PACE ACT SIGNED INTO LAW OCTOBER 8, 2015

Enactment of the PACE Act is significant for three major reasons: 

**The small group and large group markets are regulated differently and groups new to the expanded small group market were looking at concomitant premium increases averaging 18%; 

**Groups served by the existing small group market were looking at premium increases as a result of expansion-generated adverse selection; and 

**Because health insurance providers in states’ small group markets are not reflective of those serving markets comprised of large groups, some groups in the larger segment of the expanded small group market would not have been able to keep their plans even in cases where employers found their current plan works well for their employees. 

In sum, for cost and access reasons, enactment of the PACE Act, one of few legislatively-generated Affordable Care Act reforms since Obama Care’s 2010 enactment, is a clear victory for small and mid-sized wholesaler-distributors.  NAW is a founding member of the 50-100 Coalition which was organized for the sole purpose of repealing the PPACA-mandated expansion of the small group market and vigorously lobbied on behalf of the PACE Act. 

We will keep you updated as any further healthcare-related legislation works its way through Congress.