On top of awarding more money to improve health insurance rate reviews, the Department of Health and Human Services is making its case that increased scrutiny on rate hikes helps consumers and makes the marketplace more transparent.

The agency announced Tuesday additional grants totaling $109 million will go to 28 states and the District of Columbia to combat unreasonable rate increases. The Affordable Care Act allots $250 million to strengthen states' rate review process, and $48 million has already been awarded to 42 states.

"We're committed to fighting unreasonable premium increases and we know rate review works," said Secretary Sebelius. "States continue to have the primary responsibility for reviewing insurance rates and these grants give them more resources to hold insurance companies accountable."

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