House passes small-business health care bill

Rep. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, sponsored the bill, which would give companies with three to 25 employees the option of joining large employer groups in fully insured association health plans.

At press time, the bill had passed Senate committee and awaited hearing by the full Senate.

The Southwest Area Manufacturers Association already has a program in that vein – the SAMA I Health Care Consortium, which it received a special waiver in late 2005 to create. SAMA Executive Director Rita Needham said the consortium is acting as a pilot program for the state.

“Now that (the director of insurance has) seen it’s been successful, the department is supporting this change in legislation,” Needham said. “It won’t take away the protections that small employers currently have. This would give them another option – to join with larger companies in these health care consortiums.”

SAMA I comprises 32 companies and covers 2,000 people. Initial premium savings for the companies, which have made three-year commitments to the consortium, range from 18 percent to 50 percent.

Needham said that many members have expressed interest in joining SAMA II.

The bill’s popularity on both sides of the aisle is unprecedented, according to Rep. Sara Lampe, D-Springfield.

“We all want better rates, and we don’t want health care options or insurance or benefits to cause problems for small business,” she said.