HHS Sets Final Rule for Health Insurance Benefits Under Affordable Care Act

Earlier today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published its final rule for Standards Related to Essential Health Benefits, Actuarial Value, and Accreditation under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

According to the summary of the rule as published, “This final rule sets forth standards for health insurance issuers consistent with title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, referred to collectively as the Affordable Care Act. Specifically, this final rule outlines Exchange and issuer standards related to coverage of essential health benefits and actuarial value. This rule also finalizes a timeline for qualified health plans to be accredited in Federally-facilitated Exchanges and amends regulations providing an application process for the recognition of additional accrediting entities for purposes of certification of qualified health plans.”

The final rule is effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Further coverage of today’s announcement appears in Kaiser Health News and The Hill blog.