Utah gets $1M to improve oversight of health insurance premium increase

SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $1 million to Utah to help crack down on health insurance premium increases.

Utah will use the Affordable Care Act funding to help improve the oversight of proposed health insurance premium increases, take action against insurers seeking unreasonable rate hikes and ensure Utahns receive value for their premium dollars, according to a news release from the department.

The Affordable Care Act provides states with $250 million in Health Insurance Premium Review Grants over five years to help create a more level playing field by improving how states review proposed health insurance premium increases and holding insurance companies accountable for unjustified premium increases. Applications for the first round of Health Insurance Premium Review Grants were made available June 7.

This grant will be used to pursue additional legislative authority, the department said. Currently, Utah has no explicit authority to review or pre-approve premium increases. State officials intend to develop legislative language to allow for expanded rate review in the individual and small-group markets and to add large-group market review. In addition, language to allow public access to rate filing and creation of a Web-based portal for consumers will be developed.

Utah also will increase the number of reviews conducted and expand the scope of review, with the goal of reviewing 50 percent of individual and small-group market filings and adding the large-group market.

Grant funds will be used to create a comprehensive health insurance premium review process, including the development of review manuals, as well as staff training, according to the news release.

Utah will attempt to gain legislative authority to create a consumer Web-based environment and will implement a public hearing process, the department said. The state also will collect, analyze and report critical information about health insurance premium filings.

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