On April 17, 2012, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published proposed regulations that implement and provide guidance on an ACA provision imposing fees on issuers of certain health insurance policies and plan sponsors of certain self-insured health plans to fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund. The Trust Fund supports the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), which is intended to assist patients, clinicians, purchasers, and policy-makers in making informed health decisions by advancing clinical effectiveness research. The fees, which will be based on the average number of lives covered under the policy for the year and the applicable dollar amount in effect for the policy year, will apply to policy and plan years ending on or after October 1, 2012, and before October 1, 2019. Comments on the proposed regulations will be accepted until July 16, 2012. The IRS also is holding an August 8, 2012 public hearing on these proposed regulations.