In This Issue:

Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA); Other HHS and Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; Other Health Care News; and Hearings & Mark-ups Scheduled.

Excerpt from Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
On January 23rd the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) issued a draft research agenda. The ACA tasks PCORI with identifying national priorities for health care research. The agenda is open to public comment until March 15, 2012.

On January 25th the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a document listing the top three group insurance plans in each state. The list is intended to "facilitate a better understanding" of the essential health benefits (EHBs) that health plans must cover under the ACA. Last month, HHS released a bulletin stating that each state will be able to choose from among the largest group plans in the state to create a "benchmark" for EHBs within that state.

Please see full update below for more information.