ACEC Supports the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2005
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) has announced its support of the Small Business Health Fairness Act, introduced in the U.S. Senate in February by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Me.). The legislation (S. 406) would allow businesses to pool together across state lines through trade associations to purchase health insurance from a provider, or self-insure in the same manner as that of large employers and labor unions.
Officials at ACEC, which offers its members a nationwide association heath plan, say that conflicting state regulations result in higher administrative costs and prevent many members from accessing the ACEC health-care plan.
The new legislation currently under consideration would remedy this situation by creating uniform regulations for all states and allowing firms of all sizes to be covered.
“Rising health care premiums are a major concern for all of our members, but they hit the small firms the hardest,” says ACEC president Dave Raymond. “Quick passage of Senator Snowe’s legislation will help ensure that we can offer all our engineering firms quality health insurance at a competitive price.”
Raymond says that ACEC also strongly endorses the House version of the bill, H.R. 525, introduced by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Texas) and Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.). The Bush Administration has also signaled its strong support for this legislation.
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