Health Insurance Exchange Update: Friday, September 7th

With the elections underway, many states are still on the fence about making a decision regarding the health insurance exchange.  Few have even proposed to wait until after someone is elected in November to submit their decision.

Kentucky’s online market place will proceed without a vote by the state legislative committee. At the urging of Republican members, the Interim Joint Committee on Health and Welfare delayed a vote in August on regulations crafted by Gov. Steve Beshear's administration that would establish a health benefits exchange. If the committee takes no action to block the regulation, it automatically goes into effect, and at this time the committee is not scheduled to meet until September 19^th.

Kansas has still not decided which health insurance exchange services they will provide. According to Insurance Commissioner, Sandy Praeger, if they don't come to a decision soon, the Department of Health and Human Services will choose one for them. The state has set a deadline for Sept. 30^th, however Gov. Sam Brownback wants to wait until after the Nov. 6^th election to make a decision.

And yesterday in Lincoln, the second health insurance exchange hearing was held. Just like the governor of Kansas, Nebraska's Gov. Dave Heineman would also like to wait until after the election to make a decision. The three options are: being state run, federal run and a hybrid of state and federal.Three CEO's of major insurance companies in the state sat in a panel discussion with the mayor. The essential benefits are still undetermined.

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: Friday, June 28, 2012

Minnesota State Flag

Many states were delaying their decision on whether or not to build a health insurance exchange until the ruling on the Supreme Court.  With the decision handed down yesterday that the whole law in indeed constitutional, states will now have to decide whether or not to create their own state run exchange or rely on the exchange set up by the federal government.  So where do states stand?  Over the next few weeks, we'll find out who will go with a state run exchange.

For now, here is where some states stand after the ruling:

Colorado had already begun building a state exchange. Repbulicans in the state belive the ruling was truly a good thing for their state.  Their Colorado Benefit Exchange is set to launch in October 2013.  According to Bloomberg Business Week, 13% of the state is currently uninsured.

Montana was one of the states who declined to join the others who brought the law suit to the Supreme Court.  The state believes it has done the right thing, and as a result has continued to work with the federal government in order to make an exchange for its citizens.  Bloomberg Business Week states that their private insurers now have a deadline of next fall to submit their policies that will be available on the exchange to the uninsured citizens of their state.

Minnesota will also be moving ahead with it's health insurance exchange.  Their governor Mark Dayton began building the exchanges in 2011.  It is expected that they will move full steam ahead according to MinnPost.  A 15 member task force has been working together to develop the blueprint for the state, which they will have completed by 2014.  A compelete timeline of this rollout can be found here.  And the letter sent by Minnesota Healthcare Leaders about the exchange can be read here.



New Jersey's Governor Chris Christe has stated he will still not start the creation of a health insurance exchange.  He believes that if there is a change in ruling from the Presidential office, there will no longer need to be a health insurance exchange.  Bloomberg Business Week also states that Christie will comply with any hard deadlines that are set forth by the government.

Nebraska's sentiments are much the same.  Governor Dave Heineman will be further looking at the law and decide what it means for Nebraskans. He will also keep in mind that many things could change if Mitt Romney is voted into office this coming November.  Read more at Omaha.com.

South Dakota's Governor Dennis Daugaard follows suit with Nebraska and New Jersey, stating he has no intention in starting an exchange without fully analyzing all parts of the law.  He will protect South Dakota from the harmful pats and believes that things could change after the November elections.  CBS News states that in 2010, the state had 10% of the population that was uninsured.

To get ahead of the game, join us this November to learn more about creating exchanges.  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 27, 2012

Nebraska State Seal

One day left. Last moments of scrambling, a few people hyperventilating, sweat dripping down faces and everything else that goes with fear, anxiety, and nervousness will end tomorrow. Well, at least the decision will be known and politicians will go from there. And some are doing some last minute preparations just in case ACA is passed tomorrow and some are prepared. 

Michigan’s Gov. Rick Snyder is considering partnering with the federal government to run health insurance exchange, according to the Lansing State Journal. Michigan is doing this because they feel that they do not have enough time to set up the exchanges. House Republicans refused a $9.8 million in federal planning to start a health marketplace. State Licensing and regulatory Affairs Director Steve Hilfinger warned the state for months that Michigan could run out of time to get a state health exchange approved by January. Snyder is one of few Republican Governors who actually felt that the health insurance exchanges were very helpful for individuals and small companies to compare health-care. The state also did not do detailed information technology work required to map out an exchange. Michigan has been planning and plotting to establish state exchange costing as much as $1 million but they have still been talking to federal officials about actually setting it up.

Indiana is also waiting until tomorrow to see if the ruling on health care will pass. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Indiana was preparing for the health insurance exchanges for a year and a half but even with the preparation, they believe that they will still need the federal government for assistance if it is passed. Gov. Mitch Daniels ordered state agencies to investigate the cost and feasibility of an online health insurance marketplace back in January 2011. However, Indiana has not enacted a law creating an exchange.

Illinois also is not as prepared for the possibility if the law is passed. They realized that with the decision coming down from the court Thursday, they see that they do not have enough time to set up the exchanges, according to the State Journal Register. Now the state received three grants that total $39 million to start building legislature for the exchange program but the legislature failed to pass a law in order to establish it. 

Nebraska is ready for health exchanges if the law is passed, according to CNBC. The state doesn’t have one set up but they are planning on set up an exchange marketplace. If the ruling of the healthcare reform is struck down, then Nebraska but if the law is upheld, then there will be a scramble to establish the state-run exchange program. Republican Governor Dave Heineman is exploring the option of using his executive order to get the state exchanges ready. Yes the Governor is not a huge fan of ACA, but the exchanges are a good thing in his opinion. Heineman has gone so far as to order the Department of Insurance to plan for the federal requirements.  

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 Roundup: Tuesday, August 23

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.  Today we have commentary from Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Oregon.

Here's the top news from Tuesday, August 23:

Lincoln Journal Star (Nebraska): Local View: Health reform has many benefits

Associated Press: States may get second chance at insurance exchange

Standard Speaker (Pennsylvania): State grapples with health insurance mandate

Governing.com: Coordinating More Care in Oregon

Watchdog.org: Kansas Governor Seeking Federal Grant for Key Component of ‘Obamacare’ Exchange

News Gazette (Illinois): Health care group sets meeting on insurance exchange

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.