The CMS submitted rules on essential health benefits two days after the presidential election for the final stage of review before publication.
The widely anticipated rules continuing to outline essential health benefits, or the specific coverage requirements, of insurance plans in coming health insurance exchanges were submitted to the Office of Management and Budget on Nov. 8, according to its website. The proposed rules also will lay out the exchanges' “actuarial value, quality, and accreditation” standards.
Little detail was provided on what aspects of essential benefits the coming rules will address. Policy experts variously expect federal rules to provide states with more guidance about the minimum coverage that plans in state-run exchanges will need to offer their residents; offer approval or tweaks to minimum coverage requirements that some states have submitted to the CMS; and set minimum coverage levels of private plans included in federal exchanges.