Affordable Care Act (ACA) Consumer Assistance Program Grants

To assist consumers with filing complaints and appeals, assist consumers with enrollment into health coverage, and educate consumers on their rights and responsibilities.

In addition, by law they will collect data on consumer inquires and complaints to help the Secretary identify problems in the
marketplace and strengthen enforcement.

Starting in 2014, programs must also help resolve problems with premium credits for Exchange coverage.

Agency - Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Services is the Federal government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially to those who are least able to help themselves.

Office - See Regional Agency Offices.

Eliza Navarro Bangit, Office of Insurance Oversight, Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, Department of Health and Human Services, HHH Building, 200 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington D.C.

20201.



Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: N/A. Fiscal Year 2011: To provide assistance to consumers in navigating the health insurance markets.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants Funds are to be used as outlined in Section 1002 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Section 1002 also includes specific restrictions for these grant funds.

Grant funds are to be used as outlined in Section 1002 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Consumer Assistance program grants are grants to States.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Projects will benefit (1) Consumer Assistance Program.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants should review the funding opportunity announcement documents issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Grant applications and required forms for this program can be obtained from Grants.gov. OCIIO requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov

Award Procedures

All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the OCIIO program with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions. Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Grant Award.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

The Public Health Service Act Section 2793, as amended by Section 1002 of the ACA.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 30 to 60 days.

Appeals

Refer to funding opportunity announcement for applicable appeals procedures.

Renewals

Section 1002 of the ACA provides for appropriated funds FY 2010; such sums are authorized - but not appropriated - for FY 2011 and thereafter.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Section 1002 of the ACA states that grants shall main available without fiscal year limitation. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

As required under Public Health Service Act (PHSA) Section 2793(d), awardees are expected to submit an initial data collection report to HHS with six (6) months from the date of award.

After the data collection report submission, quarterly data collection reports will be required.

Quarterly data collection reports will be due 30 days after the end of each quarter.

Awardees must also agree to respond to request and provide data on consumer assistance activities as needed by the Secretary.

Submit a quarterly electronic Federal Financial Report (FFR) Cash Transaction Report via the Payment Management System.

The report identifies cash expenditures against the authorized funds for the grant.

The FFR Cash Transaction Reports must be filed within 30 days of the end of each quarter.

Failure to submit the report may result in the inability to access grant funds.

Go to www.dpm.psc.gov for additional information.

Refer to funding opportunity announcement for required reports.

Submit a Financial Status Report (FSR or SF-269) directly to OS.

The report identifies cash expenditures against the authorized funds for the grant.

The Financial Status Report must be filed annually.

Failure to submit the report may result in the inability to access subsequent grant funds.

Performance monitoring may include training, technical assistance, conference calls, and seminars.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records and progress reports 3 years after the date they submit the final Federal Financial Report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit or other action involving the award has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-0111-0-1-551.

Obigations

(Salaries) FY 09 $0; FY 10 est $0; FY 11 est $29,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Minimum is $120,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR Part 92 for State, local and tribal governments or 45 CFR Part 74 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, other non profit organizations and commercial organizations, as applicable.

OCIIO awards are subject to the requirements of the HHS Grants Policy Statement (HHS GPS) that are applicable based on recipient type and purpose of award. The HHS GPS is available at http://dhhs.gov/asfr/ogapa/aboutog/ogpoe.html

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Eliza Navarro Bangit, Office of Insurance Oversight, Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, Department of Health and Human Services, HHH Building, 200 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington D.C. 20201.

Headquarters Office

Michelle T. Feagins, 200 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20201 Email: michelle.feagins@hhs.gov Phone: (202) 260-6121.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Approval of an application will be based on an analysis of the factors set forth in Section V--Application Review in the funding opportunity announcement.


Mashable  is teaming up with Google+ for its first-ever Hangout-a-thon on Dec. 3 for Giving Tuesday. The Hangout-a-thon is a phoneathon for the connected generation of the 21st century, which features 12 hours of captivating guests sharing updates on some of the most disruptive nonprofits working today.






More Federal Domestic Assistance Programs


Energy Cooperatives to Support the National Coal Resources Data System (NCRDS) | Postconviction DNA Testing Program | Affordable Care Act (ACA) Advanced Nursing Education Expansion Initiative | Direct Housing_Natural Disaster Loans and Grants | State Bulk Fuel Revolving Fund Grants |  Site Style by YAML | Grants.gov | Grants | Grants News | Sitemap | Privacy Policy


Edited by: Michael Saunders

© 2004-2024 Copyright Michael Saunders