On November 22, 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued final regulations on the medical loss ratio requirements provided for in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).  The medical loss ratio (MLR) represents the percentage of premium dollars that health insurers “lose” through spending on their insureds’ health care, as opposed to amounts that can be spent on administrative expenses or retained as net profits.  The final regulations are basically unchanged from those recommended by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in October.  Click here to read more on the topic.