Federal budget deal includes only small tweak to ACA

The agreement that ended a 16-day federal government shutdown and raised the debt limit includes only a small tweak to the ACA: A change to income verification rules for those seeking subsidies to buy coverage on the new health insurance exchanges. (Source: “ACA backers OK with income verification in debt deal,” Politico, Oct. 17, 2013)

Under the verification measure, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius must submit a report to Congress by Jan. 1 — the date when the subsidies will start being awarded — explaining how the health insurance exchanges are verifying income. The inspector general has until July 1, six months after subsidies have already gone out, to report on how effective the verification program is.

Democrats did not object to the provision; they said it largely repeated language already in the law.