The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published two sets of interim final rules on May 5 and a third set of interim final rules on May 13 to implement some of the earliest provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
    
HHS published interim final rules on May 5 on implementing Web portals through which individuals and small businesses nationwide will be able to access comprehensive, state-specific information about available public and private health insurance options.   The rules describe the types of information that will be collected and displayed on the new Web portals, such as benefits, coverage limits, provider networks, premiums, eligibility requirements, and links to other sites. The interim final rules on Web portals will be effective on May 10 but public comments on the rules will be accepted through June 4. HHS expects to launch the new Web portals by July 1.  

HHS also published interim final rules on May 5 on one of the temporary, stopgap coverage programs created by the PPACA, the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. The PPACA appropriates $5 billion for this program, which is intended to counter the erosion in recent years in the number of employers offering health coverage to retirees aged 55-64, who may face difficulties obtaining affordable coverage in the individual market due to their age and medical conditions, before they qualify for Medicare at age 65.   The PPACA will provide federal reimbursement to participating private and public employer-based plans for retirees, including plans sponsored by state and local governments, for a portion of the cost of health benefits for qualifying individuals and their dependents.   The rules will be effective on June 1 but comments will be accepted through June 4 for purposes of subsequent revisions.

HHS published interim final rules on May 13, requiring group health insurance plans that offer dependent coverage of children to make such coverage available until such children reach age 26.  This was required by the PPACA because many uninsured persons are young adults transitioning back and forth between education and jobs.    The interim final rules apply to dependent eligibility under group health plans for plan years beginning on or after September 23.   Public comments will be accepted through August 11.