Health Insurance Bill Stalled in Senate

A health insurance bill which would make it easier for small businesses to purchase health plans for their employees stalled in the Senate last week. The bill needed 60 votes to advance through the Senate, but failed, in part because it would have also circumvented state health insurance regulations mandating coverage for specific diseases and treatments, such as mammograms or diabetes supplies and services. It was also held up because some members of Congress wanted to add amendments to it which would extend the Medicare Part D enrollment deadline and/or waive the Part D late enrollment penalty.