Federal officials have finalized regulations to guide states during the development of the health insurance exchanges that millions of Americans will count on to purchase coverage starting in 2014, as authorized by the health system reform law.
Overall, initial reaction to the 644-page rule's release on March 12 was positive. Health care organizations generally praised the Dept. of Health and Human Services for maintaining state flexibility in the rule, but some groups were critical of provisions designed to govern the adequacy of networks of physicians and other health professionals.
Additional standards should have been established to strengthen access protection in poor communities and rural areas and ensure that out-of-network care will be covered at no additional cost when in-network care is unavailable, said Blair Childs of Premier Inc. He's senior vice president of public affairs for the purchasing and quality improvement alliance in Charlotte, N.C.
...
Giving states leeway to steer their own exchanges was a key theme in the final rule. Health industry representatives praised HHS for relying on states to design insurance marketplaces that fit in with consumer insurance markets.
"This rule recognizes that states are in the best position to establish exchanges, because they have the experience and local-market knowledge needed to best meet consumers' needs," said Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans. "States need to be given flexibility to ensure that individuals, families and small businesses have access to options that work best for them."
HHS has awarded 49 states and the District of Columbia a total of $50 million for planning the development of websites that people can use to review insurance policies and purchase coverage. An additional $667 million in grants have been awarded to 33 states to build the infrastructure of the exchanges.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/03/26/gvsa0326.htm
Hat Tip: American Medical News
No comments:
Post a Comment