The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in conjunction with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has announced plans to make coverage more accessible, expand behavioral healthcare access and make it easier for millions of Americans to select a health plan in 2024.
“The Biden-Harris administration has worked tirelessly to expand access to health insurance and lower healthcare costs for America’s families,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra in a release by the department.
“[This] announcement of the 2024 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters Final Rule is a step forward toward creating a healthcare system which prioritizes equity, access and affordability," he added. "HHS remains committed to removing barriers to care to ensure quality health care is within reach for everyone who needs it.”
The 2024 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters Final Rule (final 2024 Payment Notice) codifies criteria for agents, brokers, web brokers, and assisters who help consumers with enrollment through marketplaces that make use of the federal platform, HHS said. It also finalizes standards for issuers and marketplaces.
As part of the effort, HHS aims to strengthen network adequacy standards and establish a new special enrollment period for those who lose Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) coverage, emphasizing the Biden-Harris administration's objectives of advancing health equity by addressing the health disparities that underlie our health system.
The rule also improves upon the Affordable Care Act by increasing access to high-quality, reasonably-priced medical care, including behavioral healthcare, and by simplifying the selection and enrollment process for health insurance, the release added.
“We’ve made great progress with record insured rates, but affordable health care remains a concern across the nation," said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. "As we continue to work toward accessible and equitable health care for all Americans, the 2024 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters Final Rule we’re finalizing will make it easier for consumers to access, choose and maintain the health coverage that best fits their needs.”
