WASHINGTON -- Prospects appear bleak for legislation that would let small businesses band together across state lines to buy health insurance for their workers.

Democrats say they won't back off their objections to it unless Republicans let them offer changes such as extending the Medicare drug benefit enrollment deadline.

"Prescription drugs for 9 million seniors? That's not relevant to a health care debate?" Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., asked rhetorically.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said, however, that he won't allow Democrats to use the bill "as a Christmas tree for all sorts of amendments that don't relate to the underlying bill."

A vote on the bill could occur this week. Supporters need 60 votes to limit debate on the bill, but nearly all the Democrats are expected to disagree.

Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who sponsored legislation establishing small business health plans, said he would consider only amendments that he views as relevant to small businesses. Those don't include stem cell research, drug importation or Medicare, he said.

Under the legislation, business could band together across state lines to buy insurance offered through a professional or trade association. The pooling would give businesses enough clout to negotiate better rates, Enzi said.

State attorneys general and scores of health consumer groups have come out against the bill, saying it would eliminate state protections such as the coverage of mammograms or diabetes supplies. Enzi's aides said the senator would support keeping those protections in place if a majority of states required them.

But a dozen advocacy groups such as the AARP and the American Cancer Society said they still opposed the bill.

"The bill would still erase years of work by states to give consumers adequate coverage for such important benefits as screenings, treatments and other health care needs. And it would still allow insurers to ignore state laws that ensure affordable premiums for those who are older and sicker," the groups wrote.

_________________________________________________________

By KEVIN FREKING
The Associated Press

On the Net:

Alliance for Health Reform: http://www.allhealth.org

© Copyright 1996-2006 The Washington Post Company