House To Consider Partial McCarran-Ferguson Repeal.

ASA Urges Repairers to Contact Representative in Support.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 4, 2010 – The U.S. House of Representatives is considering a partial repeal of the McCarran-Ferguson Act that will apply only to health insurers. H.R. 3596, the Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Act, is tentatively scheduled to come to the House floor next week.

The purpose of H.R. 3596 is to ensure that health insurance issuers and medical malpractice insurance issuers cannot engage in price fixing, bid rigging or market allocations to the detriment of competition and consumers. The bill aims to partially repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) supports H.R. 3596, as it is a step in the right direction for a full repeal of McCarran. ASA is a long-time supporter of a repeal of McCarran as it applies to property and casualty insurers. ASA is calling on independent automotive repairers to contact their member of Congress, asking support for H.R. 3596.

To send a letter on the antitrust issue, please visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com. A pre-drafted letter is under the "Current Alerts" tab.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.