Legislative and Regulatory Updates
 The NAIC Exchanges (B) Subgroup unanimously voted to approve the American Health Benefit Exchange Model Act, a model law governing the creation of state-managed health insurance exchanges under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The model law is designed to help states create publicly available, partially subsidized exchanges for people seeking coverage in the individual and small group markets beginning in 2014. The NAIC’s Health Insurance and Managed Care (B) Committee is scheduled to consider the model law for adoption during a Nov. 22 conference call.
On Nov. 17, HHS published an amendment to the interim final rules for grandfathered health plans established by the ACA. The amendment allows employers to keep their plan’s grandfathered status if they choose another health insurance company to provide coverage, as long as there are no significant changes to their employees’ coverage (e.g., reducing benefits or increasing costs). Comments and requests for a public hearing are due by Dec. 17.
On the same day, HHS also released a request for information regarding certain aspects of policies and standards that will apply to accountable care organizations (ACOs) participating in the Medicare program under sections 3021 and 3022 of the ACA. Comments are due Dec. 3.
HHS on Nov. 18 released the first in a series of guidance documents intended to provide states with information regarding the establishment of Health Insurance Exchanges under ACA. While the first set of regulations on the implementation of exchanges is expected to be released in the spring of 2011, this initial guidance document outlines a number of issues that states should consider when establishing an exchange.
The State of Nebraska’s Department of Insurance on Nov. 12 issued a request for proposal, RFP Number 10-001Z1, for the purpose of selecting a qualified contractor to provide actuarial consulting services related to the health insurance rate review process.
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