Media reports indicate that Senator Patrick Leahy’s (D-VT) amendment to repeal the antitrust exemption under the McCarran-Ferguson Act for health insurers and medical mal practice insurers, last discussed here, has been removed from the latest version of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590).

According to industry sources, the decision to not include Senator Leahy’s amendment was made to secure the support of Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), a former insurance commissioner and the linchpin to the 60 votes the Democratic majority needs to pass the healthcare reform bill by Christmas.