HHS Awards Rate Review Grants - September 27, 2011

On Sept. 20, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) awarded $109 million to 28 states and the District of Columbia to help with the review of proposed health insurance premium increases of 10 percent or more in the individual and small group markets. States are undertaking these rate reviews, which began on Sept. 1, under a provision in the Affordable Care Act. The grants released last week are aimed at helping states pay staff and obtain the technology necessary to conduct the rate reviews. These grants are part of a total of $250 million in rate review grants that HHS will award to states through FY 2014. Along with the grants, HHS also released a report last week on the early efforts and achievements of the rate review grants.