[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 12 (Friday, January 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2675-2676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1203]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: Revised Amount of
the Average Cost of a Health Insurance Policy
The Health Resources and Services Administration 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).
Subtitle 2 of Title XXI of the Public Health Service Act, as
enacted by the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 and as
amended, governs the VICP. The VICP, administered by the Secretary of
Health and Human Services (the Secretary), provides that a proceeding
for compensation for a vaccine-related injury or death shall be
initiated by service upon the Secretary and the filing of a petition
with the United States Court of Federal Claims. In some cases, the
injured individual may receive compensation for future lost earnings,
less appropriate taxes and
[[Page 2676]]
the ``average cost of a health insurance policy, as determined by the
Secretary.''
Section 100.2 of the VICP's implementing regulations (42 CFR part
100) provides that revised amounts of an average cost of a health
insurance policy, as determined by the Secretary, are to be published
from time to time in a notice in the Federal Register. The previously
published amount of an average cost of a health insurance policy was
$202.46 per month (60 FR 32533, June 22, 1995); this amount was based
on data from a survey by the Health Insurance Association of America,
updated by a formula using changes in the medical care component of the
Consumer Price Index (CPI) (All Urban Consumers, U.S. City average) for
the period July 1, 1993, through December 31, 1994.
The Secretary announces that for the 12-month period, January 1,
1995, through December 31, 1995, the medical care component of the CPI
increased 3.9 percent. According to the regulatory formula
(Sec. 100.2), 2 percent is added to the actual CPI change for each
year. Therefore, the adjusted CPI change results in an increase of 5.9
percent for this 12-month period. Applied to the baseline amount of
$202.46, this results in the amount of $214.41.
The medical care component of the CPI change for the 6-month
period, January 1, 1996, through June 30, 1996, was 1.8 percent.
According to the regulatory formula, one-half of the annual adjustment,
or 1.00 percent, is added to the actual CPI change for this 6-month
period. Therefore, according to the current regulatory formula, the
adjusted CPI change results in an increase of 2.8 percent for this 6-
month period. Applied to the $214.41 amount, this results in a new
amount of $220.41.
Therefore, the Secretary announces that the revised average cost of
a health insurance policy under the VICP is $220.41 per month. In
accordance with Sec. 100.2, the revised amount was effective upon its
delivery by the Secretary to the United States Court of Federal Claims
(formerly known as the United States Claims Court). Such notice was
delivered to the Court on December 13, 1996.
Dated: January 10, 1997.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-1203 Filed 1-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P
