; labor organizations; logging; manufacturing (metals); mining; medical and dental practices; medical laboratories; professional consulting services; sanitary services; transportation (local and freight); warehousing; wholesaling/distributing; or any other trade or business or industry which has been indicated as having average or above-average risk or health claims experience by reason of State rate filings, denials of coverage, proposed premium rate levels, or other means demonstrated by such plan in accordance with regulations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 803. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO SPONSORS AND BOARDS OF TRUSTEES.

`(a) Sponsor- The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to an association health plan if the sponsor has met (or is deemed under this part to have met) the requirements of section 801(b) for a continuous period of not less than 3 years ending with the date of the application for certification under this part.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Board of Trustees- The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to an association health plan if the following requirements are met:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) FISCAL CONTROL- The plan is operated, pursuant to a trust agreement, by a board of trustees which has complete fiscal control over the plan and which is responsible for all operations of the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) RULES OF OPERATION AND FINANCIAL CONTROLS- The board of trustees has in effect rules of operation and financial controls, based on a 3-year plan of operation, adequate to carry out the terms of the plan and to meet all requirements of this title applicable to the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) RULES GOVERNING RELATIONSHIP TO PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS AND TO CONTRACTORS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) BOARD MEMBERSHIP-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), the members of the board of trustees are individuals selected from individuals who are the owners, officers, directors, or employees of the participating employers or who are partners in the participating employers and actively participate in the business.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) LIMITATION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) GENERAL RULE- Except as provided in subclauses (II) and (III), no such member is an owner, officer, director, or employee of, or partner in, a contract administrator or other service provider to the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(II) LIMITED EXCEPTION FOR PROVIDERS OF SERVICES SOLELY ON BEHALF OF THE SPONSOR- Officers or employees of a sponsor which is a service provider (other than a contract administrator) to the plan may be members of the board if they constitute not more than 25 percent of the membership of the board and they do not provide services to the plan other than on behalf of the sponsor.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(III) TREATMENT OF PROVIDERS OF MEDICAL CARE- In the case of a sponsor which is an association whose membership consists primarily of providers of medical care, subclause (I) shall not apply in the case of any service provider described in subclause (I) who is a provider of medical care under the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) CERTAIN PLANS EXCLUDED- Clause (I) shall not apply to an association health plan which is in existence on the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2007.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) SOLE AUTHORITY- The board has sole authority under the plan to approve applications for participation in the plan and to contract with a service provider to administer the day-to-day affairs of the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Treatment of Franchise Networks- In the case of a group health plan which is established and maintained by a franchiser for a franchise network consisting of its franchisees--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) the requirements of subsection (a) and section 801(a) shall be deemed met if such requirements would otherwise be met if the franchiser were deemed to be the sponsor referred to in section 801(b), such network were deemed to be an association described in section 801(b), and each franchisee were deemed to be a member (of the association and the sponsor) referred to in section 801(b); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) the requirements of section 804(a)(1) shall be deemed met.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





The Secretary may by regulation define for purposes of this subsection the terms `franchiser', `franchise network', and `franchisee'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 804. PARTICIPATION AND COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS.

`(a) Covered Employers and Individuals- The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to an association health plan if, under the terms of the plan--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) each participating employer must be--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) a member of the sponsor,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the sponsor, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) an affiliated member of the sponsor with respect to which the requirements of subsection (b) are met,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





except that, in the case of a sponsor which is a professional association or other individual-based association, if at least one of the officers, directors, or employees of an employer, or at least one of the individuals who are partners in an employer and who actively participates in the business, is a member or such an affiliated member of the sponsor, participating employers may also include such employer; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) all individuals commencing coverage under the plan after certification under this part must be--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) active or retired owners (including self-employed individuals), officers, directors, or employees of, or partners in, participating employers; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the beneficiaries of individuals described in subparagraph (A).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Coverage of Previously Uninsured Employees- In the case of an association health plan in existence on the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2007, an affiliated member of the sponsor of the plan may be offered coverage under the plan as a participating employer only if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) the affiliated member was an affiliated member on the date of certification under this part; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) during the 12-month period preceding the date of the offering of such coverage, the affiliated member has not maintained or contributed to a group health plan with respect to any of its employees who would otherwise be eligible to participate in such association health plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Individual Market Unaffected- The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to an association health plan if, under the terms of the plan, no participating employer may provide health insurance coverage in the individual market for any employee not covered under the plan which is similar to the coverage contemporaneously provided to employees of the employer under the plan, if such exclusion of the employee from coverage under the plan is based on a health status-related factor with respect to the employee and such employee would, but for such exclusion on such basis, be eligible for coverage under the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Prohibition of Discrimination Against Employers and Employees Eligible To Participate- The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to an association health plan if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) under the terms of the plan, all employers meeting the preceding requirements of this section are eligible to qualify as participating employers for all geographically available coverage options, unless, in the case of any such employer, participation or contribution requirements of the type referred to in section 2711 of the Public Health Service Act are not met;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) upon request, any employer eligible to participate is furnished information regarding all coverage options available under the plan; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) the applicable requirements of sections 701, 702, and 703 are met with respect to the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 805. OTHER REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO PLAN DOCUMENTS, CONTRIBUTION RATES, AND BENEFIT OPTIONS.

`(a) In General- The requirements of this section are met with respect to an association health plan if the following requirements are met:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) CONTENTS OF GOVERNING INSTRUMENTS- The instruments governing the plan include a written instrument, meeting the requirements of an instrument required under section 402(a)(1), which--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) provides that the board of trustees serves as the named fiduciary required for plans under section 402(a)(1) and serves in the capacity of a plan administrator (referred to in section 3(16)(A));CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) provides that the sponsor of the plan is to serve as plan sponsor (referred to in section 3(16)(B)); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) incorporates the requirements of section 806.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) CONTRIBUTION RATES MUST BE NONDISCRIMINATORY-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) The contribution rates for any participating small employer do not vary on the basis of any health status-related factor in relation to employees of such employer or their beneficiaries and do not vary on the basis of the type of business or industry in which such employer is engaged.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) Nothing in this title or any other provision of law shall be construed to preclude an association health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with an association health plan, from--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) setting contribution rates based on the claims experience of the plan; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) varying contribution rates for small employers in a State to the extent that such rates could vary using the same methodology employed in such State for regulating premium rates in the small group market with respect to health insurance coverage offered in connection with bona fide associations (within the meaning of section 2791(d)(3) of the Public Health Service Act),CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





subject to the requirements of section 702(b) relating to contribution rates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) FLOOR FOR NUMBER OF COVERED INDIVIDUALS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN PLANS- If any benefit option under the plan does not consist of health insurance coverage, the plan has as of the beginning of the plan year not fewer than 1,000 participants and beneficiaries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) MARKETING REQUIREMENTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- If a benefit option which consists of health insurance coverage is offered under the plan, State-licensed insurance agents shall be used to distribute to small employers coverage which does not consist of health insurance coverage in a manner comparable to the manner in which such agents are used to distribute health insurance coverage.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) STATE-LICENSED INSURANCE AGENTS- For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term `State-licensed insurance agents' means one or more agents who are licensed in a State and are subject to the laws of such State relating to licensure, qualification, testing, examination, and continuing education of persons authorized to offer, sell, or solicit health insurance coverage in such State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS- Such other requirements as the applicable authority determines are necessary to carry out the purposes of this part, which shall be prescribed by the applicable authority by regulation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Ability of Association Health Plans To Design Benefit Options- Subject to section 514(d), nothing in this part or any provision of State law (as defined in section 514(c)(1)) shall be construed to preclude an association health plan, or a health insurance issuer offering health insurance coverage in connection with an association health plan, from exercising its sole discretion in selecting the specific items and services consisting of medical care to be included as benefits under such plan or coverage, except (subject to section 514) in the case of (1) any law to the extent that it is not preempted under section 731(a)(1) with respect to matters governed by section 711, 712, or 713, or (2) any law of the State with which filing and approval of a policy type offered by the plan was initially obtained to the extent that such law prohibits an exclusion of a specific disease from such coverage.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 806. MAINTENANCE OF RESERVES AND PROVISIONS FOR SOLVENCY FOR PLANS PROVIDING HEALTH BENEFITS IN ADDITION TO HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.

`(a) In General- The requirements of this section are met with respect to an association health plan if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) the benefits under the plan consist solely of health insurance coverage; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) if the plan provides any additional benefit options which do not consist of health insurance coverage, the plan--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) establishes and maintains reserves with respect to such additional benefit options, in amounts recommended by the qualified actuary, consisting of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) a reserve sufficient for unearned contributions;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) a reserve sufficient for benefit liabilities which have been incurred, which have not been satisfied, and for which risk of loss has not yet been transferred, and for expected administrative costs with respect to such benefit liabilities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) a reserve sufficient for any other obligations of the plan; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iv) a reserve sufficient for a margin of error and other fluctuations, taking into account the specific circumstances of the plan; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) establishes and maintains aggregate and specific excess/stop loss insurance and solvency indemnification, with respect to such additional benefit options for which risk of loss has not yet been transferred, as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) The plan shall secure aggregate excess/stop loss insurance for the plan with an attachment point which is not greater than 125 percent of expected gross annual claims. The applicable authority may by regulation provide for upward adjustments in the amount of such percentage in specified circumstances in which the plan specifically provides for and maintains reserves in excess of the amounts required under subparagraph (A).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) The plan shall secure specific excess/stop loss insurance for the plan with an attachment point which is at least equal to an amount recommended by the plan's qualified actuary. The applicable authority may by regulation provide for adjustments in the amount of such insurance in specified circumstances in which the plan specifically provides for and maintains reserves in excess of the amounts required under subparagraph (A).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) The plan shall secure indemnification insurance for any claims which the plan is unable to satisfy by reason of a plan termination.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Any person issuing to a plan insurance described in clause (I), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (B) shall notify the Secretary of any failure of premium payment meriting cancellation of the policy prior to undertaking such a cancellation. Any regulations prescribed by the applicable authority pursuant to clause (I) or (ii) of subparagraph (B) may allow for such adjustments in the required levels of excess/stop loss insurance as the qualified actuary may recommend, taking into account the specific circumstances of the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Minimum Surplus in Addition to Claims Reserves- In the case of any association health plan described in subsection (a)(2), the requirements of this subsection are met if the plan establishes and maintains surplus in an amount at least equal to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) $500,000, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) such greater amount (but not greater than $2,000,000) as may be set forth in regulations prescribed by the applicable authority, considering the level of aggregate and specific excess/stop loss insurance provided with respect to such plan and other factors related to solvency risk, such as the plan's projected levels of participation or claims, the nature of the plan's liabilities, and the types of assets available to assure that such liabilities are met.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Additional Requirements- In the case of any association health plan described in subsection (a)(2), the applicable authority may provide such additional requirements relating to reserves, excess/stop loss insurance, and indemnification insurance as the applicable authority considers appropriate. Such requirements may be provided by regulation with respect to any such plan or any class of such plans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Adjustments for Excess/Stop Loss Insurance- The applicable authority may provide for adjustments to the levels of reserves otherwise required under subsections (a) and (b) with respect to any plan or class of plans to take into account excess/stop loss insurance provided with respect to such plan or plans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Alternative Means of Compliance- The applicable authority may permit an association health plan described in subsection (a)(2) to substitute, for all or part of the requirements of this section (except subsection (a)(2)(B)(iii)), such security, guarantee, hold-harmless arrangement, or other financial arrangement as the applicable authority determines to be adequate to enable the plan to fully meet all its financial obligations on a timely basis and is otherwise no less protective of the interests of participants and beneficiaries than the requirements for which it is substituted. The applicable authority may take into account, for purposes of this subsection, evidence provided by the plan or sponsor which demonstrates an assumption of liability with respect to the plan. Such evidence may be in the form of a contract of indemnification, lien, bonding, insurance, letter of credit, recourse under applicable terms of the plan in the form of assessments of participating employers, security, or other financial arrangement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(f) Measures to Ensure Continued Payment of Benefits by Certain Plans in Distress-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) PAYMENTS BY CERTAIN PLANS TO ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLAN FUND-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- In the case of an association health plan described in subsection (a)(2), the requirements of this subsection are met if the plan makes payments into the Association Health Plan Fund under this subparagraph when they are due. Such payments shall consist of annual payments in the amount of $5,000, and, in addition to such annual payments, such supplemental payments as the Secretary may determine to be necessary under paragraph (2). Payments under this paragraph are payable to the Fund at the time determined by the Secretary. Initial payments are due in advance of certification under this part. Payments shall continue to accrue until a plan's assets are distributed pursuant to a termination procedure.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO MAKE PAYMENTS- If any payment is not made by a plan when it is due, a late payment charge of not more than 100 percent of the payment which was not timely paid shall be payable by the plan to the Fund.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) CONTINUED DUTY OF THE SECRETARY- The Secretary shall not cease to carry out the provisions of paragraph (2) on account of the failure of a plan to pay any payment when due.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) PAYMENTS BY SECRETARY TO CONTINUE EXCESS/STOP LOSS INSURANCE COVERAGE AND INDEMNIFICATION INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN PLANS- In any case in which the applicable authority determines that there is, or that there is reason to believe that there will be: (A) a failure to take necessary corrective actions under section 809(a) with respect to an association health plan described in subsection (a)(2); or (B) a termination of such a plan under section 809(b) or 810(b)(8) (and, if the applicable authority is not the Secretary, certifies such determination to the Secretary), the Secretary shall determine the amounts necessary to make payments to an insurer (designated by the Secretary) to maintain in force excess/stop loss insurance coverage or indemnification insurance coverage for such plan, if the Secretary determines that there is a reasonable expectation that, without such payments, claims would not be satisfied by reason of termination of such coverage. The Secretary shall, to the extent provided in advance in appropriation Acts, pay such amounts so determined to the insurer designated by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLAN FUND-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- There is established on the books of the Treasury a fund to be known as the `Association Health Plan Fund'. The Fund shall be available for making payments pursuant to paragraph (2). The Fund shall be credited with payments received pursuant to paragraph (1)(A), penalties received pursuant to paragraph (1)(B); and earnings on investments of amounts of the Fund under subparagraph (B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) INVESTMENT- Whenever the Secretary determines that the moneys of the fund are in excess of current needs, the Secretary may request the investment of such amounts as the Secretary determines advisable by the Secretary of the Treasury in obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(g) Excess/Stop Loss Insurance- For purposes of this section--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) AGGREGATE EXCESS/STOP LOSS INSURANCE- The term `aggregate excess/stop loss insurance' means, in connection with an association health plan, a contract--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) under which an insurer (meeting such minimum standards as the applicable authority may prescribe by regulation) provides for payment to the plan with respect to aggregate claims under the plan in excess of an amount or amounts specified in such contract;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) which is guaranteed renewable; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) which allows for payment of premiums by any third party on behalf of the insured plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) SPECIFIC EXCESS/STOP LOSS INSURANCE- The term `specific excess/stop loss insurance' means, in connection with an association health plan, a contract--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) under which an insurer (meeting such minimum standards as the applicable authority may prescribe by regulation) provides for payment to the plan with respect to claims under the plan in connection with a covered individual in excess of an amount or amounts specified in such contract in connection with such covered individual;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) which is guaranteed renewable; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) which allows for payment of premiums by any third party on behalf of the insured plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(h) Indemnification Insurance- For purposes of this section, the term `indemnification insurance' means, in connection with an association health plan, a contract--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) under which an insurer (meeting such minimum standards as the applicable authority may prescribe by regulation) provides for payment to the plan with respect to claims under the plan which the plan is unable to satisfy by reason of a termination pursuant to section 809(b) (relating to mandatory termination);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) which is guaranteed renewable and noncancellable for any reason (except as the applicable authority may prescribe by regulation); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) which allows for payment of premiums by any third party on behalf of the insured plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) Reserves- For purposes of this section, the term `reserves' means, in connection with an association health plan, plan assets which meet the fiduciary standards under part 4 and such additional requirements regarding liquidity as the applicable authority may prescribe by regulation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(j) Solvency Standards Working Group-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- Within 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2007, the applicable authority shall establish a Solvency Standards Working Group. In prescribing the initial regulations under this section, the applicable authority shall take into account the recommendations of such Working Group.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) MEMBERSHIP- The Working Group shall consist of not more than 15 members appointed by the applicable authority. The applicable authority shall include among persons invited to membership on the Working Group at least one of each of the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) a representative of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) a representative of the American Academy of Actuaries;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) a representative of the State governments, or their interests;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) a representative of existing self-insured arrangements, or their interests;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) a representative of associations of the type referred to in section 801(b)(1), or their interests; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(F) a representative of multiemployer plans that are group health plans, or their interests.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 807. REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION AND RELATED REQUIREMENTS.

`(a) Filing Fee- Under the procedure prescribed pursuant to section 802(a), an association health plan shall pay to the applicable authority at the time of filing an application for certification under this part a filing fee in the amount of $5,000, which shall be available in the case of the Secretary, to the extent provided in appropriation Acts, for the sole purpose of administering the certification procedures applicable with respect to association health plans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Information To Be Included in Application for Certification- An application for certification under this part meets the requirements of this section only if it includes, in a manner and form which shall be prescribed by the applicable authority by regulation, at least the following information:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IDENTIFYING INFORMATION- The names and addresses of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the sponsor; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the members of the board of trustees of the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) STATES IN WHICH PLAN INTENDS TO DO BUSINESS- The States in which participants and beneficiaries under the plan are to be located and the number of them expected to be located in each such State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) BONDING REQUIREMENTS- Evidence provided by the board of trustees that the bonding requirements of section 412 will be met as of the date of the application or (if later) commencement of operations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) PLAN DOCUMENTS- A copy of the documents governing the plan (including any bylaws and trust agreements), the summary plan description, and other material describing the benefits that will be provided to participants and beneficiaries under the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) AGREEMENTS WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS- A copy of any agreements between the plan and contract administrators and other service providers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) FUNDING REPORT- In the case of association health plans providing benefits options in addition to health insurance coverage, a report setting forth information with respect to such additional benefit options determined as of a date within the 120-day period ending with the date of the application, including the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) RESERVES- A statement, certified by the board of trustees of the plan, and a statement of actuarial opinion, signed by a qualified actuary, that all applicable requirements of section 806 are or will be met in accordance with regulations which the applicable authority shall prescribe.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) ADEQUACY OF CONTRIBUTION RATES- A statement of actuarial opinion, signed by a qualified actuary, which sets forth a description of the extent to which contribution rates are adequate to provide for the payment of all obligations and the maintenance of required reserves under the plan for the 12-month period beginning with such date within such 120-day period, taking into account the expected coverage and experience of the plan. If the contribution rates are not fully adequate, the statement of actuarial opinion shall indicate the extent to which the rates are inadequate and the changes needed to ensure adequacy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) CURRENT AND PROJECTED VALUE OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES- A statement of actuarial opinion signed by a qualified actuary, which sets forth the current value of the assets and liabilities accumulated under the plan and a projection of the assets, liabilities, income, and expenses of the plan for the 12-month period referred to in subparagraph (B). The income statement shall identify separately the plan's administrative expenses and claims.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(D) COSTS OF COVERAGE TO BE CHARGED AND OTHER EXPENSES- A statement of the costs of coverage to be charged, including an itemization of amounts for administration, reserves, and other expenses associated with the operation of the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) OTHER INFORMATION- Any other information as may be determined by the applicable authority, by regulation, as necessary to carry out the purposes of this part.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Filing Notice of Certification With States- A certification granted under this part to an association health plan shall not be effective unless written notice of such certification is filed with the applicable State authority of each State in which at least 25 percent of the participants and beneficiaries under the plan are located. For purposes of this subsection, an individual shall be considered to be located in the State in which a known address of such individual is located or in which such individual is employed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Notice of Material Changes- In the case of any association health plan certified under this part, descriptions of material changes in any information which was required to be submitted with the application for the certification under this part shall be filed in such form and manner as shall be prescribed by the applicable authority by regulation. The applicable authority may require by regulation prior notice of material changes with respect to specified matters which might serve as the basis for suspension or revocation of the certification.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Reporting Requirements for Certain Association Health Plans- An association health plan certified under this part which provides benefit options in addition to health insurance coverage for such plan year shall meet the requirements of section 103 by filing an annual report under such section which shall include information described in subsection (b)(6) with respect to the plan year and, notwithstanding section 104(a)(1)(A), shall be filed with the applicable authority not later than 90 days after the close of the plan year (or on such later date as may be prescribed by the applicable authority). The applicable authority may require by regulation such interim reports as it considers appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(f) Engagement of Qualified Actuary- The board of trustees of each association health plan which provides benefits options in addition to health insurance coverage and which is applying for certification under this part or is certified under this part shall engage, on behalf of all participants and beneficiaries, a qualified actuary who shall be responsible for the preparation of the materials comprising information necessary to be submitted by a qualified actuary under this part. The qualified actuary shall utilize such assumptions and techniques as are necessary to enable such actuary to form an opinion as to whether the contents of the matters reported under this part--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) are in the aggregate reasonably related to the experience of the plan and to reasonable expectations; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) represent such actuary's best estimate of anticipated experience under the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





The opinion by the qualified actuary shall be made with respect to, and shall be made a part of, the annual report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 808. NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTARY TERMINATION.

`Except as provided in section 809(b), an association health plan which is or has been certified under this part may terminate (upon or at any time after cessation of accruals in benefit liabilities) only if the board of trustees, not less than 60 days before the proposed termination date--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) provides to the participants and beneficiaries a written notice of intent to terminate stating that such termination is intended and the proposed termination date;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) develops a plan for winding up the affairs of the plan in connection with such termination in a manner which will result in timely payment of all benefits for which the plan is obligated; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) submits such plan in writing to the applicable authority.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Actions required under this section shall be taken in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the applicable authority by regulation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 809. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS AND MANDATORY TERMINATION.

`(a) Actions To Avoid Depletion of Reserves- An association health plan which is certified under this part and which provides benefits other than health insurance coverage shall continue to meet the requirements of section 806, irrespective of whether such certification continues in effect. The board of trustees of such plan shall determine quarterly whether the requirements of section 806 are met. In any case in which the board determines that there is reason to believe that there is or will be a failure to meet such requirements, or the applicable authority makes such a determination and so notifies the board, the board shall immediately notify the qualified actuary engaged by the plan, and such actuary shall, not later than the end of the next following month, make such recommendations to the board for corrective action as the actuary determines necessary to ensure compliance with section 806. Not later than 30 days after receiving from the actuary recommendations for corrective actions, the board shall notify the applicable authority (in such form and manner as the applicable authority may prescribe by regulation) of such recommendations of the actuary for corrective action, together with a description of the actions (if any) that the board has taken or plans to take in response to such recommendations. The board shall thereafter report to the applicable authority, in such form and frequency as the applicable authority may specify to the board, regarding corrective action taken by the board until the requirements of section 806 are met.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Mandatory Termination- In any case in which--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) the applicable authority has been notified under subsection (a) (or by an issuer of excess/stop loss insurance or indemnity insurance pursuant to section 806(a)) of a failure of an association health plan which is or has been certified under this part and is described in section 806(a)(2) to meet the requirements of section 806 and has not been notified by the board of trustees of the plan that corrective action has restored compliance with such requirements; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) the applicable authority determines that there is a reasonable expectation that the plan will continue to fail to meet the requirements of section 806,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





the board of trustees of the plan shall, at the direction of the applicable authority, terminate the plan and, in the course of the termination, take such actions as the applicable authority may require, including satisfying any claims referred to in section 806(a)(2)(B)(iii) and recovering for the plan any liability under subsection (a)(2)(B)(iii) or (e) of section 806, as necessary to ensure that the affairs of the plan will be, to the maximum extent possible, wound up in a manner which will result in timely provision of all benefits for which the plan is obligated.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 810. TRUSTEESHIP BY THE SECRETARY OF INSOLVENT ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS PROVIDING HEALTH BENEFITS IN ADDITION TO HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.

`(a) Appointment of Secretary as Trustee for Insolvent Plans- Whenever the Secretary determines that an association health plan which is or has been certified under this part and which is described in section 806(a)(2) will be unable to provide benefits when due or is otherwise in a financially hazardous condition, as shall be defined by the Secretary by regulation, the Secretary shall, upon notice to the plan, apply to the appropriate United States district court for appointment of the Secretary as trustee to administer the plan for the duration of the insolvency. The plan may appear as a party and other interested persons may intervene in the proceedings at the discretion of the court. The court shall appoint such Secretary trustee if the court determines that the trusteeship is necessary to protect the interests of the participants and beneficiaries or providers of medical care or to avoid any unreasonable deterioration of the financial condition of the plan. The trusteeship of such Secretary shall continue until the conditions described in the first sentence of this subsection are remedied or the plan is terminated.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Powers as Trustee- The Secretary, upon appointment as trustee under subsection (a), shall have the power--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) to do any act authorized by the plan, this title, or other applicable provisions of law to be done by the plan administrator or any trustee of the plan;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) to require the transfer of all (or any part) of the assets and records of the plan to the Secretary as trustee;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) to invest any assets of the plan which the Secretary holds in accordance with the provisions of the plan, regulations prescribed by the Secretary, and applicable provisions of law;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) to require the sponsor, the plan administrator, any participating employer, and any employee organization representing plan participants to furnish any information with respect to the plan which the Secretary as trustee may reasonably need in order to administer the plan;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) to collect for the plan any amounts due the plan and to recover reasonable expenses of the trusteeship;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) to commence, prosecute, or defend on behalf of the plan any suit or proceeding involving the plan;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(7) to issue, publish, or file such notices, statements, and reports as may be required by the Secretary by regulation or required by any order of the court;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(8) to terminate the plan (or provide for its termination in accordance with section 809(b)) and liquidate the plan assets, to restore the plan to the responsibility of the sponsor, or to continue the trusteeship;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(9) to provide for the enrollment of plan participants and beneficiaries under appropriate coverage options; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(10) to do such other acts as may be necessary to comply with this title or any order of the court and to protect the interests of plan participants and beneficiaries and providers of medical care.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Notice of Appointment- As soon as practicable after the Secretary's appointment as trustee, the Secretary shall give notice of such appointment to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) the sponsor and plan administrator;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) each participant;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) each participating employer; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) if applicable, each employee organization which, for purposes of collective bargaining, represents plan participants.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Additional Duties- Except to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of this title, or as may be otherwise ordered by the court, the Secretary, upon appointment as trustee under this section, shall be subject to the same duties as those of a trustee under section 704 of title 11, United States Code, and shall have the duties of a fiduciary for purposes of this title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Other Proceedings- An application by the Secretary under this subsection may be filed notwithstanding the pendency in the same or any other court of any bankruptcy, mortgage foreclosure, or equity receivership proceeding, or any proceeding to reorganize, conserve, or liquidate such plan or its property, or any proceeding to enforce a lien against property of the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(f) Jurisdiction of Court-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- Upon the filing of an application for the appointment as trustee or the issuance of a decree under this section, the court to which the application is made shall have exclusive jurisdiction of the plan involved and its property wherever located with the powers, to the extent consistent with the purposes of this section, of a court of the United States having jurisdiction over cases under chapter 11 of title 11, United States Code. Pending an adjudication under this section such court shall stay, and upon appointment by it of the Secretary as trustee, such court shall continue the stay of, any pending mortgage foreclosure, equity receivership, or other proceeding to reorganize, conserve, or liquidate the plan, the sponsor, or property of such plan or sponsor, and any other suit against any receiver, conservator, or trustee of the plan, the sponsor, or property of the plan or sponsor. Pending such adjudication and upon the appointment by it of the Secretary as trustee, the court may stay any proceeding to enforce a lien against property of the plan or the sponsor or any other suit against the plan or the sponsor.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) VENUE- An action under this section may be brought in the judicial district where the sponsor or the plan administrator resides or does business or where any asset of the plan is situated. A district court in which such action is brought may issue process with respect to such action in any other judicial district.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(g) Personnel- In accordance with regulations which shall be prescribed by the Secretary, the Secretary shall appoint, retain, and compensate accountants, actuaries, and other professional service personnel as may be necessary in connection with the Secretary's service as trustee under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 811. STATE ASSESSMENT AUTHORITY.

`(a) In General- Notwithstanding section 514, a State may impose by law a contribution tax on an association health plan described in section 806(a)(2), if the plan commenced operations in such State after the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2007.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Contribution Tax- For purposes of this section, the term `contribution tax' imposed by a State on an association health plan means any tax imposed by such State if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) such tax is computed by applying a rate to the amount of premiums or contributions, with respect to individuals covered under the plan who are residents of such State, which are received by the plan from participating employers located in such State or from such individuals;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) the rate of such tax does not exceed the rate of any tax imposed by such State on premiums or contributions received by insurers or health maintenance organizations for health insurance coverage offered in such State in connection with a group health plan;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) such tax is otherwise nondiscriminatory; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) the amount of any such tax assessed on the plan is reduced by the amount of any tax or assessment otherwise imposed by the State on premiums, contributions, or both received by insurers or health maintenance organizations for health insurance coverage, aggregate excess/stop loss insurance (as defined in section 806(g)(1)), specific excess/stop loss insurance (as defined in section 806(g)(2)), other insurance related to the provision of medical care under the plan, or any combination thereof provided by such insurers or health maintenance organizations in such State in connection with such plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`SEC. 812. DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

`(a) Definitions- For purposes of this part--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) GROUP HEALTH PLAN- The term `group health plan' has the meaning provided in section 733(a)(1) (after applying subsection (b) of this section).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) MEDICAL CARE- The term `medical care' has the meaning provided in section 733(a)(2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE- The term `health insurance coverage' has the meaning provided in section 733(b)(1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) HEALTH INSURANCE ISSUER- The term `health insurance issuer' has the meaning provided in section 733(b)(2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) APPLICABLE AUTHORITY- The term `applicable authority' means the Secretary, except that, in connection with any exercise of the Secretary's authority regarding which the Secretary is required under section 506(d) to consult with a State, such term means the Secretary, in consultation with such State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) HEALTH STATUS-RELATED FACTOR- The term `health status-related factor' has the meaning provided in section 733(d)(2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(7) INDIVIDUAL MARKET-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) IN GENERAL- The term `individual market' means the market for health insurance coverage offered to individuals other than in connection with a group health plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) TREATMENT OF VERY SMALL GROUPS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(I) IN GENERAL- Subject to clause (ii), such term includes coverage offered in connection with a group health plan that has fewer than 2 participants as current employees or participants described in section 732(d)(3) on the first day of the plan year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(ii) STATE EXCEPTION- Clause (I) shall not apply in the case of health insurance coverage offered in a State if such State regulates the coverage described in such clause in the same manner and to the same extent as coverage in the small group market (as defined in section 2791(e)(5) of the Public Health Service Act) is regulated by such State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(8) PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER- The term `participating employer' means, in connection with an association health plan, any employer, if any individual who is an employee of such employer, a partner in such employer, or a self-employed individual who is such employer (or any dependent, as defined under the terms of the plan, of such individual) is or was covered under such plan in connection with the status of such individual as such an employee, partner, or self-employed individual in relation to the plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(9) APPLICABLE STATE AUTHORITY- The term `applicable State authority' means, with respect to a health insurance issuer in a State, the State insurance commissioner or official or officials designated by the State to enforce the requirements of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act for the State involved with respect to such issuer.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(10) QUALIFIED ACTUARY- The term `qualified actuary' means an individual who is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(11) AFFILIATED MEMBER- The term `affiliated member' means, in connection with a sponsor--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) a person who is otherwise eligible to be a member of the sponsor but who elects an affiliated status with the sponsor,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) in the case of a sponsor with members which consist of associations, a person who is a member of any such association and elects an affiliated status with the sponsor, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(C) in the case of an association health plan in existence on the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2007, a person eligible to be a member of the sponsor or one of its member associations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(12) LARGE EMPLOYER- The term `large employer' means, in connection with a group health plan with respect to a plan year, an employer who employed an average of at least 51 employees on business days during the preceding calendar year and who employs at least 2 employees on the first day of the plan year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(13) SMALL EMPLOYER- The term `small employer' means, in connection with a group health plan with respect to a plan year, an employer who is not a large employer.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Rules of Construction-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES- For purposes of determining whether a plan, fund, or program is an employee welfare benefit plan which is an association health plan, and for purposes of applying this title in connection with such plan, fund, or program so determined to be such an employee welfare benefit plan--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) in the case of a partnership, the term `employer' (as defined in section 3(5)) includes the partnership in relation to the partners, and the term `employee' (as defined in section 3(6)) includes any partner in relation to the partnership; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) in the case of a self-employed individual, the term `employer' (as defined in section 3(5)) and the term `employee' (as defined in section 3(6)) shall include such individual.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) PLANS, FUNDS, AND PROGRAMS TREATED AS EMPLOYEE WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS- In the case of any plan, fund, or program which was established or is maintained for the purpose of providing medical care (through the purchase of insurance or otherwise) for employees (or their dependents) covered thereunder and which demonstrates to the Secretary that all requirements for certification under this part would be met with respect to such plan, fund, or program if such plan, fund, or program were a group health plan, such plan, fund, or program shall be treated for purposes of this title as an employee welfare benefit plan on and after the date of such demonstration.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Conforming Amendments to Preemption Rules-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Section 514(b)(6) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1144(b)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(E) The preceding subparagraphs of this paragraph do not apply with respect to any State law in the case of an association health plan which is certified under part 8.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Section 514 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1144) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subsection (b)(4), by striking `Subsection (a)' and inserting `Subsections (a) and (d)';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subsection (b)(5), by striking `subsection (a)' in subparagraph (A) and inserting `subsection (a) of this section and subsections (a)(2)(B) and (b) of section 805', and by striking `subsection (a)' in subparagraph (B) and inserting `subsection (a) of this section or subsection (a)(2)(B) or (b) of section 805';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d)(1) Except as provided in subsection (b)(4), the provisions of this title shall supersede any and all State laws insofar as they may now or hereafter preclude, or have the effect of precluding, a health insurance issuer from offering health insurance coverage in connection with an association health plan which is certified under part 8.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (b) of this section--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) In any case in which health insurance coverage of any policy type is offered under an association health plan certified under part 8 to a participating employer operating in such State, the provisions of this title shall supersede any and all laws of such State insofar as they may preclude a health insurance issuer from offering health insurance coverage of the same policy type to other employers operating in the State which are eligible for coverage under such association health plan, whether or not such other employers are participating employers in such plan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) In any case in which health insurance coverage of any policy type is offered in a State under an association health plan certified under part 8 and the filing, with the applicable State authority (as defined in section 812(a)(9)), of the policy form in connection with such policy type is approved by such State authority, the provisions of this title shall supersede any and all laws of any other State in which health insurance coverage of such type is offered, insofar as they may preclude, upon the filing in the same form and manner of such policy form with the applicable State authority in such other State, the approval of the filing in such other State.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) Nothing in subsection (b)(6)(E) or the preceding provisions of this subsection shall be construed, with respect to health insurance issuers or health insurance coverage, to supersede or impair the law of any State--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) providing solvency standards or similar standards regarding the adequacy of insurer capital, surplus, reserves, or contributions, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) relating to prompt payment of claims.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) For additional provisions relating to association health plans, see subsections (a)(2)(B) and (b) of section 805.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) For purposes of this subsection, the term `association health plan' has the meaning provided in section 801(a), and the terms `health insurance coverage', `participating employer', and `health insurance issuer' have the meanings provided such terms in section 812, respectively.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Section 514(b)(6)(A) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1144(b)(6)(A)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in clause (I)(II), by striking `and' at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in clause (ii), by inserting `and which does not provide medical care (within the meaning of section 733(a)(2)),' after `arrangement,', and by striking `title.' and inserting `title, and'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by adding at the end the following new clause:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii) subject to subparagraph (E), in the case of any other employee welfare benefit plan which is a multiple employer welfare arrangement and which provides medical care (within the meaning of section 733(a)(2)), any law of any State which regulates insurance may apply.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Section 514(e) of such Act (as redesignated by paragraph (2)(C)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking `Nothing' and inserting `(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), nothing'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) Nothing in any other provision of law enacted on or after the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2007 shall be construed to alter, amend, modify, invalidate, impair, or supersede any provision of this title, except by specific cross-reference to the affected section.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Plan Sponsor- Section 3(16)(B) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 102(16)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: `Such term also includes a person serving as the sponsor of an association health plan under part 8.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Disclosure of Solvency Protections Related to Self-Insured and Fully Insured Options Under Association Health Plans- Section 102(b) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 102(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following: `An association health plan shall include in its summary plan description, in connection with each benefit option, a description of the form of solvency or guarantee fund protection secured pursuant to this Act or applicable State law, if any.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Savings Clause- Section 731(c) of such Act is amended by inserting `or part 8' after `this part'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Report to the Congress Regarding Certification of Self-Insured Association Health Plans- Not later than January 1, 2012, the Secretary of Labor shall report to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate the effect association health plans have had, if any, on reducing the number of uninsured individuals.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Clerical Amendment- The table of contents in section 1 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 734 the following new items:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`Part 8--Rules Governing Association Health Plans

`801. Association health plans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`802. Certification of association health plans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`803. Requirements relating to sponsors and boards of trustees.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`804. Participation and coverage requirements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`805. Other requirements relating to plan documents, contribution rates, and benefit options.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`806. Maintenance of reserves and provisions for solvency for plans providing health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`807. Requirements for application and related requirements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`808. Notice requirements for voluntary termination.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`809. Corrective actions and mandatory termination.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`810. Trusteeship by the Secretary of insolvent association health plans providing health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`811. State assessment authority.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`812. Definitions and rules of construction.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF TREATMENT OF SINGLE EMPLOYER ARRANGEMENTS.

Section 3(40)(B) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(40)(B)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in clause (I), by inserting after `control group,' the following: `except that, in any case in which the benefit referred to in subparagraph (A) consists of medical care (as defined in section 812(a)(2)), two or more trades or businesses, whether or not incorporated, shall be deemed a single employer for any plan year of such plan, or any fiscal year of such other arrangement, if such trades or businesses are within the same control group during such year or at any time during the preceding 1-year period,';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in clause (iii), by striking `(iii) the determination' and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iii)(I) in any case in which the benefit referred to in subparagraph (A) consists of medical care (as defined in section 812(a)(2)), the determination of whether a trade or business is under `common control' with another trade or business shall be determined under regulations of the Secretary applying principles consistent and coextensive with the principles applied in determining whether employees of two or more trades or businesses are treated as employed by a single employer under section 4001(b), except that, for purposes of this paragraph, an interest of greater than 25 percent may not be required as the minimum interest necessary for common control, orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(II) in any other case, the determination';CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (v) and (vi), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) by inserting after clause (iii) the following new clause:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(iv) in any case in which the benefit referred to in subparagraph (A) consists of medical care (as defined in section 812(a)(2)), in determining, after the application of clause (I), whether benefits are provided to employees of two or more employers, the arrangement shall be treated as having only one participating employer if, after the application of clause (I), the number of individuals who are employees and former employees of any one participating employer and who are covered under the arrangement is greater than 75 percent of the aggregate number of all individuals who are employees or former employees of participating employers and who are covered under the arrangement,'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS RELATING TO ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS.

(a) Criminal Penalties for Certain Willful Misrepresentations- Section 501 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1131) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by inserting `(a)' after `Sec. 501.'; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Any person who willfully falsely represents, to any employee, any employee's beneficiary, any employer, the Secretary, or any State, a plan or other arrangement established or maintained for the purpose of offering or providing any benefit described in section 3(1) to employees or their beneficiaries as--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) being an association health plan which has been certified under part 8;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) having been established or maintained under or pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements which are reached pursuant to collective bargaining described in section 8(d) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 158(d)) or paragraph Fourth of section 2 of the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 152, paragraph Fourth) or which are reached pursuant to labor-management negotiations under similar provisions of State public employee relations laws; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) being a plan or arrangement described in section 3(40)(A)(I),CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned not more than 5 years, be fined under title 18, United States Code, or both.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Cease Activities Orders- Section 502 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1132) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(n) Association Health Plan Cease and Desist Orders-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to paragraph (2), upon application by the Secretary showing the operation, promotion, or marketing of an association health plan (or similar arrangement providing benefits consisting of medical care (as defined in section 733(a)(2))) that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) is not certified under part 8, is subject under section 514(b)(6) to the insurance laws of any State in which the plan or arrangement offers or provides benefits, and is not licensed, registered, or otherwise approved under the insurance laws of such State; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) is an association health plan certified under part 8 and is not operating in accordance with the requirements under part 8 for such certification,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





a district court of the United States shall enter an order requiring that the plan or arrangement cease activities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) EXCEPTION- Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case of an association health plan or other arrangement if the plan or arrangement shows that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) all benefits under it referred to in paragraph (1) consist of health insurance coverage; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) with respect to each State in which the plan or arrangement offers or provides benefits, the plan or arrangement is operating in accordance with applicable State laws that are not superseded under section 514.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) ADDITIONAL EQUITABLE RELIEF- The court may grant such additional equitable relief, including any relief available under this title, as it deems necessary to protect the interests of the public and of persons having claims for benefits against the plan.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Responsibility for Claims Procedure- Section 503 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1133) is amended by inserting `(a) In General- ' before `In accordance', and by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Association Health Plans- The terms of each association health plan which is or has been certified under part 8 shall require the board of trustees or the named fiduciary (as applicable) to ensure that the requirements of this section are met in connection with claims filed under the plan.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. COOPERATION BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES.

Section 506 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1136) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Consultation With States With Respect to Association Health Plans-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) AGREEMENTS WITH STATES- The Secretary shall consult with the State recognized under paragraph (2) with respect to an association health plan regarding the exercise of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) the Secretary's authority under sections 502 and 504 to enforce the requirements for certification under part 8; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) the Secretary's authority to certify association health plans under part 8 in accordance with regulations of the Secretary applicable to certification under part 8.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) RECOGNITION OF PRIMARY DOMICILE STATE- In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that only one State will be recognized, with respect to any particular association health plan, as the State with which consultation is required. In carrying out this paragraph--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) in the case of a plan which provides health insurance coverage (as defined in section 812(a)(3)), such State shall be the State with which filing and approval of a policy type offered by the plan was initially obtained, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) in any other case, the Secretary shall take into account the places of residence of the participants and beneficiaries under the plan and the State in which the trust is maintained.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TRANSITIONAL AND OTHER RULES.

(a) Effective Date- The amendments made by this Act shall take effect 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Labor shall first issue all regulations necessary to carry out the amendments made by this Act within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Treatment of Certain Existing Health Benefits Programs-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- In any case in which, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, an arrangement is maintained in a State for the purpose of providing benefits consisting of medical care for the employees and beneficiaries of its participating employers, at least 200 participating employers make contributions to such arrangement, such arrangement has been in existence for at least 10 years, and such arrangement is licensed under the laws of one or more States to provide such benefits to its participating employers, upon the filing with the applicable authority (as defined in section 812(a)(5) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (as amended by this subtitle)) by the arrangement of an application for certification of the arrangement under part 8 of subtitle B of title I of such Act--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) such arrangement shall be deemed to be a group health plan for purposes of title I of such Act;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the requirements of sections 801(a) and 803(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 shall be deemed met with respect to such arrangement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the requirements of section 803(b) of such Act shall be deemed met, if the arrangement is operated by a board of directors which--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) is elected by the participating employers, with each employer having one vote; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) has complete fiscal control over the arrangement and which is responsible for all operations of the arrangement;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) the requirements of section 804(a) of such Act shall be deemed met with respect to such arrangement; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) the arrangement may be certified by any applicable authority with respect to its operations in any State only if it operates in such State on the date of certification.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





The provisions of this subsection shall cease to apply with respect to any such arrangement at such time after the date of the enactment of this Act as the applicable requirements of this subsection are not met with respect to such arrangement.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this subsection, the terms `group health plan', `medical care', and `participating employer' shall have the meanings provided in section 812 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, except that the reference in paragraph (7) of such section to an `association health plan' shall be deemed a reference to an arrangement referred to in this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink