Association Health Plan Legislation Update

The deliberations of the Senate Republican Uninsured Task Force, which are expected to continue in December and January, will greatly impact the outlook for the AHP legislation in the Senate in 2004. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has indicated that the Senate will make an effort to pass legislation aimed at addressing the uninsured problem some time next year. This will provide an opportunity to gain consideration of the AHP legislation in another forum if the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee fail to take up the bill as a stand-alone measure.