An idea that has circulated for many years has been offered as proposed legislation in the House (HR-3319), to allow members of the general public into the FEHB program. The FEHB commonly is cited as a model program in health insurance reform efforts, including during debate in 2009-2010 over enacting the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. In that case, the result was to give OPM a role in overseeing multi-state plans in the ACA insurance exchanges using much the same standards it applies to FEHB. The main sponsor is House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., meaning that the idea stands a good chance of getting a formal hearing at least. The idea has been raised at various times by members of both parties, and there is a Democratic co-sponsor of Issa’s bill, Rep. William Lacy Clay of Missouri. An earlier House Republican proposal to do the opposite—end the FEHB and compel all enrollees to get their coverage through the exchange program—has made no progress. A separate idea, to let USPS break away from FEHB and create its own health plan, remains part of postal reform plans on Congress’s back burner.