The Department of Health and Human Services on Dec. 8 issued a final rule establishing the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan program. Created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the program will provide $3.8 billion in loans and grants to help organizations develop nonprofit health cooperatives, which will sell qualified health plans that promote care coordination to individuals and small businesses through state insurance exchanges.
According to the rule, which details eligibility and other standards for the program, organizations sponsored by existing health insurance issuers and their holding companies and foundations are not eligible for the loans. The program expects to award the first round of loans and grants next month.
[ via AHA News Now ]
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