This afternoon, a group of the nation's top insurance company executives are going to be in D.C. for the "State Issues Conference" sponsored by America's Health Insurance Plan (AHIP). That's the lobbying group for the insurance industry. Insurance companies used to always get their way in DC. That's changing.
Yesterday, on Capitol Hill, there was some key action towards reining in insurance companies by taking away their antitrust protection. And, this first vote in the Judiciary Committee was actually bipartisan:
Across the Capitol, the House Judiciary Committee took tough action against the health insurance industry, voting Wednesday to strip federal antitrust protections shielding companies from investigations into price-fixing and other practices.Of course, Ms. Ignangi doesn't think there's a problem. She also doesn't understand the problems Americans face with health insurers. Although, today, she could and should find out. AHIP's event has generated a protest at the Capitol Hilton. And, seven families who have been directly harmed by the insurers will be holding a press conference, organized by HCAN, at the same hotel. Ignangi and the insurers won't meet with them.
Although Democrats have led the repeal push in recent weeks, the committee's 20 to 9 vote came with the support of three Republicans: Rep. Dan Lundgren, a former California attorney general; Rep. Louie Gohmert (Tex.), a former judge; and Rep. Tom Rooney (Fla.), a former state assistant attorney general.
"This measure fixes a mistake sitting on the federal statutes for over 60 years," said Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.).
In a letter sent to Conyers before the vote, Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans, the industry trade group, criticized the legislation as attempting "to remedy a problem that does not exist."
