In April, the Internal Revenue Service issued proposed regulations on collecting fees from health insurance issuers and self-insured group health plan sponsors for establishing the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund, as required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The fund provides funding for a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. PPACA requires the Institute to conduct research to evaluate and compare health outcomes and the clinical effectiveness, risks, and benefits of medical treatments, services, procedures, drugs and other strategies or items that treat, manage, diagnose or prevent illness or injury.
According to the proposed regulations, the fees will be applicable for policy and plan years ending on or after Oct. 1, 2012, and before Oct. 1, 2019. For calendar year policies and plans, the fees will apply to the 2012 through 2018 policy or plan years.
