President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order this week expanding the ability of individuals and small businesses to purchase health insurance across state lines through association health plans, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.

Trump said last week he would sign an order concerning association health plans, but was vague on timing and details. The newspaper reported it would come this week, with the Associated Press reporting Thursday as the likely date.

The Journal reported it would include instructions for federal agencies "to loosen rules on health plans that the administration says have driven up premiums and reduced insurance offerings." The order would also direct the Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury Departments "to lay the groundwork for the growth of association health plans, coverage that would have fewer mandated benefits than many current plans available to small employers and individuals." http://on.wsj.com/2xup078

No other details have been made public.

The idea of allowing employers to band together through trade or professional organizations to purchase employee health coverage across state lines has long been popular among some conservative lawmakers and trade groups, but it never gained much traction in Congress.

Trump turned to an executive order after lawmakers failed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which he blames for driving up the cost of health coverage. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has urged the president to use his executive authority to reinterpret the Employment Retirement Income Security Act to allow individuals or groups of individuals to purchase insurance across state lines through association health plans.

Business groups such as the National Retail Federation and National Federation of Independent Business have supported expanding association health plans in the past. However, both America's Health Insurance Plans—which represents insurers—and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners say allowing the purchase of plans across state lines would undermine state consumer protections.

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