White House asks motorcoach industry to deliver healthcare message

American Bus Association (ABA) President/CEO Peter Pantuso, board of directors Chairman Tom JeBran and other key ABA members met with key Obama Administration officials on Monday to discuss the implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA). U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary John Porcari moderated the meeting.

Other motorcoach officials in attendance included Dale Moser, president of Coach USA; Craig Smith, the CEO at Martz Group; Kelly Hass of Horizon Coach; Dale Krapf of Krapf’s Coaches; Mary Presley, executive director of the National Association of Motorcoach Operators; and representatives of the United Motorcoach Association.

The White House invited ABA and other top industry leadership because many motorcoach companies in the U.S. are second- and third-generation family-owned businesses, and they wanted motorcoach companies to be aware of the provisions in the Affordable Care Act. The White House says it believes the motorcoach industry has “an important role to play in educating members of the traveling public about the business and health benefits available under the ACA.”

Specifically the White House said it wants to use the motorcoach industry to convey information about the Affordable Care Act to customers who ride buses and may not have health insurance, including students and the elderly. The White House leaders and ABA’s team discussed ways to reach out to the public using the government’s website that contains information about the law, healthcare.gov.