Monday extra

OPM posted on its health care reform website today a summary of the webinar held earlier this month. As the FEHBlog explained, the webinar helpfully covered dependent eligibility changes in the FEHB Program for 2011, including how to cover newly eligible children between over age 21 but under age 26 under an FEHB plan on January 1, 2011.

The Health and Human Services Department today released the interim final rule implementing the Affordable Care Act's minimum loss ratio requirement applicable to health insurers (but not self-funded plans) next year. HHS adopted the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' recommendations for this rule. An HHS fact sheet is available here. Businessweek reports that as a result of the end of market uncertainty over the rule's content, "Several large health insurance stocks climbed Monday while the broader market fell". In other words, it could have been worse for insurers.

Last week before the Senate left town for Thanksgiving, Jacob "Jack" Lew was confirmed to be director of the Office of Management and Budget according to the Washington Post. Mr. Lew held the same position for a spell during the Clinton Administration.