Among the raft of guidelines announced on Thursday in response to the mounting implementation problems confronting President Obama’s health care law, the Department of Health and Human Services said it was extending for one extra month a transitional program that temporarily covers Americans with pre-existing conditions.

The program, known as the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, or PCIP, was a temporary measure within Obamacare meant to be a bridge to provide coverage to those with pre-existing conditions between the law’s 2010 passage and Jan. 1, 2014, when all plans will be required to offer coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.