109 HR 525 RH: Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005 U.S. House of Representatives 2005-04-13 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IB Union Calendar No. 22 109th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 525 [Report No. 109–41] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 2, 2005 Mr. Sam Johnson of Texas (for himself, Ms. Velázquez, Mr. Boehner, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Kennedy of Minnesota, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. Bradley of New Hampshire, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Platts, Mr. Carter, Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Shays, Mr. Davis of Tennessee, Mrs. Bono, Mr. Graves, Mrs. Miller of Michigan, Mr. Tiberi, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Thornberry, Mr. Gillmor, Mr. Bonilla, Mr. McHenry, Mr. Akin, Mr. McHugh, Mr. Marchant, Mr. Fortuño, Mr. Brady of Texas, Mrs. Cubin, Mr. Cox, Mr. Neugebauer, Mr. Peterson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Petri, Mrs. Biggert, Mr. Shadegg, Mr. Manzullo, Mr. McCaul of Texas, Mr. Weller, Mr. Jindal, Ms. Foxx, Mr. Cantor, Mr. Gerlach, Mr. Culberson, Mr. King of Iowa, Mrs. Drake, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Kline, Mr. Cunningham, Mrs. Kelly, Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin, Mrs. Emerson, Ms. Pryce of Ohio, and Mr. Case) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce April 13, 2005 Additional sponsors: Mr. Doolittle, Mr. Herger, Mr. English of Pennsylvania, Mr. Miller of Florida, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mrs. Northup, Mr. Pence, Mr. Bachus, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Jones of North Carolina, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Rogers of Michigan, Mrs. Musgrave, Mr. Garrett of New Jersey, Mr. McKeon, Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite of Florida, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Keller, Mr. Gary G. Miller of California, Mr. Flake, Mr. Murphy, Mr. LaHood, Mrs. Myrick, Mr. Tancredo, Mr. Hostettler, Mr. Sodrel, Mr. Bartlett of Maryland, Mr. Rogers of Kentucky, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Hefley, Mr. Hensarling, Mr. Radanovich, Mr. Everett, Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. Gingrey, Mr. Barrett of South Carolina, Mr. Boustany, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Kolbe, Mr. Oxley, Mr. Chocola, Mr. Feeney, Mr. Turner, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Cole of Oklahoma, Ms. Hart, Mr. DeLay, Mr. Goodlatte, Mr. Shuster, Mr. Knollenberg, Mr. Aderholt, Mr. Bonner, Mr. Hall, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Fossella, Mr. Weldon of Florida, Mr. Stearns, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Rehberg, Mr. Hobson, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. Beauprez, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Cannon, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Mack, Mr. Barton of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Illinois, Mr. Latham, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Gutknecht, Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Ms. Lee, Mr. Smith of Texas, and Mr. Burgess Deleted sponsors: Mr. Meeks of New York (added March 15, 2005; deleted March 16, 2005) and Mr. Towns (added April 12, 2005; deleted April 13, 2005) April 13, 2005 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL 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.

1.

Short title and table of contents

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005. (b)

Table of contents

The table of contents is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents Sec. 2. Rules governing association health plans Sec. 3. Clarification of treatment of single employer arrangements Sec. 4. Enforcement provisions relating to association health plans Sec. 5. Cooperation between Federal and State authorities Sec. 6. Effective date and transitional and other rules

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: 8

Rules governing association health plans

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). (b)

Sponsorship

The sponsor of a group health plan is described in this subsection if such sponsor— (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; (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; and (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.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.

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. (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. (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). (d)

Requirements for continued certification

The applicable authority may provide by regulation for continued certification of association health plans under this part. (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). (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: (1)a plan which offered such coverage on the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005, (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, or (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; foodservice 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.

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. (b)

Board of trustees

The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to an association health plan if the following requirements are met: (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. (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. (3)

Rules governing relationship to participating employers and to contractors

(A)

Board membership

(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. (ii)

Limitation

(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. (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. (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. (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 2005. (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. (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— (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); and (2)the requirements of section 804(a)(1) shall be deemed met.The Secretary may by regulation define for purposes of this subsection the terms franchiser, franchise network, and franchisee.

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— (1)each participating employer must be— (A)a member of the sponsor, (B)the sponsor, or (C)an affiliated member of the sponsor with respect to which the requirements of subsection (b) are met,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; and (2)all individuals commencing coverage under the plan after certification under this part must be— (A)active or retired owners (including self-employed individuals), officers, directors, or employees of, or partners in, participating employers; or (B)the beneficiaries of individuals described in subparagraph (A). (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 2005, an affiliated member of the sponsor of the plan may be offered coverage under the plan as a participating employer only if— (1)the affiliated member was an affiliated member on the date of certification under this part; or (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. (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. (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— (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; (2)upon request, any employer eligible to participate is furnished information regarding all coverage options available under the plan; and (3)the applicable requirements of sections 701, 702, and 703 are met with respect to the plan.

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: (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— (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)); (B)provides that the sponsor of the plan is to serve as plan sponsor (referred to in section 3(16)(B)); and (C)incorporates the requirements of section 806. (2)

Contribution rates must be nondiscriminatory

(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. (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— (i)setting contribution rates based on the claims experience of the plan; or (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),subject to the requirements of section 702(b) relating to contribution rates. (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. (4)

Marketing requirements

(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. (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. (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. (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.

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— (1)the benefits under the plan consist solely of health insurance coverage; or (2)if the plan provides any additional benefit options which do not consist of health insurance coverage, the plan— (A)establishes and maintains reserves with respect to such additional benefit options, in amounts recommended by the qualified actuary, consisting of— (i)a reserve sufficient for unearned contributions; (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; (iii)a reserve sufficient for any other obligations of the plan; and (iv)a reserve sufficient for a margin of error and other fluctuations, taking into account the specific circumstances of the plan; and (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: (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). (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). (iii)The plan shall secure indemnification insurance for any claims which the plan is unable to satisfy by reason of a plan termination.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. (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— (1)$500,000, or (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. (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. (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. (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. (f)

Measures to ensure continued payment of benefits by certain plans in distress

(1)

Payments by certain plans to Association Health Plan Fund

(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. (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. (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. (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. (3)

Association Health Plan Fund

(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). (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. (g)

Excess/Stop loss insurance

For purposes of this section— (1)

Aggregate excess/stop loss insurance

The term aggregate excess/stop loss insurance means, in connection with an association health plan, a contract— (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; (B)which is guaranteed renewable; and (C)which allows for payment of premiums by any third party on behalf of the insured plan. (2)

Specific excess/stop loss insurance

The term specific excess/stop loss insurance means, in connection with an association health plan, a contract— (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; (B)which is guaranteed renewable; and (C)which allows for payment of premiums by any third party on behalf of the insured plan. (h)

Indemnification insurance

For purposes of this section, the term indemnification insurance means, in connection with an association health plan, a contract— (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); (2)which is guaranteed renewable and noncancellable for any reason (except as the applicable authority may prescribe by regulation); and (3)which allows for payment of premiums by any third party on behalf of the insured plan. (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. (j)

Solvency Standards Working Group

(1)

In General

Within 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005, 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. (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: (A)a representative of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; (B)a representative of the American Academy of Actuaries; (C)a representative of the State governments, or their interests; (D)a representative of existing self-insured arrangements, or their interests; (E)a representative of associations of the type referred to in section 801(b)(1), or their interests; and (F)a representative of multiemployer plans that are group health plans, or their interests.

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. (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: (1)

Identifying information

The names and addresses of— (A)the sponsor; and (B)the members of the board of trustees of the plan. (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. (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. (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. (5)

Agreements with service providers

A copy of any agreements between the plan and contract administrators and other service providers. (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: (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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— (1)are in the aggregate reasonably related to the experience of the plan and to reasonable expectations; and (2)represent such actuary’s best estimate of anticipated experience under the plan.The opinion by the qualified actuary shall be made with respect to, and shall be made a part of, the annual report.

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— (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; (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; and (3)submits such plan in writing to the applicable authority.Actions required under this section shall be taken in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the applicable authority by regulation.

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. (b)

Mandatory termination

In any case in which— (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; and (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,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.

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. (b)

Powers as trustee

The Secretary, upon appointment as trustee under subsection (a), shall have the power— (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; (2)to require the transfer of all (or any part) of the assets and records of the plan to the Secretary as trustee; (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; (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; (5)to collect for the plan any amounts due the plan and to recover reasonable expenses of the trusteeship; (6)to commence, prosecute, or defend on behalf of the plan any suit or proceeding involving the plan; (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; (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; (9)to provide for the enrollment of plan participants and beneficiaries under appropriate coverage options; and (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. (c)

Notice of appointment

As soon as practicable after the Secretary’s appointment as trustee, the Secretary shall give notice of such appointment to— (1)the sponsor and plan administrator; (2)each participant; (3)each participating employer; and (4)if applicable, each employee organization which, for purposes of collective bargaining, represents plan participants. (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. (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. (f)

Jurisdiction of court

(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. (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. (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.

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 2005. (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— (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; (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; (3)such tax is otherwise nondiscriminatory; and (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.

812.

Definitions and rules of construction

(a)

Definitions

For purposes of this part— (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). (2)

Medical care

The term medical care has the meaning provided in section 733(a)(2). (3)

Health insurance coverage

The term health insurance coverage has the meaning provided in section 733(b)(1). (4)

Health insurance issuer

The term health insurance issuer has the meaning provided in section 733(b)(2). (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. (6)

Health status-related factor

The term health status-related factor has the meaning provided in section 733(d)(2). (7)

Individual market

(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. (B)

Treatment of very small groups

(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. (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. (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. (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. (10)

Qualified actuary

The term qualified actuary means an individual who is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. (11)

Affiliated member

The term affiliated member means, in connection with a sponsor— (A)a person who is otherwise eligible to be a member of the sponsor but who elects an affiliated status with the sponsor, (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, or (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 2005, a person eligible to be a member of the sponsor or one of its member associations. (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. (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. (b)

Rules of construction

(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— (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; and (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. (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.

. (b)

Conforming amendments to preemption rules

(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: (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.. (2)Section 514 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1144) is amended— (A)in subsection (b)(4), by striking Subsection (a) and inserting Subsections (a) and (d); (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; (C)by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and (D)by inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection: (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. (2)Except as provided in paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (b) of this section— (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. (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. (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— (A)providing solvency standards or similar standards regarding the adequacy of insurer capital, surplus, reserves, or contributions, or (B)relating to prompt payment of claims. (4)For additional provisions relating to association health plans, see subsections (a)(2)(B) and (b) of section 805. (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.. (3)Section 514(b)(6)(A) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 1144(b)(6)(A)) is amended— (A)in clause (i)(II), by striking and at the end; (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; and (C)by adding at the end the following new clause: (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.. (4)Section 514(e) of such Act (as redesignated by paragraph (2)(C)) is amended— (A)by striking Nothing and inserting (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), nothing; and (B)by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (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 2005 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.. (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.. (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.. (e)

Savings clause

Section 731(c) of such Act is amended by inserting or part 8 after this part. (f)

Report to the congress regarding certification of self-insured association health plans

Not later than January 1, 2010, 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. (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: Part 8—Rules Governing Association Health Plans Sec. 801. Association health plans Sec. 802. Certification of association health plans Sec. 803. Requirements relating to sponsors and boards of trustees Sec. 804. Participation and coverage requirements Sec. 805. Other requirements relating to plan documents, contribution rates, and benefit options Sec. 806. Maintenance of reserves and provisions for solvency for plans providing health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage Sec. 807. Requirements for application and related requirements Sec. 808. Notice requirements for voluntary termination Sec. 809. Corrective actions and mandatory termination Sec. 810. Trusteeship by the Secretary of insolvent association health plans providing health benefits in addition to health insurance coverage Sec. 811. State assessment authority Sec. 812. Definitions and rules of construction.

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— (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,; (2)in clause (iii), by striking (iii) the determination and inserting the following: (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, or (II)in any other case, the determination; (3)by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (v) and (vi), respectively; and (4)by inserting after clause (iii) the following new clause: (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,.

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— (1)by inserting (a) after Sec. 501.; and (2)by adding at the end the following new subsection: (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— (1)being an association health plan which has been certified under part 8; (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; or (3)being a plan or arrangement described in section 3(40)(A)(i),shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned not more than 5 years, be fined under title 18, United States Code, or both.. (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: (n)

Association health plan cease and desist orders

(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— (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; or (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,a district court of the United States shall enter an order requiring that the plan or arrangement cease activities. (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— (A)all benefits under it referred to in paragraph (1) consist of health insurance coverage; and (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. (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.. (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: (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..

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: (d)

Consultation with States with respect to association health plans

(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— (A)the Secretary’s authority under sections 502 and 504 to enforce the requirements for certification under part 8; and (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. (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— (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, and (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..

6.

Effective date and transitional and other rules

(a)

Effective date

The amendments made by this Act shall take effect one 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 one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b)

Treatment of certain existing health benefits programs

(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— (A)such arrangement shall be deemed to be a group health plan for purposes of title I of such Act; (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; (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— (i)is elected by the participating employers, with each employer having one vote; and (ii)has complete fiscal control over the arrangement and which is responsible for all operations of the arrangement; (D)the requirements of section 804(a) of such Act shall be deemed met with respect to such arrangement; and (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.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. (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.

April 13, 2005 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed