The Health & Human Services Department released requirements for building a Web portal through which individuals and small businesses will be able to obtain information about affordable insurance coverage options in their state.
Setting up the Web site and the creation of health insurance exchanges in all 50 states to facilitate browsing for information and purchasing health insurance was called for in the recently enacted health reform law.
The portal will contain information on health coverage options from health insurance issuers, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), high risk pools created by the health reform law and coverage within the small group market for small businesses, HHS said in describing the project in an official "interim final rule."
The Web portal is designed to work in concert with the prospective state health insurance exchanges. "We expect that our web portal will inform state decisions on the design of exchanges both by positive example and, doubtless, through ideas on ways to improve on the information and formats and tools we provide," according to the IFR notice.
The portal must be available by July 1, according to the health reform law. The initial version will provide summary information about health insurance options geared toward individuals and small businesses, including types of services, provider networks, contact phone numbers and Web site links.
In developing the online site, HHS said that it seeks to "empower consumers by increasing informed choice and promoting market competition" by supply information that is easy for consumers to understand and navigate electronically.
"This information will be used to create an effective consumer-friendly presentation of affordable health coverage option plans," HHS said in the rule.
Most of the information for the portal is already available from insurance companies. "Nothing in this rule requires preparation of entirely new information," the rule said.
HHS simply requires "relatively comprehensive information be provided in standardized formats so that plan comparisons can be automated "¦" according to the rule.
Over time, HHS will add other data useful for consumers to make insurance coverage decisions, such as quality and performance information, medical loss ratios, links to Web site of association representing state health benefits high-risk pools. A second release of the portal Oct. 1 will present detailed information about pricing and benefits once pricing engines are incorporated into the Web portal.
The rule is available on an "inspection" page of the Federal Register Web site, where HHS plans to officially publish it May 5. The rule takes effect on May 10, but HHS will accept public comments for 30 days after the date it is published.
The agency might revise the regulation on the basis of the comments but must get started to meet quick turnaround deadlines.
