States have until Sept. 30 to finalize the essential health benefits covered under qualified health plans that will be offered in health insurance exchanges, and some states are approaching the deadline in different ways.
QHPs will be the benchmark plans within health insurance exchanges, instituted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. EHBs are the scope of benefits covered by a typical employer plan and cover at least the following 10 categories: ambulatory patient services, emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance abuse, prescription drugs, rehab services, laboratory services, preventive and wellness care, and pediatrics.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said he plans to choose a benchmark plan in a meeting next week, according to an NBC Chicago report. Ten different plans will be compared.
However, some states like Kansas may pass on the deadline altogether. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has said he will not implement portions of the PPACA until after the November elections, and other Republican governors have said they will not implement provisions of the law at all. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has recommended the state use one of its plans as the benchmark for Kansas' QHP and EHB, according to a Kansas Health Institute News Service report, but states are at the mercy of their governors.
QHPs will be the benchmark plans within health insurance exchanges, instituted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. EHBs are the scope of benefits covered by a typical employer plan and cover at least the following 10 categories: ambulatory patient services, emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance abuse, prescription drugs, rehab services, laboratory services, preventive and wellness care, and pediatrics.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said he plans to choose a benchmark plan in a meeting next week, according to an NBC Chicago report. Ten different plans will be compared.
However, some states like Kansas may pass on the deadline altogether. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has said he will not implement portions of the PPACA until after the November elections, and other Republican governors have said they will not implement provisions of the law at all. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has recommended the state use one of its plans as the benchmark for Kansas' QHP and EHB, according to a Kansas Health Institute News Service report, but states are at the mercy of their governors.
More Articles on Essential Health Benefits:
Vermont Releases Outline of Health Benefits for Insurance Exchange
HHS Issues Final Rule on Data-Reporting to Define Essential Health Benefits
HHS Publishes Final Rule on PPACA's Health Insurance Exchanges