[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 14020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05220]


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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

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: 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).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Reed Grimes, Director, Division 
of Injury Compensation Programs, Health Systems Bureau, HRSA, HHS by 
mail at 5600 Fishers Lane, 08N186B, Rockville, Maryland 20857; call 1-
800-338-2382 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 100.2 of the VICP's implementing 
regulation (42 CFR part 100) states that the revised amount of an 
average cost of a health insurance policy, as determined by the 
Secretary of HHS (the Secretary), is effective upon its delivery by the 
Secretary to the United States Court of Federal Claims (the Court), and 
will be published periodically in a notice in the Federal Register. The 
Secretary delegated this responsibility to the HRSA Administrator. 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 (KFF) Employer Health 
Benefits Survey or other authoritative sources that may be more 
accurate or appropriate.
    In 2021, MEPS-IC, available at www.meps.ahrq.gov, published the 
annual 2020 average total single premium per enrolled employee at 
private-sector establishments that provide health insurance. The figure 
published was $7,149. This figure is divided by 12 to determine the 
cost per month of $595.75. The $595.75 figure is increased or decreased 
by the percentage change reported by the most recent KFF Employer 
Health Benefits Survey, available at www.kff.org. The increase from 
2020 to 2021 was 4.0 percent. By adding this percentage increase, the 
calculated average monthly cost of a health insurance policy for a 12-
month period is $619.58.
    Therefore, the revised average cost of a health insurance policy 
under the VICP is $619.58 per month. In accordance with Sec.  100.2, 
the revised amount was effective upon its delivery to the Court.

Carole Johnson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2022-05220 Filed 3-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P