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The House on Wednesday passed a pair of bills that are part of Republican plans to remake the health system. The bills, which would close a narrow antitrust loophole for health insurers and establish rules for a new type of plans for small businesses, are part of the GOP’s “third phase” of action to replace the 2010 health law. The first bill (HR 372), which passed 416-7, would close an antitrust loophole that allows health insurance companies to share information with each other when they are trying to assess risks and set rates. ... The second bill (HR 1101) passed 236-175. It would establish rules for association health plans. These plans would allow groups of small businesses in the same field or professional association to band together and create an employee pool large enough to offer lower-cost health insurance for their employees. (Siddons, 3/22)

The Republican-led Senate voted Wednesday to block an Obama-era rule that critics said would have led to more citations for workplace safety record-keeping violations. ... Employers are required to maintain a log of workplace injuries and illnesses that occur during a five-year span, but an employer may only be cited for failing to keep proper health and safety records within a six-month window. (3/22)