Health Insurance Exchange Update: Monday, August 13, 2012

Minnesota State Flag

With the Supreme Court passing the legislation to keep the Affordable Care Act for the most part in tact, many states are still questioning what they should do. However, others are taking steps to make their exchanges a reality while others are looking at the impact of Medicaid expansion on their state and budget.

Minnesota is one of the first states to award a contract to a technology company in order to create their exchange. They have contracted Maximus for two years to help them set up their digital exchange. According to the Star Tribune,  It is expected to launch in Fall 2013.

In Arizona,Chuck Coughlin and Peter Burns were hired to create a campaign in order to encourage the state government to approve Medicaid expansion. They unite the voices of hospitals, insurance plans, providers and other players.  Should the Medicaid Expansion be approved, up to 300,000 Arizona citizens will eligible for healthcare from the program.  According to the Tuscon Citizen, they argue that without the expansion, hospitals and doctors will continue losing patients who are uninsured and money from those who are not.

Maryland is a democratic state while neighboring state Virginia is republican, and the vast differences between their approaches to creating the health insurance exchange.  Virginia's governor Bob McDonnell has yet to authorize an exchange.  The District of Columbia began assessing it's options in Fall 2011, and plans thus far have not made decisions as to whether it will be an open or closed to all providers and will be mostly internet exchanged.  For more on the comparison of the three states and where they stand in the Exchange process, read the article at the Washington Post.

In Vermont, they're looking at their exchange as a bridge to what the state really wants to set up - a government run single payor healthcare system.  By taking the federal money to fund their current healthcare exchange, they're able to create that system - Green Mountain Care - which will open for business in 2017.  Read more about the plans for this exchange at the Heartlander.

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!