Feds Propose Giving States More Flexibility On Defining Essential Health Benefits

On October 29, 2017, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to give states a greater role in defining essential health benefits (EHBs) that must be offered by health insurance plans sold in the states. Although the state EHB-benchmark plans would still be required to provide benefits in all EHB categories, none of the level of benefits in a given EHB category would be mandatory. Further, nothing in this proposal would prohibit plans required to provide EHB from imposing non-dollar limits, unless otherwise prohibited by federal law, such as the Mental Health . . .