Retailers Applaud Landrieu/Shaheen Health Care Amendment 

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) offered the following statement from Senior Vice President of Government Affairs John Emling in response to the introduction of an amendment to health care reform legislation under consideration in the U.S. Senate.   

The amendment introduced by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) would extend the period that employers have to enroll new full-time employees into company health benefit plans from 30 days to 90 days.  RILA has been a leading advocate for this change and raised this issue in a recent letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

“RILA applauds Senators Landrieu and Shaheen for their leadership on this important issue.  For high turnover industries like ours, this amendment will prevent cost increases for existing employees and prevent new employees from needlessly changing doctors and health plans.

“If passed in its current form, the underlying bill would dramatically increase administrative costs associated with enrolling and unenrolling employees who move quickly in and out of the retail workforce.  The associated cost increases would affect retailer’s ability to continue offering their employees quality and affordable health care benefits. 

“RILA thanks Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) who have signed on as co-sponsors.  RILA urges the Senate to adopt this important amendment.”

RILA is the trade association of the world’s largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and operate more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.

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