Louisiana Sen. Mary L. Landrieu urges Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to remove agent compensation from the medical loss ratio rule.
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As Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Landrieu supports PPACA but believes that the provision regarding the MLR requirement is “unintentionally harming an important sector of the small business community — health insurance agents and brokers — and may also harm other small business that rely on their services.”
“This action clearly demonstrates the commitment by Sen. Landrieu to protect consumer and employer access to professional health insurance agents and brokers,” says Janet Trautwein, NAHU CEO. “It’s critically important now more than ever that consumers continue to have access to licensed health insurance professionals who dedicate themselves to helping people find quality, affordable health care coverage.”
In the final paragraph of the two-page document Landrieu states, “I further urge you to delay the inclusion of agent compensation in the calculation of the MLR until HHS determines its authority to act” — adding that if administration action is not possible she wants to work with Sebelius to develop a new legislative solution.
