AMA News

AMA seeks support for bill to end health insurance discrimination against motorcyclists The American Motorcyclist Association announced today that more than 100 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have co-sponsored a bill that would end health insurance discrimination against motorcyclists and others who participate in legal recreational activities or use their motorcycles for transportation.

While the action is significant, there is still much work to be done, according to AMA Vice President for Government Relations Edward Moreland.

"The AMA is calling on motorcyclists and others who face health insurance discrimination to urge their Representatives to support H.R. 1076, known as the HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act," said Moreland. "Time is short. The bill has broad bi-partisan support but we need 218 votes for passage. If we don't act by April, we will likely miss our chance for legislative action in 2008."

Health insurance discrimination can have a devastating financial effect on families and has been the focus of efforts by the AMA and other groups for many years. Following the passage of the original HIPAA legislation in 2001, bureaucrats at the Department of Health and Human Services created a loophole that allowed insurance companies to deny benefits to people who are injured while participating in legal recreational activities, such as riding motorcycles or off-road vehicles, horseback riding, skiing, and other activities. H.R. 1076 will close that loophole.

Rep. Michael Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas) has worked diligently to get H.R. 1076 passed. "Laws like HIPAA are passed to protect people," he said. "Sometimes they have unintended consequences. When this happens, Congress has an obligation to fix the loopholes and that's what this bill does."

"No one should be denied health coverage for no reason other than they enjoy snowmobiles, motorcycles or other recreational activities," said Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), the lead Democrat sponsoring the bill. "This legislation would enforce the original intent of Congress and ensure recreational enthusiasts are not discriminated against."

In the last Congress, the U.S. Senate passed a companion bill by unanimous consent, but the bigger challenge has been getting legislation approved in the House.

"We now have 101 co-sponsors for this legislation in the House, which is an important milestone," said Moreland. "But to reach 218 votes and get H.R. 1076 passed, immediate grassroots action is crucial, especially since House members are returning to their districts soon to campaign for the fall election."

AMA concerned about new threat to motorcycle safety training funds U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters is urging Congress to allow states to divert federal money now used for motorcycle training and awareness to instead promote the use of motorcycle helmets, the American Motorcyclist Association reports.

Peters sent letters to House and Senate leaders this week asking for the change.

Ed Moreland, AMA Vice President for Government Relations, expressed concern that diverting federal motorcycle safety funds to promote helmet use could harm rider training courses and motorcycle awareness programs that are already underfunded in many states.

"Helmet use is certainly one part of a comprehensive approach to motorcycle safety," said Moreland. "But this step is a direct raid on funds that were appropriated by Congress to address the specific safety concerns of the motorcyclists' rights community. Furthermore, the use of motorcycle helmets is already advocated in existing motorcycle safety initiatives.

"Funding for rider-training courses is frequently under threat in cash-strapped states, and cutting the same-size pie into thinner slices is not the comprehensive, thoughtful, national motorcycle safety strategy we need."

Moreland also expressed concern that Peters' proposal could contradict sections of transportation bills passed in 1998 and 2005 that ban the use of federal motorcycle safety funds to lobby state legislatures in favor of mandatory helmet laws and could effectively reverse those bans.

The AMA strongly advocates the voluntary use of helmets by adults, along with other appropriate safety gear, and does not oppose laws requiring helmet use by minors. But the Association believes adults should be allowed to make their own decisions about when to wear a helmet.