Sebelius to grant $51M for state insurance premium review
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has announced the availability of $51 million in Health Insurance Premium Review Grants through the Affordable Care Act.
These funds are the first round of grants in a five year program available to states through a new $250 million grant program to create and strengthen insurance rate review processes.
“These new grants will help states protect consumers and small employers by holding insurers accountable for unreasonable insurance rate increases that have made coverage unaffordable for many American families,” said Sebelius.
All states and the District of Columbia are eligible for this first round of rate review grants, HHS said. To receive a grant, a state must submit a plan for how it will use grant funds to develop or enhance its process of reviewing and approving, disapproving or modifying health insurance premium requests. States with successful applications will receive a $1 million grant during the first round.
The agency will take applications for a second round of state grants beginning in FY2011, after new regulations regarding rate review take effect. This grant solicitation can be found at grants.gov.
These funds are the first round of grants in a five year program available to states through a new $250 million grant program to create and strengthen insurance rate review processes.
“These new grants will help states protect consumers and small employers by holding insurers accountable for unreasonable insurance rate increases that have made coverage unaffordable for many American families,” said Sebelius.
All states and the District of Columbia are eligible for this first round of rate review grants, HHS said. To receive a grant, a state must submit a plan for how it will use grant funds to develop or enhance its process of reviewing and approving, disapproving or modifying health insurance premium requests. States with successful applications will receive a $1 million grant during the first round.
The agency will take applications for a second round of state grants beginning in FY2011, after new regulations regarding rate review take effect. This grant solicitation can be found at grants.gov.