Senate Pitchman for Association Health Plans Talks Next Steps

A well-connected Senate champion of the Labor Department’s effort to expand association health plans is optimistic the rule will be out in about a month.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told Bloomberg Law he’s talked to both Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta and White House staff recently about the rulemaking. He said the administration wants to move full speed ahead to implement this rule change, allowing small businesses to join together to offer workers a more reasonable alternative to the Obamacare individual marketplace.

“My understanding is that it will be finalized hopefully in the next month or so and that by fall, ...