HHS to Hold Listening Sessions on Essential Benefits

As part of its appeal for public input on the Affordable Care Act, the Department of Health and Humans Services (HHS) is holding regional listening sessions around the country to hear from all stakeholders, including States, patients, providers, employers, legislators, insurers, and all other interested Americans.  Senior HHS officials will be in attendance to listen to stakeholder feedback on the healthcare reform law and its implementation.  See below for dates and locations.

 The law directs HHS to consider the scope of benefits provided under a typical employer plan in defining essential health benefits.  HHS is committed to receiving broad public input on essential health benefits from all stakeholders, including States, patients, providers, employers, legislators, insurers, and all other interested Americans. To that end, they are pleased to invite you to comment sessions for regional, state, and local stakeholders on essential health benefits.  

If you plan to attend the session, HHS asks that you please consider these questions in preparing your comments:

• In keeping with the title of the Institute of Medicine report "Essential Health Benefits—Balancing Coverage and Cost”, how can the Department best meet the dual goals of balancing the comprehensiveness of coverage included in essential health benefits and affordability?
• How might the Department ensure that essential health benefits reflect an appropriate balance among the categories so that they are not unduly weighted toward any category?
• What policy principles and criteria should be taken into account to prevent discrimination against individuals because of their age, disability status, or expected length of life as the Affordable Care Act requires?  
• What models should HHS consider in developing essential health benefits?  
• What criteria should be used to update essential health benefits over time and what should the process be for their modification?

To register for the event, please send an email with your name, organization, title, email address and phone number to the designated RSVP by the RSVP Due Date listed. (NOTE: In some locations, RSVPs are needed for building security and will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis)