government
HHS approves 106 more waivers to health reform law
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 5, 2011
As of Aug. 19, the Dept. of Health and Human Services had approved an additional 106 waivers that will exempt health plans, unions and employers from annual coverage requirements imposed by the health system reform law through 2014. The approval affects more than 100,000 plan enrollees and increases the total number of waivers granted to 1,578, although that figure includes some multiple waivers granted to the same applicants.
The new waivers allow health plans, unions and employers to continue imposing benefits coverage limits lower than $750,000 through 2014. The minimum coverage requirements mandated by the reform law will increase twice more until the law ends nearly all coverage limits starting in 2014. Federal health officials announced in June that they no longer will accept waiver applications after Sept. 22. The full list of approved waivers is available online (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/09/05/gvbf0905.htm.
