The annual regulatory process establishing standards and rules for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces and insurance reforms has had its twists and turns this year. The U.S. Departments of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Treasury first proposed the 2022 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) in December 2020 and finalized some, but not all, of its provisions on January 19, 2021. In April 2021, the new administration finalized the remaining provisions, but signaled that it would chart a new direction for the ACA in a future rule. Indeed, just three months later, the Departments released a proposed rule with several new policies to expand marketplace enrollment opportunities and increase consumer assistance. It also proposed reversing several policies established by the prior administration. On September 17, 2021, the Departments finalized those proposals and announced a significant expansion of their oversight of health plans’ provider networks.

In her most recent Expert Perspective for the State Health & Value Strategies program, CHIR’s Sabrina Corlette reviews the rule to assess the impact on state-based marketplaces (SBMs) and state insurance regulators, including provisions that expand enrollment opportunities and health plan oversight, and reverse several Trump administration policies. You can read the full blog here.