DHHS, Office of the Secretary, Office of Acquisition Management; Room 443H Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Ave., SW; Washington, DC 20201

R -- ASSESS THE INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE MARKET IN THE POST- HIPAA ERA. SOL RFP-6-00-HHS-OS DUE 031000 POC Point of Contact -- Ms. Gaynel M. Abadie, Contracting Officer, 202-690-7506 The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation has a requirement to analyze the individual insurance market, as follows: (1) to assess the state of the individual insurance market before and after implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); (2) to identify lessons learned from State experiences with implementing reforms in the individual market before and after HIPAA's implementation; and (3) to discuss these lessons' implications for future Federal and State health policy. In light of HIPAA's limitations, State and Federal policymakers may consider additional options for expanding the availability of health coverage in the individual market. To inform the policy process in the post-HIPAA era, it would be useful to identify lessons learned from State experiences in implementing individual market reforms before and after HIPAA's implementation. The contractor will review and analyze the literature on the characteristics and impact of major State individual-market reform laws, to assess the state of the individual insurance market before and after HIPAA's implementation, and to identify lessons learned from State experiences with implementing individual-market reforms. In addition to highlighting lessons discussed by other researchers, the contractor will provide an independent assessment of lessons learned from State experience in both the pre- and post-HIPAA policy environments. The contractor's review and analysis will examine the following types of State-level reforms: comprehensive reforms that involved major restructuring of the individual market; use of high-risk pools, both in the pre-HIPAA period and as a means of complying with HIPAA requirements; limited reforms such as use of rating bands or guaranteed renewal; and use of reinsurance mechanisms to spread risk in the individual market. In reviewing the literature to analyze effects of State individual-market reforms, the contractor will examine key issues associated with individual- market structure before and after reform. Examples of such issues include: number of persons with individual-market coverage; number of insurers offering individual coverage and the extent to which insurers enter and exit the State's individual market; types of individual insurance products available; and number of uninsured individuals in the State. The contractor also will seek to determine from the literature the major State- specific economic and political factors that have affected the nature and outcomes of individual-market reform. In reviewing the literature to identify the key lessons learned from State individual-market reforms, the contractor will highlight factors that appear to contribute to the success of such reforms. Success may be measured by criteria such as: numbers of persons with affordable individual coverage; existence of a stable insurance market; increased consumer choice among individual insurance products; and reduction in the number of a State's uninsured population. The contractor also will identify, based on the literature, aspects of State individual market reforms that appear to be associated with lack of success. This procurement is a full and open competition. The period of performance will be 30 weeks. A firm-fixed price contract is anticipated. The date of issue for this RFP will be approximately February 10, 2000. It is anticipated that the solicitation document will be available on the DHHS website at www.os.dhhs.gov/progorg/oam/contrct. However, to assure receipt, you should request a paper copy. Requests for paper copies of this RFP must be made in writing to the address and contact point listed above. Requests may be faxed to Ms. Abadie at (202) 690-5698. Posted 01/24/00 (D-SN418549). (0024)

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