[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16264-16265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8684]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: Revised Amount of 
the Average Cost of a Health Insurance Policy

    The Health Resources and Services Administration is publishing an 
updated monetary amount of the average cost of a health insurance 
policy as it relates to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation 
Program (VICP).
    Subtitle 2 of Title XXI of the Public Health Service Act, as 
enacted by the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 and as 
amended, governs the VICP. The VICP, administered by the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services (the Secretary), provides that a proceeding 
for compensation for a vaccine-related injury or death shall be 
initiated by service upon the Secretary and the filing of a petition 
with the United States Court of Federal Claims. In some cases, the 
injured individual may receive compensation for future lost earnings, 
less appropriate taxes and the ``average cost of a health insurance 
policy, as determined by the Secretary.''
    Section 100.2 of the VICP's implementing regulations (42 CFR part 
100) provides that revised amounts of an average cost of a health 
insurance policy, as determined by the Secretary, are to be published 
from time to time in

[[Page 16265]]

a notice in the Federal Register. The previously published amount of an 
average cost of a health insurance policy was $220.41 per month (62 FR 
2675, January 17, 1997); this amount was based on data from a survey by 
the Health Insurance Association of America, updated by a formula using 
changes in the medical care component of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) 
(All Urban Consumers, U.S. City average) for the period July 1, 1996, 
through December 31, 1997.
    The Secretary announces that for the 6-month period, July 1, 1996, 
through December 31, 1996, the medical care component of the CPI 
increased 1.229 percent. According to the regulatory formula 
(Sec. 100.2), 2 percent is added to the actual CPI change for each 
year. For this 6-month period, one-half, or 1 percent is added. The 
adjusted CPI change results in an increase of 2.229 percent for this 6-
month period. Applied to the baseline amount of $220.41, this results 
in the amount of $225.32.
    The medical care component of the CPI change for the 12-month 
period, January 1, 1997, through December 31, 1997, was 2.819 percent. 
According to the regulatory formula, the annual adjustment of 2.0 
percent, is added to the actual CPI change for this 12-month period. 
Therefore, according to the current regulatory formula, the adjusted 
CPI change results in an increase of 4.819 percent. Applied to the 
$225.32 amount, this results in a new amount of $236.18.
    Therefore, the Secretary announces that the revised average cost of 
a health insurance policy under the VICP is $236.18 per month. In 
accordance with Sec. 100.2, the revised amount was effective upon its 
delivery by the Secretary to the United States Court of Federal Claims 
(formerly known as the United States Claims Court). Such notice was 
delivered to the Court on February 20, 1998.

    Dated: March 24, 1998.
Claude Earl Fox,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-8684 Filed 4-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P