Health Insurance Exchanges Update: Monday, July 9, 2012

Arizona State Flag

Now that the law has been upheld, there are still some mixed feelings among politicians. Described in a write-up in the New York Times, state officials opposed to the law are turning their attention to the exchanges. Critics are trying to figure out if subsidies are still offered if a state fails to set up their own exchanges.

And now that there will be a vote on the bill in the House this coming Wednesday, critics of the bill are trying anything to strike down this law. 

In New York, Gov. Cuomo said that he is not open to revisiting health insurance exchanges according to the New York Daily News. The statement came after Republican State Senate Health Committee Chairman said that there may be legislative approval to set up the exchanges. This is relatively odd since the GOP decided not to pass a bill and when Cuomo decided to use his executive order, there
 were no objections.
 

In Arizona, the idea of health exchanges is still left for grabs according to the Arizona Capital Times. House Speaker Andy Tobin said that he would like to wait for the November election to set up the exchanges. But the Gov. Jan Brewer has decided to go the other way on this. Arizona has taken $30 million to startup the state run exchanges. Her administration had been setting up their own exchange for months but to try and persuade legislatures will be a difficult task for the governor. But by the looks of the work of the governor, she does not want the federal government to have their exchanges in Arizona.

 

In Texas, Governor and former Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry made his stance crystal clear when he issued a statement to the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary. Under the law, if a state refuses to set up the exchanges, they will instead have to use the plan the federal government has set up. As for the expansion of Medicaid, the Supreme Court found it unconstitutional for the government to withhold money if it is not used to expanding Medicaid. So according to the Houston Chronicle, Rick Perry like so many others have decided not to do anything regarding setting up exchanges or expanding Medicaid in his state. Perry believes that state exchanges nor Medicaid expansion will result in affordable care.

Oklahoma is doing the exact same thing when it comes to rejecting the exchanges, according to the NewsOK. Directly after the health care ruling, Rep. Michelle Bachman and Senator Jim DeMint sent a letter out to the National Governors Association telling them to not implement any of the provisions in the health care law. Sen. Tom Coburn of Muskogee in Oklahoma was one of the many state officials who signed the agreement. Reportedly, he told the co-chairman of the legislative committee back in 2011 to look into setting up an exchange program reminiscent of Utah’s. But Coburn had a change of heart and said that the state not starting up exchanges is not a cause for concerns. Governor Mary Fallin however, has not decided on what to do exactly with exchanges and Medicaid expansion. Though not a fan of the exchanges, she did at one point in time accept the money to start up an exchange program but nothing has been done since.

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 3, 2012

Florida State Flag

In an effort to exercise their ability to be the uncooperative partner, 12 senate and 61 House members sent out letters to governors telling them to rebel against the Affordable Care Act. One man in particular is taking this to heart where as some are weighing options and very few are ahead of the curve. 

Florida Gov. Rick Scott stated soon after the health care ruling said he rejected health insurance exchanges. Now the governor has come out and said that he will also not be expanding Medicaid as well according to The New York Times. The governor cites that the state will have too much of a burden expanding Medicaid for his citizens. Even though the government will cover all costs for new people under Medicaid from 2014 to 2016, he believes that after those three years the tax payers will have the burden of paying a substantial amount. But there are some who have begun to critique what exactly Scott said while making his rounds on national television. Whether it is from the amount of money Florida will pay to the idea or rationing of the health care, there are some regarding his comments as false on off base with what the health care law actually does. 

North Dakota is one of 36 states that must decide whether or not to take the lead in creating health insurance exchanges, according to the Jamestown Sun. Their legislator decided to have the federal government lead them in establishing exchanges. Under the current deadlines, North Dakota may not have enough time unless they receive conditional approval from the government. Blue Cross Shield of North Dakota are exploring the possibility of having a standby template incase the government offers an extension. But if the state is not offered an extension, then the state will have to use the federal government’s exchange program. 

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey is deciding whether or not he will also use the federal government in order to set up exchanges, claiming that this would be good for the state. He has also mentioned that Medicaid in New Jersey is already inclusive and that the federal government should give money to states for Medicaid with no strings attached, according to NECN.

Taking the initiative into his own hands, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo decided to use an executive order in order to comply with the health care law back in April. Now they are one of the few states ready for when most of health care law goes into act in 2014. Of the 2.7 million people who are uninsured, 1 million will be able for exchanges, 700,000 are immigrants who will not be covered and the remainder will receive Medicaid coverage according to Democrat and Chronicle.

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: September 6

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.

Here's today's news:

Hometown Source (Minnesota): Commerce commissioner creates Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Task Force
Civ Source (South Carolina): Haley refuses health insurance exchange, HCR
The Pubelo Chieftain (Colorado): One-stop help for needy divides lawmakers
Amarillo Globe News: New Mexico physician chosen for health care reform
Gotham Gazette (New York): Senate Republicans in No Rush on Health 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.