Overview of the July 17, 2013 Final Rule on Standards for Navigators and Non-Navigator Assistance Personnel

Abstract

Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, there has been consistent federal guidance employing and clarifying its provisions. Hilltop develops regulation summaries to assist state and local policymakers in their implementation of health reform. On July 17, 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule on Exchange Functions: Standards for Navigators and Non-Navigator Assistance Personnel; Consumer Assistance Tools and Programs of an Exchange and Certified Application Counselors. This rule finalizes provisions in the Notices of Proposed Rule making (NPRMs), released on January 22, 2013, and April 5, 2013, related to various requirements for navigators and assisters; requirements for exchanges to have a certified application counselor program and the details of that program; and conflict of interest, training and certification, and meaningful access standards. This document provides a high-level summary of this rule and highlights key changes to the regulation since the issue of the proposed rule.