HHS has missed 20 out of 42 statutory deadlines under the federal health reform law, according to a study by the American Action Forum, The Hill's "Healthwatch" reports.
AAF said HHS has begun working on 19 of the 20 provisions that are late and, in some cases, the provisions have been finalized but after the deadline. For example, the overhaul required insurance providers within one year to create "plain-English" plan summaries. However, because of delays from a group of state-level advisers, HHS did not release its initial proposals for the policy until months after the deadline.
According to "Healthwatch," HHS has "generally met" the deadlines for "big-ticket policies" under the overhaul, such as the state-based health insurance exchanges. However, the exchanges still are behind schedule, largely because some Republican governors are refusing to implement the provision until the Supreme Court releases its decision on the constitutionality of the law.
The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program, which would have provided long-term care insurance, is the lone provision on which HHS has not begun work. The program was suspended last year after federal officials concluded it would not work as intended.
HHS in a statement defended its implementation process, saying it has "met and beaten deadlines" required by the health reform law (Baker, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 6/6).