Is Labor Dept.'s Expansion of Association Health Plans Legal?

The Labor Department’s proposed rule to expand association health plans could be coming soon and with it, the potential for lawsuits.

Skeptics of the proposed rule say conflict with existing federal law could subject a final regulation to litigation. That finalization may come sooner rather than later. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a major congressional proponent of the rule, recently told Bloomberg Law that people could expect to see a final rule within the next month.

The rule would expand access to the small employer group health plans by changing the DOL’s definition of the term “employer” as it relates to ...