About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

GAO-14-742R 1 (2014-09-15)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaaigs0001 and id is 1 raw text is: G A U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE 441 G St. N.W. Washington, DC 20548 September 15, 2014 Congressional Requesters Health Insurance Exchanges: Coverage of Non-excepted Abortion Services by Qualified Health Plans The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requires the establishment in all states of health insurance exchanges-marketplaces where eligible individuals may compare and select among insurance plans offered by participating private issuers of health coverage.1 PPACA requires the insurance plans offered under an exchange, known as qualified health plans (QHP), to provide a package of essential health benefits-including coverage for specific service categories, such as ambulatory care, prescription drugs, and hospitalization. In addition to these categories states may require or restrict coverage of other benefits by QHPs.2 Consistent with federal and state law, QHPs may cover other benefits, such as abortion services. 3 PPACA prohibits the use of federal funds made available to offset the cost of QHP coverage- that is, income-based tax credits and subsidies-to pay for non-excepted abortion services, which, based on the law applicable to the 2014 benefit year, are abortion services performed except where the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest, or the life of the pregnant 1 Pub. L. No. 111-148, §§ 1311 (b), 1321 (c), 124 Stat. 119, 173, 186 (Mar. 23, 2010) (hereafter, PPACA), as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-152, 124 Stat. 1029 (Mar. 30, 2010) (hereafter, HCERA). In this report, references to PPACA include any amendments made by HCERA. PPACA directed states to establish state-based exchanges by January 1, 2014. In states electing not to establish and operate such an exchange, PPACA requires the federal government to establish and operate an exchange in the state, referred to as the federally facilitated exchange. PPACA also requires the creation of similar exchanges, called Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) exchanges, where small employers can shop for and purchase health coverage for their employees. This report does not examine SHOP exchanges. In this report, the term state includes the District of Columbia. 2pPACA, §§ 1311 (d)(3)(B), 10104(e)(1), 124 Stat. at 176, 900. 3pPACA, § 10104(c), amending § 1303, 124 Stat. at 896-99. Other benefits that QHPs may choose to provide include, for example, adult dental and vision services. GAO-1 4-742R Non-Excepted Abortion Services Coverage Page 1

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most