Some House Democrats press for 'essential benefits' to be federal decision

These House Democratic lawmakers are concerned that the Department of Health and Human Services is allowing states significant latitude in determining the definition of "essential benefits." Also in the news, the Office of Management and Budget has begun its review of the long-awaited final regulations for the establishment of state exchanges. 

Modern Healthcare: Dems Press For Openness On Essential Benefits
A small group of House Democrats expressed concern about HHS allowing states to determine the definition of essential health benefit packages. ... The lawmakers contend that when they wrote the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the essential health benefits package was intended as a federal decision, and that one of the primary goals of the health care reform law was to create a consistent and comprehensive level of coverage for Americans nationwide (Zigmond, 2/6).

CQ HealthBeat: Exchange Regs Slip Into The Doors Of OMB
The White House Office of Management and Budget posted a notice Monday saying that it has begun reviewing a long-awaited final regulation governing the establishment of state insurance exchanges under the health care law. It arrived at OMB on February 3. But when it will emerge and be released publicly via Federal Register publication is anybody's guess. Review times range from days to weeks to months. The regulation is one of several proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last August. Also at OMB undergoing review is a final regulation on reinsurance and risk adjustment in exchanges, which arrived there Jan. 23 (2/6).