CU Comments on Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Draft Application Minimum Data Elements

Consumers Union writes to comment on a number of discrete issues of concern to consumers in the draft application data elements. In general, we support a system that offers a consumer‐centric application that is simple and easy to use; one that provides welcoming and reassuring messages, connects applicants to available assistance, collects data and tracks activities of assisters, allows consumers to submit partially completed applications, provides the option for applicants to start, stop, and return at any time, identifies the differences between required and optional data, recognizes and accommodates various modalities, and has been consumer tested before it is put into use.