A major health reform bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Ivy, is expected to come up for a vote this week in the House.
Perriello's measure -- co-patroned by fellow freshman Democrat Betsy Markey of Colorado -- would repeal the health insurance industry's antitrust exemption that has been on the books since 1945.
The Democrats' two-page bill would "end special treatment for the insurance industry that allows them to fix prices, collude with each other, and set their own markets without fear of being investigated," a statement from Perriello's office said.
In other words, Perriello's bill aims to allow the federal government to investigate health insurance industry price-fixing allegations.
"It's time for Washington to decide whether we stand with patients or profiteering, whether we believe in market competition or collusion between politicians and insurance monopolies," Perriello said. "It's time to end the monopoly protections that Washington has protected for decades as prices skyrocketed. It's time for a simple, clean bill -- no carve-outs or special deals -- that forces insurance companies to compete. It's time to put patients and cost relief first. Americans deserve to know who stands with them against the price gouging of middle-class and working-class folks."
The idea to remove the insurance industry's antitrust exemption was part of the health care reform that narrowly passed the House in November. Perriello voted in favor of the health care bill, while Markey voted against it. The antitrust exemption removal was not included in the Senate's version of the health care legislation.
The Democrats' bill seeks to put forward one piece of health care reform that might win bipartisan support, rather than the comprehensive -- and controversial -- health care reform that appears to be stalled in Congress.
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