The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Treasury Aug. 17 issued two proposed rules related to the implementation of the health care exchange provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Under PPACA, by Jan. 1, 2014, individuals and small businesses will be able to purchase private health insurance through state-based competitive marketplaces, called health insurance exchanges.
One of the proposed rules
will provide guidance to individuals who enroll in qualified health plans through health insurance exchanges and claim the premium tax credit. It also will provide guidance to exchanges that make qualified health plans available to individuals and employers. A public hearing will be held on the proposal in Washington, D.C.,
on Nov. 17.
The other proposed rule
will implement certain functions of the new insurance exchanges, including standards for employer participation in the Small Business Health Options Program.
HHS also released a proposed rule
in July, which offers additional guidance on exchanges.
In the weeks ahead, HHS and Treasury will be conducting an outreach campaign to solicit public comment on the August proposed rules. The forums will be held in Atlanta, Ga., Chicago, Ill., Denver, Colo., New York, N.Y., Portland, Ore., and Sacramento, Calif. Check
www.healthcare.gov for updates on exact locations and dates and for more information.
In addition, comments will be accepted on these proposed rules until Oct. 31. To submit comments, visit
www.regulations.gov.
More guidance on exchanges and other provisions in PPACA will likely be issued in the future.