AHIP Statement on IOM Report on Essential Health Benefits
For Immediate Release
October 6, 2011
Contact:
Robert Zirkelbach
(202) 778-8493
WASHINGTON, D.C.
– AHIP President and CEO Karen Ignagni issued the following statement regarding
the Institute of Medicine’s new report, Essential
Health Benefits, Balancing Coverage and Cost.
“With this thoughtful report, the IOM is urging policymakers
to strike a balance between the affordability of coverage and the
comprehensiveness of coverage. We agree that this balance is critical to
ensuring that individuals, working families and small employers can afford
health insurance. The recommendation that the initial EHB package reflect the
scope of benefits and design provided under a typical small employer plan is an
important step toward maintaining affordability.
“Focusing on ‘medical effectiveness, safety and relative
value’ is a top priority for health plans and is vital to creating a
patient-centered health care system that promotes and rewards evidence-based
quality care throughout the system.”
“We strongly agree that, ‘without serious attention to
rising health care costs across all sectors, the EHB will become unaffordable
over time.’
“As this process moves forward, it is critical that the
final EHB regulation maintain flexibility and affordability for consumers and
employers.
“We also believe that the issuance of the final EHB
regulation must allow sufficient time for health insurance plans to implement
the new benefits packages by January 1, 2014.
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Providing Health Benefits for Over 200 Million Americans.