HHS Consumer Website Expected July 1; Will Include Data on Public, Private Plans

The Department of Health and Human Services plans to unveil the first iteration of a website designed to help individuals and small businesses find information about insurance options in their state by July 1, according to an interim final rule published in the May 5 Federal Register. The HHS Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight will oversee the web portal that will provide consumers with state-based information about private insurance, high-risk pools, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program—as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. No. 111-148). To meet PPACA's July 1 deadline, HHS said it will require insurance issuers to submit needed information by May 21, such as product names and types, enrollment data, and product availability. The web portal will include information about plans' services, providers, and formularies, if available. The portal also will include information about eligibility and enrollment procedures for public programs.

Then, in October, HHS will expand the portal to include more detailed information about pricing and benefits, as well as more information about enrollment in public programs. HHS said that for plans offered in states without community rating, any information about premiums will be presented in terms of standard risks, even though insurers can vary rates based on health status. HHS also said it anticipates including medical loss ratio information through the portal, once regulations defining MLRs are promulgated. Under the reform law, insurers must spend a set percentage of premiums on health services, as opposed to administrative costs.

Comments on the interim final rule are due 30 days from its publication.
HHS also said it plans to offer training to states and health insurance issuers about the information that must be submitted for development of the portal.
The rule and further information about it are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/gatheringinfo/index.html.