PPACA: House Republican Questions HHS Outreach Spending

Boustany says he believes HHS probably has spent more on polling, message development and focus groups related to efforts to set up the new PPACA health insurance exchanges.

In the past year, Boustay and Republican Ways and Means colleagues also have raised questions about the AARP Medicare supplement insurance program, the rules that apply to consumers' use of flexible spending account cash, and Internal Revenue Service efforts to regulate tax-exempt hospitals.

HHS declined to comment specifically on the letter.

Section 4004 of PPACA authorizes HHS to conduct a public education campaign to encourage the use of preventive benefits and services, an HHS officials said in a general statement about HHS communications programs.

"This public education campaign is part of our ongoing education efforts that will inform the American people about the steps they can take to prevent disease and illness and stay healthy," the official said.