CMS Seeks Public Comment on Health Plan Payments and Consumer Surveys

You might care about this because this notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) asks the public for feedback on two important data collection efforts. First, CMS wants to start collecting information from state health insurance Exchanges to measure improper payments of Advance Premium Tax Credits. This is required by law to ensure payments are accurate. State Exchanges will need to provide samples of tax household information for review. Second, CMS is seeking to renew and update its Qualified Health Plan Enrollee Experience Survey. This survey helps assess how consumers feel about their health plans offered through the Marketplace. The updates aim to improve response rates, reduce the burden on survey takers, and make the survey easier to understand. Both proposals have deadlines for public comments in August 2026. This notice gives you a chance to influence how these important government activities are carried out. The most interesting aspect of this notice is the government's ongoing effort to improve transparency and efficiency in healthcare. The first part, concerning improper payment measurement, directly addresses how taxpayer money is spent on health insurance subsidies. By requiring state Exchanges to submit data, CMS is strengthening its ability to identify and reduce errors in these payments. This can lead to more responsible use of public funds. The second part, revising the consumer experience survey, shows a commitment to making healthcare choices easier and more informed for individuals. The changes proposed for the survey, like updating demographic questions and simplifying language, mean the government is actively trying to get better data from consumers. This data helps people pick health plans and encourages plans to improve their services. It shows the government is adapting its methods to get more accurate and useful feedback from the public. Several groups should find this document highly relevant. State health insurance Exchanges and their staff will be very interested, especially regarding the new requirements for reporting improper payments. They will need to understand the new data submission process and its impact on their operations. Health insurance companies and Qualified Health Plans will also want to pay close attention to the proposed changes in the consumer experience survey, as this survey directly impacts how their services are perceived and rated. Organizations involved in consumer advocacy or those focused on health policy might want to comment on both proposals to ensure consumer protection and efficient government spending. Finally, individuals who receive Advance Premium Tax Credits or participate in health insurance Marketplaces could be interested, as these proposals directly affect the oversight of the programs they rely on. Taxpayers in general might also be interested in how the government plans to reduce improper payments.