Health Insurance Exchange Update: Monday, September 17

Iowa State Flag

Today in the Health Insurance Exchange news, much of the focus is on the deadline of September 30 for states to submit their minimum coverage requirements. Others are focusing on November release of the government with their regulations and final deadline of creating a state versus relying on the federal government to create their exchanges.

Iowa recently received a Level 1 grant from the federal government.  A few of the items they've chosen to use their funding for to enhance the exchange focusing on the technical aspects of the exchange according to Information Week Health Care. include a redesign of their current database for both  those in the system and other who will be signing up for their services.  The will also work on integrating the eligibility system for both the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program.

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney has the difficult challenge of setting up a state exchange in his state.  They were one of the states who participated in the lawsuit that challenged the legality of the Act, and are now challenged with the task of having the exchange up and running by 2014.  According to Live Insurance News, One of his major challenges is the opposition coming from the state law makers, who are against setting up a state exchange.

In Colorado, they're debating what the minimum benefits will be covered in their exchange.  They're intent on providing their citizens with a "Colorado Specific Solution".  Their state work group has reviewed 10 options and received feedback from industry and consumer advocates.  For more information on Colorado's success in creating their exchange, visit Kaiser Health News.

And finally, The Maryland Health Connection has unveiled it's official exchange name, logo and webpage.  In addition to the announcement about the name, logo and webpage, Lt Governor Anthony Brown announced that the state also received a federal grant of $123 to help build the webpage according to the Washington Post.

Want to learn more about the health insurance exchange? 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, August 14, 2012

North Carolina State Flag

In today's Health Insurance Exchange Report, we see an overwhelming trend.  All of the states today have chosen to implement their own exchange.  Their next challenge is what to cover?  And for those who have not made their statement that they intend to create an exchange, the Obama Administration is making a push for them to do so.

In California, John Ramey, the President of the Local Health Plans of California writes to the Mercury News sharing his desire for his state to consider instituting a Basic Health Plan. This would allow for more than 800,000 Californians to be eligible for the healthcare. For John's complete opinion piece, visit Mercury News.

The Oregon Health Policy Board is meeting today to discuss what they'll be covering in their state run exchange. According to Oregon Live, they will be addressing what the lowest benefits they will carry are on the Oregon Health Insurance Exchange.

The North Carolina Institute of Medicine is making headway in their quest to open their state run exchange. Adam Searing, Project Director for the Health Access Coalition at the N.C. Justice Center also believes that the state must extend their coverage to some of the poorest in the state. With the federal government paying for 93% of the expansion, expansion is necessary. News Observer also comments that in addition to helping with coverage to these poorest Americans, in turn, the hospitals in those rural areas would receive more funding as they often foot the bill for those who cannot pay.

Here's a quick Q&A with Mike Chaney, State Insurance Commissioner of Mississippi from the North Eastern Mississippi Daily Journal.

And finally, this week is the week the Obama Administration is making a big push to encourage states to begin working on their own exchanges.  It's critical to start now in order to have the exchange done by the due date set by the Affordable Care Act.  They'll be making stops in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Chicago and Denver.  With only 15 states having started on their exchange, the Federal Government is currently worried about the degree of cooperation they'll receive when coordinating the reminder of the states for a Federal Exchange.  The Chicago Tribute has more.

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, July 18, 2012

Mississippi State Flag

It may seem that more states are coming around to setting up exchanges. Though they may not be the biggest supporters of the law, they realize that it is the law. Mississippi is one of these states. They are done with their exchange marketplace according to the Insurance Journal. Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Cheney said that the marketplace is set up and will be ready for Mississippians to be insured.  Chaney believes that nothing more needs to be done. Many people, including Gov. Phil Bryant want Cheney to stop working on the marketplace. But Cheney, who is not a fan of the law, said this is the law until further notice.

But other states are left in complex situations and uncooperative state officials regarding the exchanges.

Alaska will be another state that has opted not to create health exchanges. According to Juneau Empire, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell stated that the state will instead allow the federal government to set up the exchanges. Gov. Parnell feels that his state should not be spending taxpayer money when “so much uncertainty exists about how to implement it.” Alaska was one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the health care law. Chair of the Senate Health, Education and Social Services Committee, Sen. Bettye Davis, is not thrilled about what the governor had to say regarding the exchanges. She much rather had the exchanges be “local” rather than having the federal government use their plan. But the governor’s philosophy is crystal clear by saying that federal mandates “should be paid by the federal government.” 

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels is stuck in a quagmire with the setting up exchanges for the state. Ventura County Star reports in his second term and unable to run again for office, Gov. Daniels is now talking with his potential successors to see whether or not he should set up the exchanges for the state. States must send in a plan to the federal government by November 16. Gov. Daniels does not want to put other governors in a bind when the law goes into action in 2014. Daniels will be meeting with Libertarian Rupert Boneham, Democrat John Gregg, and Republican Mike Pence to figure out what they want to do with setting up the exchanges. 

Michigan’s Republican lawmakers have decided that they will not act on whether or not to accept federal aid. According to the Detroit News, the government gave Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder $9.8 million to set up the state’s exchange marketplace. But the House Republicans have elected not to act on the issue when they meet today. The Republican controlled Senate allowed the governor to take the money but with the need of bipartisan support, the House decided to go the opposite way. The state cannot spend the money unless they have legislature approval. 

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, June 26, 2012

We have two days until the decision will be heard and our politicians will figure out the next steps in health care reform. Still, with two days left to worrying whether or not Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, states and state officials preparing for the possibility of the act being upheld and a democratic Governor disagrees with the individual mandate.

In Missouri, Democratic Governor Jay Nixon has expressed his displeasure with the requiring of individuals to buy health coverage, according to St. Louis Public Radio. He wanted to make it clear his feelings regarding the ACA to what he calls “Washington Healthcare Law”.

Also expressing disinterest with the health care reform, Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin said that no matter what happens on Thursday, he will not act on any of the provisions in the act until November, according to Milwaukee Public Radio. And what's going on in November? The general election. And, what does Walker believe? Yes, he wants to, rather he believes that Mitt Romney will be in office in November. 

In Florida, changes are being made to help improve their already standing health exchange program, according to Market Watch. Xerox has decided to work with Florida’s health exchange program entitled Florida Health Choices to build health insurance marketplace in Florida Health Choices. The contract is reportedly going to last 9 years and it will be valued at $68 million. The insurance marketplace Xerox is going to design will give Xerox is going to provide a cloud-based web portal, an online plan tool to give consumers and employers more information when making health insurance sections. Xerox will also provide eligibility determination and an enrollment management services for the program and it will operate as a customer contact center to share information on marketplace offerings. 

In Mississippi, there is someone who feels that part of the ACA is actually a good thing for his state, according to the Desoto Times. The State Insurance commissioner Mike Chaney feels health insurance exchange as crucial tool to broaden health care of Mississippians. He feels that this is not a Republican idea, a Democrat idea, but a universal idea. Stating the obvious, Chaney also believes that Mississippi will be in better shape than neighboring Louisiana, who has not taken any steps towards making exchanges. And in buying into that reasoning, Chaney has taken steps to see it implemented gathering proposals of companies would enter the exchange. When he was in office until 2009, he brought up legislature for the exchanges, but of course, it was not passed. But Chaney realized with his new position, he was going to use that pull in order to get the exchanges ready. And with his pull, he decided to take the government’s $22 million in startup funds. 

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: 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!

Health Insurance Exchange Roundup: Monday, August 29

Healthcare Exchanges are the hot topic in today’s healthcare landscape as well as national news. With states mandated to have a plan in place by January 1, 2013, and a functioning system by January 1, 2014, the majority are trying to figure how they will implement this system. Check here every afternoon for the latest opinions and news on the health exchange.

The top news from Monday, August 29, is that Western Pennsylvania has adopted the exchange process and Montana is looking at partnership with the government to create theirs. Click on the article below to learn more. 

KRTV Great Falls: Montana can partner with feds on health insurance exchange

LA Times: Putting health coverage within reach

The Colorado Statesman: Health care exchange watch dog growls about the role of the feds

Sun Harold (Mississippi): Health exchange will offer options

The Health Insurance Exchange Congress is the only place for states and health plans to come together as one and discuss the current challenges and opportunities associated with health insurance Exchanges. For more information about joining us, visit our webpage.