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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-04-09-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0938-AQ67</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>201110</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>0938</CODE>
            <NAME>Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>CMS</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>0900</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Health and Human Services</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>HHS</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Establishment of Exchanges and Qualified Health Plans Part I (CMS-9989-F)</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[This rule implements the new Affordable Insurance Exchanges ("Exchanges"), consistent with title I of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, referred to collectively as the Affordable Care Act.   The Exchanges will provide competitive marketplaces for individuals and small employers to directly compare available private health insurance options on the basis of price, quality, and other factors. The Exchanges, which will become operational by January 1, 2014, will help enhance competition in the health insurance market, improve choice of affordable health insurance, and give small businesses the same purchasing clout as large businesses.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Economically Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Final Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>Yes</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>45 CFR 155 to 157</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>Affordable Care Act, secs 1301 to 1343, secs 1401 to 1413</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST>
            <LEGAL_DLINE_INFO>
                <DLINE_TYPE>Statutory</DLINE_TYPE>
                <DLINE_ACTION_STAGE>Final</DLINE_ACTION_STAGE>
                <DLINE_DATE>01/01/2014</DLINE_DATE>
                <DLINE_DESC> </DLINE_DESC>
            </LEGAL_DLINE_INFO>
        </LEGAL_DLINE_LIST>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>Yes</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <RPLAN_INFO>
            <STMT_OF_NEED><![CDATA[A central aim of Title I of the Affordable Care Act is to expand access to health insurance coverage through the establishment of Exchanges.  The number of uninsured Americans is rising due to the lack of affordable insurance, barriers to insurance for people with pre-existing conditions, and high prices due to limited competition and market failures.  Millions of people without health insurance use health care services for which they do not pay, shifting the uncompensated cost of their care to health care providers.  Providers pass much of this cost to insurance companies, resulting in higher premiums that make insurance unaffordable to even more people.  The Affordable Care Act includes a number of policies to address these problems, including the creating of Affordable Insurance Exchanges.]]></STMT_OF_NEED>
            <LEGAL_BASIS><![CDATA[This rule implements the new Affordable Insurance Exchanges consistent with title I of the Affordable Care Act of 2010.]]></LEGAL_BASIS>
            <ALTERNATIVES><![CDATA[None.  This is a statutory requirement.]]></ALTERNATIVES>
            <COSTS_AND_BENEFITS><![CDATA[This rule will help enhance competition in the health insurance market, promote the choice of affordable health insurance, and give small businesses the same purchasing clout as large businesses.  States seeking to operate an Exchange will incur administrative expenses as a result of implementing and subsequently maintaining Exchanges.  There is no Federal requirement that each State establish an Exchange.]]></COSTS_AND_BENEFITS>
            <RISKS><![CDATA[If this regulation is not published, the Exchanges will not become operational by January 1, 2014, thereby violating the statute.]]></RISKS>
        </RPLAN_INFO>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>07/15/2011</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>76 FR 41866</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>09/28/2011</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Action</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>02/00/2012</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>Undetermined</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Businesses</SMALL_ENTITY>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Governmental Jurisdictions</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Federal</GOVT_LEVEL>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>State</GOVT_LEVEL>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Tribal</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>Yes</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Alissa</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>DeBoy</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Department of Health and Human Services</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0938</CODE>
                    <NAME>Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>CMS</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>301 492-4428</PHONE>
                <EMAIL>alissa.deboy@cms.hhs.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>7500 Security Boulevard,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Baltimore</CITY>
                    <STATE>MD</STATE>
                    <ZIP>21244</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
