Contact:	Caroline Fuller (202) 543-1440 c.fuller@att.net
For Release:	Immediate News Bulletin 06.17 July 18, 2006

Missouri Governor Signs Small Business Health Insurance Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 18, 2006 - Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt has signed legislation that will increase access to affordable healthcare coverage for those employed by small businesses.

Small businesses will be able to join larger businesses to form association health plans. Association health plans allow different employers to join together as a group to receive health care as a single business.

Missouri House bill 1827 was introduced by Rep. Jay Wasson. This legislation will decrease the number of members required for a business to be eligible for association health plans. The number will decrease from 100 to 50.

The bill will also exempt small businesses from the requirement that all insurance rates for small businesses be within 20 percent of each other. This requirement is outlined in the Small Employer Health Insurance Availability Act.

Blunt said, "This important piece of legislation will provide many of our small businesses with the opportunity to offer affordable health insurance coverage to their employees. This legislation gives our small businesses, which represent the largest and fastest growing segment of our economy, access to the same purchasing power larger companies already enjoy."

This bill will go into effect Aug. 28, 2006.

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.

###