Submit Comments to HHS on the Essential Health Benefits (EHB) Bulletin by January 31 (2012)

The HIV Health Care Access Working Group (HHCAWG) encourages organizations and individuals to submit comments to Health and Human Services on its Essential Health Benefits (EHB) bulletin by January 31, 2012.

The EHB bulletin outlines what health plans must cover as health reform is implemented. Unfortunately, this bulletin does not provide detailed information on what benefits must be included, but instead indicates that Health and Human Services (HHS) will allow each state flexibility to decide what the EHB package should include.

The consequence of this failure to create a high national standard for benefits coverage will be significant variability in coverage from state to state. This approach jeopardizes access to the services that people with HIV and AIDS and others with complex medical conditions need.

Comments to HHS on the bulletin are due by January 31, 2012. To tell HHS why more specific guidance on the EHB is important, email your comments to [email protected].

If you need suggestions on what to include, the HIV Health Care Access Working Group (HHCAWG) has developed Talking Points to help guide your response.