Health Insurance Exchange Update: Monday, July 16, 2012

Kentucky State Flag

States have little time to sit back and weigh options as it pertains to setting up exchanges. There are deadlines that need to be met and they are approaching fast. Nonetheless, some governors are still waiting until the November election, some are doing number crunching to find out what this will do to the state budget, others are trying to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. Other than Wisconsin not doing anything regarding implemented the exchanges, states like Virginia and Nebraska are now waiting until this November according to the Chippewa Herald. Fearing over hurting state budget combined with hope of a new president, governors are not budging from their stance. But the more times passes, the less time states have to create a marketplace tailor-made for their state.

Met with the reluctance from health care opponents, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder will have to get the House Republicans on board with creating the exchanges. According to the Daily Press, the House blocked the administration’s effort to receive $9 million dollars in federal money until after the ruling. But now that the state was granted the money, the governor is hoping that the House like the Senate will approve of the exchanges to put the funding in use. Even while Michigan is attempting to run their own exchanges, they are in contact with the federal government about a possible partnership.

Wyoming will take cautious steps in implementing the exchanges. According to Wyoming News, the state wants to gather information and see what are the necessary steps are needed to make the right decision for the state. Anne Ladd, the chief executive officer of the Wyoming Business Coalition on Health brought up the fact that Wyoming was far behind other states. She believes that the State and federal government will have a partnership for 12 to 36 months and then the state will be on their own. 

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear alerted the federal government that he will set up state-run exchanges according to ABC News. Gov. Beshear sent the letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebellius to tell her of his plans for the exchanges. After the Supreme Court ruling, the governor said that the state would move ahead in creating the exchange for Kentuckians. The governor also had some of his Kentuckians that they wanted the exchanges set up for their benefit. Kentucky is the 16^th state to set up the state-run exchanges.

This November, the Health Insurance Exchange Congress will be held November 13-14, 2012 in Chicago, IL.  Here, state officials and health plans with the only opportunity to come together to discuss PPACA and strategize on how to make this a successful opportunity for all.  For more information on this year's agenda, download the program here.  As a reader of this blog, when you register to join us and mention code XP1710BLOG, you'll receive 15% off the standard rate!