Health Insurance Exchange Update: Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Idaho State Flag

The Congressional Budget Office came out with how much the health care law will save the country money the next ten years. According to the report, the health care law will save $84 billion dollars over the next eleven years. The report also indicates that since the Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for the government to withhold aid if a state does not expand Medicaid, there will be 3 million people who will be without health insurance. Even with these numbers, there is no telling what may occur ten years from now that could severely alter the numbers for better or worse.

Though the CBO came out with their budget about the health care law, states are trying to figure out what should be done about the ACA. 

Michigan’s Republicans want to wait and see what happens in the November elections. This stance leaves Gov. Rick Snyder frustrated in trying to move forward with establishing their won exchanges. Not only is it getting under the skin of the governor, House Democrat floor leader Kate Segal wants to get the exchanges set up before January 2014. According to Michigan Radio, Segal believes that the state not moving forward to create their own exchanges will not leave them a whole lot of time to set up the exchanges. Segal also wants the state to have their own exchanges instead of having the federal government using their own plan and not knowing what they will do. The governor has made attempts to talk with the Democrats in state office about setting up the exchanges but Segal thinks the Gov. Snyder should meet with them a little more. Hearings are going to be heard tomorrow to discuss what direction the state will go regarding the health care law. 

Idaho is trying to figure out how the health care law will affect the state. According to Times News, Gov. C.L. Otter hired two working groups to analyze and to make recommendations on whether or not the state should set up their own exchange program and expand Medicaid. In addition to that, there will be a legislative Health Care Task Force that will meet in the coming weeks also to discuss the what actions are needed to be taken because of the health care law. 

New Hampshire is also looking at what to do moving forward with the health care law. But according to NPHR, the pressing question which will be for all states but for their Joint Health Care Reform Oversight Committee, their problem will be Medicaid expansion. Gov. John Lynch already signed legislation blocking the creation of state-run exchanges, already rejecting one provision in the law. Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, a Republican who chairs the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, says there are too many unanswered questions about who will be paying for the bill.

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! 

Health Insurance Exchange Update: Tuesday, July 24, 2012

North Dakota State Flag

As the days become weeks and weeks become months, states are either waiting or moving on with the exchanges and Medicaid expansion. But some are bringing up the fact that states should go on start on the exchange program and on the Medicaid expansion. Timothy Noah of The New Republic argues that Medicaid expansion provided in the health care law should be federalized. But the Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot make the state expand Medicaid. So more states are opting not to expand if they're not forced to. But Noah writes that the expansion will not put a dent so to speak in the debt of the states.

North Dakota is going back and forth between whether or not to set up the state-run exchanges. According to The Jamestown Sun, the GOP state officials are strongly opposed to setting up the exchanges. Last November, the House voted 64-30 against setting up the exchanges. The conservative leaders did not want to be in support of a law that they saw was going Gov. Jack Dalrymple stands firmly as he will not implement any portion of the health care reform law. Supporters of the law are echoing the same sentiment as every other supporter by saying that the state is better off creating their own plan instead of the federal government. The same goes for those who oppose the law. Brett Narloch said that since it a federal program, it should be run by the federal government. 

Wyoming is a state that has decided to follow the lead of the state attorney general of Virginia: do nothing. According to the Wyoming Business Report, they along with nine others have decided not to set up their own exchanges but it seems like Gov. Matt Mead has decided to see what the options are regarding the setting up of the exchanges and Medicaid. The state created forums for individuals who are concerned about the Medicaid expansion. In addition, Wyoming has begun looking into options for exchanges. Because Wyoming has a unique situation (large state, small population) and the governor wants to make sure he sets up the right exchange for his state. He even expressed this same sentiment in a letter to the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Resources Kathleen Sebellius. 

Nebraska’s state insurance officials said that the state have begun efforts in implementing exchanges. But , according to CBS News, there are some who are questioning Gov. Dave Heineman can fulfill the requirements without calling a special session. Bruce Ramage, director of the Department of Insurance, has said that Nebraska is making strides to have their own exchange set up for the future. But Sen. Paul Schumacher wonders if the governor, who opposes the law, has the authority to use his executive order to have the implementations or whether they need legislation.

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! 

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! 

Health Insurance Exchange Update: Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The news surrounding the health care and the President’s universal health care law remains the same as the Justices wait to release their decision. The month of June is coming to an end and whichever way the justices go there will be a mixture of emotions ranging from outrage and satisfaction to content and indifference. 

Nonetheless, Governors, and advocates alike are still voicing their opinion before the ruling is heard.

In Missouri, representatives are ready to put to vote a bill that would prevent any health insurance exchanges by the state according to KBIA. The measure states that no exchanges are to occur unless it is approved by legislature or the voters’ approval. The bill also states that the governor cannot use an executive order to have the exchanges into action. Also in an extreme attempt of not having any exchange set up, the measure proposes to sue any state agency or worker involved in exchange activity.

In Illinois, small businesses and health care advocates are still demanding that Governor Pat Quinn use his executive order, like Rhode Island and New York, to issue an executive order for the health insurance exchanges. According to Fox Illinois, Gov. Quinn has expressed interest in using his executive order to get the exchanges in place but nothing has been done so far. Advocates want action to be taken whether or not the Justices rule in favor of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but the governors of fifteen other states seem to have a similar approach to this situation. 

The justices know that this decision will impact the country one way or another. Assuming it passes people are going to be covered and helped with the financial burden of coverage, with federal subsidies and state-run exchanges. But people argue that now government can do anything now since the justices have precedent if passed. The effects of striking down the act will lead to millions of people losing the health care they already have because of it being passed in 2010. 

This decision is political and emotional, and The New Republic writer Alex MacGillis echoes this very sentiment with his piece detailing the people living in Tennessee and the attempts of finding affordable health care.  

  

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.  As a reader of this blog, when you register to join us and mention code XP1710BLOG, you'll receive 15% off the standard rate!

Health Insurance Exchange Update: Monday, June 18, 2012

Each state is on pins and needles awaiting the deliberation regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the coming days or weeks. The constant thinking among states during the waiting game is to either hold off major decisions for the judgment, act regardless of the ruling, or fight against what some on Capitol Hill deem an “unconstitutional” law. 

In New Hampshire, they have decided to do the latter. According to Heartland, the House has agreed to a Senate legislature entitled HB 1297 which would prevent state-run exchanges. Some Senators feel that this would prevent the insurance department from talking to federal officials. Others feel that this legislature will help repeal ACA. The bill will be going to the desk of Democratic Governor John Lynch, who supports state-run exchanges. 

In Massachusetts, a state that already has universal healthcare, will have its two largest insurers extend two popular provisions in the ACA even if it is not upheld by the Supreme Court. Insurers will extend young adult coverage to the age of 26. Insurers would also cover an array of services with no copayments which include certain immunizations, screening for diabetes, depression, and breast cancer, according to the Boston Globe. 

In Utah, however, they are taking backseat to the possibility of the legislature being overturn. Utah already has universal healthcare set up for residents but unlike Massachusetts, they have decided not to take any more action until a decision on ACA has been reached according to Kaiser Health News.

In Florida, they are attentive, waiting for the ruling towards the end of the month. But they are stuck between a rock and a hard place regardless of the Supreme Court ruling. In an article written for Rattler News, they describe how if the law is upheld, Florida will have to start the exchange program, identify at least two million people who would be eligible for Medicaid and distribute millions to individuals and businesses. If the law is struck down, that could set off the removal of young adults from the health insurance coverage of their parents. 

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.  As a reader of this blog, when you register to join us and mention code XP1710BLOG, you'll receive 15% off the standard rate!

Health Insurance Exchange Update: Friday, June 15, 2012

In today's health insurance exchange update, we find that even though some states are against the health exchange, they're still taking the measures to create one one.  and Hawaii is the first state to publicly declare that they will be creating a healthcare exchange to be compliant with the government.

Even though Mississippi is a red state, Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney says that the $20 million grant that the state received will be put to good use. According to Politico, they are creating an exchange, but there will be no standard packages, no requirements to sell to people with pre-existing conditions or subsidize the people buying the coverage. The goal of this exchange would be to help healthy people who can afford to buy health insurance find it easier.

Hawaii is the first state to officially declare that it will create a government compliant health plan. Governor Neil Abercrombie issued a letter to the US Health and Human Services Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight that the Hawai'i Health Connector would function as their exchange. According to Maui Now,  this platform was established in 2011 and has contributed to Hawaii achieving one of the lowest uninsured levels of children in the nation.

Montana and South Dakota, however, are less progressive when it comes to creating their health insurance exchanges according to Government Health IT.  Both have many hospitals and doctors who have not adopted to electronic health records.  South Dakota did receive a grant for exploration into the health insurance exchange, but they were a part of the law suit brought to the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of the law. Montana was not a part of hte exchange, but have accepted a $1 million grant to study their options.  Both states have really high uninsured population averages, but also a higher than average number of individuals on Medicaid.

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.  As a reader of this blog, when you register to join us and mention code XP1710BLOG, you'll receive 15% off the standard rate!