No. 78 How to Implement Kassebaum-Kennedy (pdf)

Changes are being made to the national health insurance market that will have far-reaching consequences for the cost and quality of health care in the U.S. During current legislative sessions, state legislators face the formidable task of implementing the mandates set forth in The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104 – 191), popularly known as the Kassebaum-Kennedy health care reform bill. The analysis that follows clarifies key provisions, examines some issues behind the provisions, describes the likely effects on the nation’s health care system, corrects errors made in interpreting the law by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and reviews the options available to state legislators and administrators.