The U.S. Office of Management and Budget, part of the Obama Administration, is indicating its “strong support” for a bill repealing the antitrust exemption for health insurance companies.

The statement of administration policy, issued Feb. 23, by the office regarding HR 4626, the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, said passage “would give American families and businesses, big and small, more control over their own health care choices by promoting greater insurance competition.”

The bill, introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.), would give the federal government more regulatory control over health insurers by eliminating their exemption under the McCarron-Ferguson Act. The act, enacted in 1945, gives states power to control most insurance business and restricts the potential for antitrust actions.

“The repeal also will outlaw existing, anti-competitive health insurance practices like price fixing, bid rigging, and market allocation that drive up costs for all Americans,” the policy statement said, echoing the words of President Barack Obama and other key Democrats for several months.

The statement suggest that health insurance reform “should be built on a strong commitment to competition in all health care markets, including health insurance,” and passage of the bill will ensure that “competition has a prominent role in reforming health insurance markets throughout the nation.”

The statement was issued two days before a summit of the president and key members of Congress where the president hopes to iron out a comprehensive health care policy reform measure that can win Congress’ approval and then his signature.