Both America's Health Insurance Plans and the American Hospital Association submitted comments to HHS and CMS on the agencies' 2023 benefit and payment parameters.
AHA stated strong support of the agencies' proposals, particularly commending CMS on updated network adequacy standards, which the group said "are critical to ensuring that patients have access to the care they need."
AHA particularly shared its support on clarified medical loss ratio calculations, standardized health plan option requirements, updates to the essential health benefit nondiscrimination policy and new requirements and standards for individuals selling health plans.
AHIP generally applauded the organizations for creating a stable and growing individual market over the past year, but raised concerns that policies outlined in the proposed parameters could change that.
"We are concerned that some of the policies proposed in this payment notice may take large steps backward, undermining this hard-won stability and significantly limiting innovation and competition," AHIP wrote. "Wherever possible, our comments offer workable alternative policy solutions that will achieve similar goals while minimizing disruption for everyone."
Specifically, AHIP called the proposed changes to essential health benefits "overly broad" and risked creating "a slippery slope of eliminating benefit limits that are based on clinical evidence, support value-based care, and ensure affordable premiums."
The group also challenged proposed changes to standardized plans and federal network adequacy standards, and requested clarification on its medical loss ratio changes. Additionally, AHIP called on HHS to extend opportunities for public comment before changes are implemented.