HHS Sets Up Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight Office To Oversee Health Insurance Reforms

HHS is establishing an Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight charged with developing and implementing major reforms affecting the private insurance market. The new office will design and administer the temporary high-risk pools, establish new rules on medical loss ratios and oversee the state-based health insurance exchanges.

As announced in the April 19th Federal Register, the new office will design and administer the temporary high-risk pools, establish new rules on medical loss ratios and oversee the state-based health insurance exchanges. A director has yet to be announced.

The director of the new office will report to the HHS secretary, according to an HHS Federal Register notice. Four deputy directors will head additional programs established under the new office, including: The Office of Oversight, Office of Insurance Programs, Office of Consumer Support and Office of Health Insurance Exchanges.

The Office of Oversight will be headed by a deputy director and will be responsible for implementing, monitoring compliance with and enforcing new rules governing the insurance market and medical loss ratios; performing rate reviews and issuing rate review grants to states.

The Office of Consumer Support, is to be led by a deputy director, will be responsible for collecting, compiling and maintaining comparative pricing data for the HHS Website; providing assistance to help consumers obtain the maximum benefits from the new health insurance system and establishing and issuing consumer assistance grants to states.

The Office of Insurance Programs will be tasked with administering the temporary high-risk pools and the early retiree reinsurance program.

And the Office of Health Insurance Exchanges will develop and implement policies and rules governing the state-based exchanges; establish and issue planning grants to states; and oversee the operation of the exchanges.