On September 1, 2011, new rules took effect that allow The Health and Human Services Department to review double-digit increases in health insurance premiums, The Hill reported in its article “HHS Reviews of Insurance Rates Begin Today.” HHS will review proposed premium increases of 10 percent or more to determine whether they are caused by rising health care costs or by health insurers seeking higher profit margins. However, the federal government has no power to reject premium hikes, even if they are determined to be “excessive” and not attributable to health care costs. Some states do have the authority to reject rate increases, and HHS has awarded $48 million in grants to help states improve their rate-review programs. “Rate review will shed a bright light on the industry’s behavior and drive market competition to lower costs,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement.