HHS churning out Affordable Care Act regulations

Another rule required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has landed at the White House for review, capping an eventful week in the sweeping law’s development. 

The latest measure to arrive in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) includes a proposed rule involving the establishment healthcare exchanges and qualified health plans mandated by the ACA. 

The rule, once issued by the White House for public consideration and comment, also will detail regulations for the Small Business Health Options Program. The exchanges will offer small businesses and their employees a variety of plans to choose from under the program.

The rule was crafted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Action on the regulations follows a string of developments on several key provisions of the law, designed to extend health insurance to tens of millions of Americans not currently covered.

In the last seven days alone, the Obama administration has issued a proposed rule to cap insurer profit margins on certain types of plans and unveiled a pair of final rules laying out essential benefits standards and protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

All are scheduled to take effect next January.

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