Rule on 'essential benefits' sent to White House for final review

The White House has begun a final review of two major rules drafted to implement President Obama?s healthcare law. Both of the rules, written by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), are considered significant, meaning they each carry an annual economic impact exceeding $100 million. The first would, among other provisions, create new standards for defining "essential health benefits" to be provided under the landmark law. The other rule moved to the White House for review involves parameters of programs designed to protect health insurers from financial losses.