Large self-insured employers would have to limit spending to remain within the budget.

"We consider them a pretty good self-insured employer and one that appears to be actively engaged in making a safer workplace," he said.

Total membership, including Medicare and health plans administered for self-insured employers, was 1.51 million.

"The other half is benefits under administration, including claims processing for self-insured employers," she said.

"The self-insured employers don't even bother to answer our phone calls."

The appeals court, however, said that a self-insured employer has "an absolute right to alter the terms of medical coverage available to plan beneficiaries."

But self-insured employers could use the data to educate or even discipline employees.

For one thing, self-insured employers are not regulated by the states.

Under pressure from large self-insured employers, he quickly withdrew that plan.

Only action at the Federal level could affect the thousands of self-insured employers that are exempt from state insurance laws.