On July 15, 2013, CMS published a final rule to implement various provisions of the ACA related to Medicaid and CHIP essential health benefits, enrollment, and eligibility rules. Among other things, the rule: finalizes new Medicaid eligibility provisions; streamlines existing Medicaid eligibility, cost-sharing, and premium rules; amends requirements for benchmark and benchmark-equivalent benefit packages to ensure that they include essential health benefits and meet certain other minimum standards; and implements provisions related to authorized representatives, notices, and verification of eligibility for qualifying coverage in an eligible employer-sponsored plan in Affordable Insurance Exchanges. The rule has various effective dates and includes transition policies for 2014.