[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 4 (Monday, January 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00027]


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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 (HRSA) 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).
    Section 100.2 of the VICP's implementing regulation (42 CFR Part 
100) states that the revised amounts of an average cost of a health 
insurance policy, as determined by the Secretary, are to be published 
periodically in a notice in the Federal Register and filed with the 
United States Court of Federal Claims (the Court). This figure is 
calculated using the most recent Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-
Insurance Component (MEPS-IC) data available as the baseline for the 
average monthly cost of a health insurance policy. This baseline is 
adjusted by the annual percentage increase/decrease obtained from the 
most recent annual Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and 
Educational Trust (KFF/HRET) Employer Health Benefits survey or other 
authoritative source that may be more accurate or appropriate.
    In 2012, MEPS-IC, available at www.meps.ahrq.gov, published the 
annual 2011 average total single premium per enrolled employee at 
private-sector establishments that provide health insurance. The annual 
figure published was $5,222. This figure is divided by 12 months to 
determine the cost per month of $435.17. The $435.17 shall be increased 
or decreased by the percentage change reported by the most recent KFF/
HRET, available at www.kff.org. The percentage increase was published 
at 3 percent. By adding this percentage increase, the calculated 
average monthly cost of a health insurance policy for a 12 month period 
is $448.23.
    Therefore, the Secretary announces that the revised average cost of 
a health insurance policy under the VICP is $448.23 per month. In 
accordance with Sec.  100.2, the revised amount was effective upon its 
delivery by the Secretary to the Court. Such notice was delivered to 
the Court on November 30, 2012.

    Dated: December 26, 2012.
Mary K. Wakefield,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-00027 Filed 1-4-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P