Advocacy and Engagement
Lobbyit met on January 29th with Karen Williams, policy counsel for Rep. Max Miller, to discuss the ACCESS Act’s role in expanding access to Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance (STLDI) for up to 36 months. Karen emphasized that the office strongly appreciated NEA’s engagement and noted their office’s coordination with Rep. Buddy Carter’s team given his work on a similar bill last year that stalled out in committee. Karen explained that Rep. Miller’s motivation for introducing the ACCESS Act is rooted in concerns raised by small business owners who want to offer health coverage to employees but face significant regulatory and cost barriers under current law. They identified STLDI as one of the most viable coverage pathways for employers, particularly given rising healthcare costs and the need for more flexible insurance options. The office views STLDI as a potential “flag-bearing” alternative as Congress continues to debate how to expand or reform the ACA, noting that Rep. Miller supported extending ACA tax credits recently with the understanding that Congress must continue working across the aisle on solutions that function in practice, like STLDI.