CMS Issues Final Regulations on Data Collection to Support Standards on Essential Health Benefits and Qualified Health Plan Accreditation Entities

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently issued final regulations establishing data collection standards to implement provisions of the Affordable Care Act, particularly those provisions requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to define ?Ç£essential health benefits.?Ç¥ The regulations outline the data to be collected from certain State-specific benchmark plans in order to support the definition of essential health benefits. The regulations also establish the first of a two-phase approach for recognizing accrediting entities for purposes of certifying qualified health plans. A copy of the final regulations can be found here.