On that day the committee chaired by US Representative Henry Waxman considered 10 bills that had passed the House with bipartisan support in the 110th Congress. Under a motion those bills were ordered favorably reported to the House by unanimous consent.

Under current law, insurance providers can refuse to pay for treatment of an injury based solely on the source of the injury.  Simply by pointing to the “source of injury” law, no prior notice of possible denial of benefits for that source of injury is required.

Sources of injury that can be used as a reason by insurance providers to refuse payment of medical bills include motorcycling, snow skiing, ATVs and horseback riding.

According to HR 1253, known as the Health Insurance Source of Injury Clarification Act, if an insurance provider wants to be able to put limitations on payment for an injury from a specific source they must meet the following requirements.

* “Make such limitations and restrictions explicit and clear; ”
* “If part of a group plan, must be disclosed to plan sponsor in advance
of the point of sale of plan;”
* “The plan sponsor and issuer of health insurance coverage provide a
description that is easily understandable to the participant prior to
enrollment.”

To summarize the legalese, your health insurance provider can limit payment for an injury sustained on a motorcycle so long as it is spelled out to you in simple terms well in advance of you joining the plan.

Closing the loophole entirely and mandating that insurance companies must cover all injuries sustained while operating a legal motorcycle is still the ultimate goal of the MRF.  HR 1253 puts Congress on record that this issue needs attention and is willing to work on it.  The MRF will continue to keep you updated on this important matter.

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Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983

(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists’ rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists’ rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders’ rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.

HR 1076 is expected to pass favorably, however anything can happen in a markup. In order to ensure swift clean passage we are asking you to contact your Member of Congress IF they are a Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. That list follows.

This Committee action is the most important legislative activity since the full Senate passed a version of this bill in late winter, 2005.  We thank Chairman Dingell, HR 1076 sponsors, co sponsors and their staff for their attention to this very important matter.

The MRF will keep you informed on any future developments of this legislation.

House Energy and Commerce Committee

John D. Dingell (MI), Chairman

DEMOCRATS
Henry A. Waxman, CA
Edward J. Markey, MA
Rick Boucher, VA
Edolphus Towns, NY
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ
Bart Gordon, TN
Bobby L. Rush, IL
Anna G. Eshoo, CA
Bart Stupak, MI
Eliot L. Engel, NY
Gene Green, TX
Diana DeGette, CO, Vice Chair
Lois Capps, CA
Mike Doyle, PA
Jane Harman, CA
Tom Allen, ME
Jan Schakowsky, IL
Hilda L. Solis, CA
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX

REPUBLICANS
Joe Barton, TX, Ranking Member
Ralph M. Hall, TX
Fred Upton, MI
Cliff Stearns, FL
Nathan Deal, GA
Ed Whitfield, KY
Barbara Cubin, WY
John Shimkus, IL
Heather Wilson, NM
John Shadegg, AZ
Charles W. “Chip” Pickering, MS
Vito Fossella, NY
Roy Blunt, MO
Steve Buyer, IN
George Radanovich, CA
Joseph R. Pitts, PA
Mary Bono Mack, CA
Greg Walden, OR
Lee Terry, NE

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Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983

Registration is easy and secure for MRF Regional and Meeting of the Minds conferences. Visit our website at http://www.mrf.org/events.php for further details and registration information.

Send in your nominations and donations for the MRF’s Young Activist Scholarship fund today. For complete details, visit http://www.mrf.org/yascholarship.php.

Sign up today for the MRF’s new roadside assistance program by visiting http://www.mrf.org/mrfroadside.php The program is available to MRF members and non-MRF members.

(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists’ rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists’
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause
of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders’ rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as
well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.

While we are not privy to private negotiations between committee leadership and the bill’s sponsor, we are cautiously optimistic that language that would be of benefit to motorcyclists would be included.

The MRF has been aggressively lobbying committee members and staff to encourage this.

You may recall reading about an amendment offered in a committee mark up two weeks ago – that would have closed the loophole – that allows for insurance companies to refuse benefits for an injury, based on the source of the injury.

It’s what is known in the insurance industry as a “source of injury exclusion”. The amendment, offered by Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX) was ruled not germane by Chairman Dingell (D-MI) and struck down.

Upon closer examination, it was brought to light that in fact the amendment was germane, so germane that the Chairman admitted he was wrong, that he was embarrassed by the oversight and wanted to correct his mistake. At that point the committee had dispensed of the bill leaving the fate of the amendment up to the House Rules committee, the last committee to consider any legislation before full consideration of the House.

A few options remain. Chairman Dingell, the Ranking Republican on the Committee, Mr. Barton (R-TX) and the amendment author, Mr. Burgess, have all signed off on a process agreement and a recommendation to the Rules committee to include the amendment before the measure is voted on before the full House of Representatives.

The MRF will notify you if and when the legislation comes before the House for a vote.

This positive news puts HR 1076 one step closer to becoming law. However much remains to be seen from the Rules committee, the Senate (S 616) and ultimately the White House.

==========================================================
Ride With The LeadersTM by joining the MRF at http://www.mrf.org/join.php or call 1-202-546-0983

Registration is easy and secure for MRF Regional and Meeting of the Minds conferences. Visit our website at http://www.mrf.org/events.php for further details and registration information.

Send in your nominations and donations for the MRF’s Young Activist Scholarship fund today. For complete details, visit http://www.mrf.org/yascholarship.php.

Sign up today for the MRF’s new roadside assistance program by visiting http://www.mrf.org/mrfroadside.php The program is available to MRF members and non-MRF members.

(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists’ rights organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists’
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early 1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause
of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists’ rights organizations and the very founders of the American riders’ rights movement among its leading members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists’ rights organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as
well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.