HHS Issues Final Rule on State Health Insurance Exchanges March 12, 2012 Health Care Reform, News Health insurance exchange, HHS, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services 1 Today HHS issued a final rule to implement state health insurance exchange provisions of the federal healthcare law. The 644-page final rule (PDF) incorporates provisions of two separate but related proposed regulations issued July 15, 2011, and August 17, 2011. The rule outlines details of the exchanges, or insurance marketplaces, which are scheduled to launch January 1, 2014. They will offer insurance plan options for individuals and small businesses, as well as federal subsidies for premiums. According to HHS, the final rule aims to give states the flexibility to design their own exchanges while providing them with guidance on how to: Certify health plans for participation in an exchange; Develop a Web-based system for consumers to apply for and enroll in qualified health plans and insurance affordability programs; Establish a small business health options program; Perform the basic functions of an exchange; and, Set standards for establishing and exchange. Federal officials highlighted several areas in the rule that provide states with flexibility. For example: States can run an exchange through an existing agency or through a newly created not-for-profit entity; States have the option to open exchanges to all insurers, or they can limit the number of health plans available; States can decide how large of a role that insurance agents and brokers will have in selling health plans through exchanges; and, States can choose to allow larger employers to participate in exchanges. The final rule does not address all of the insurance exchange provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and additional rules will address those, according to the rule. Source: California Healthline, March 12, 2012. Comments are closed.
