[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 38 (Monday, February 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 12385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03919]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: CDR George Reed Grimes, Director, 
Division of Injury Compensation Programs, Health Systems Bureau, HRSA, 
by mail at 5600 Fishers Lane, 08N186B, Rockville, Maryland 20857; or 
call (301) 443-9350.

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 Health and Human Services (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 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.
    In 2022, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey-Insurance Component, 
available at www.meps.ahrq.gov, published the annual 2021 average total 
single premium per enrolled employee at private-sector establishments 
that provide health insurance. The figure published was $7,380. This 
figure is divided by 12 to determine the cost per month of $615.00. The 
$615.00 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 2021 to 2022 was 2.2 
percent. By adding this percentage increase, the calculated average 
monthly cost of a health insurance policy for a 12-month period is 
$628.53.
    Therefore, the Secretary announces that the revised average cost of 
a health insurance policy under the VICP is $628.53 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 February 21, 2023.

Carole Johnson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-03919 Filed 2-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P