Senate Health Committee Ranking Member Cassidy Blasts Biden Final Rule Limiting Workers Access to Health Coverage

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release on April 29, 2024:

Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, blasted the Department of Labor's (DOL) final rule limiting the ability of American workers to obtain quality, affordable health care.

The final regulation restricts access to Association Health Plans (AHP), which provide small businesses and workers access to quality health insurance and are an alternative to the increasingly expensive plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Previously, the Trump administration implemented a policy that created new ways for small businesses to establish AHPs to offer insurance coverage for their employees. It also allowed independent contractors to participate in AHPs for the first time, ensuring that these workers could access quality health insurance. The new Biden rule rescinds the Trump-era policy, limiting health insurance options for nearly 50 million Americans who are employed by a small business and the 27 million Americans who work as independent contractors.

Previously, Cassidy called on DOL to revoke the proposed AHP rule to ensure all workers have access to quality health insurance at low cost.

"Rather than increase health insurance options, this rule threatens the ability of workers to participate in AHPs that provide quality, affordable insurance for themselves and their families," wrote Dr. Cassidy. "President Biden is dealing another blow to Americans who are struggling to afford health care under this administration."

* * *

Original text here: https://www.help.senate.gov/ranking/newsroom/press/ranking-member-cassidy-blasts-bidens-final-rule-limiting-workers-access-to-health-coverage-1