No Major Changes in Coverage Expected

By: fedweek

In its annual “call letter” to carriers earlier this year, OPM did not mandate major changes in benefits but rather encouraged them to: offer alternative forms of coverage, such as consumer-driven or high deductible health plans, in the name of giving enrollees wider choice; improve the information available on cost and quality of care; and promote the use of improved health information technology. Other initiatives included: relieving HMO plans from a requirement to offer benefits packages that generally match what they offer to private employers in local markets, under certain conditions; encouraging proposals for increased coverage of hearing benefits for newborns and children, including both professional services and hearing aids; and encouraging carriers to follow industry guidelines on benefits for preventive care.