Democrats Question State-Based ‘Essential Benefits’ Plan
In a letter sent on Monday to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, House Democrats expressed concern that the agency's decision to grant states authority to determine "essential health benefits" in state-based insurance exchanges would give insurers more power. They noted that allowing states to choose their essential benefits would "undermine" the objectives of the federal health reform law by enabling insurers "to continue avoiding sicker individuals rather than competing on quality and efficiency."
- "House Democrats Fret Over Administration's Deference to States on Health Law" (Pecquet, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 2/6).