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.

Deleted 04/02/2020 (Archived.) 93.519 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Project Grants Not Applicable. The Public Health Service Act Section 2793, as amended by Section 1002 of the ACA. Consumer Assistance program grants are grants to States. Projects will benefit (1) Consumer Assistance Program. 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. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Grant applications and required forms for this program can be obtained from Grants.gov. CCIIO requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the CCIIOprogram with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions. Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Grant Award. Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. From 30 to 60 days. Not Applicable. Not Applicable. 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. Grant 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. .. As required under the Public Health Service (PHS) Act Section 2793(d), awardees are expected to submit quarterly data reports to HHS. Quarterly reports will be due 30 days after the end of each quarter. Awardees must also agree to respond to requests and provide data on consumer assistance activities as needed by the Secretary. Awardees must also 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 Report must be filed within 30 days of the end of each quarter. An additional Final Financial Report is due within 90 days of the end of the grant period of performance. Go to www.dpm.psc.gov for additional information. Please also refer to the funding opportunity announcement for required reports. Performance monitoring may include training, technical assistance, conference calls, and seminars. 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. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. 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. Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements. Section 1002 of the ACA states that grants shall be awarded to States for the creation or expansion of consumer assistance or ombudsman program. Awards made under this grant will be for 12 months. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum. See Regional Agency Offices. Holly Whelan, Consumer Support Group, Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, Department of Health and Human Services, HHH Building, 200 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington D.C. 20201. Michelle T. Feagins, 200 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20201 Email: michelle.feagins@hhs.gov Phone: (202) 260-6121. http://www.cciio.cms.gov/ 75-0511-0-1-551. (Project Grants) FY 14 $1,374,227; FY 15 est $0; and FY 16 est $0 Available funds per applicant are based on State populations and requested funding amount. The award minimum is $200,000 unless applicant requests less than the minimum award amount. 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.

CCIIO 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
Not Applicable.