Health Insurance Exchange Update: Tuesday June 19, 2012

The Supreme Court decision on universal healthcare will have a ripple effect on each state, whenever the court releases their verdict. The challenges that state legislature have is attempting to take the right amount of action in case the law is upheld. But no one seems to know just how to prepare for the possibility of an upheld ruling.

In California, it seems they are acting regardless of the ruling. The California Exchange Board will meet to discuss the next step in developing health insurance exchanges, according to California Healthline. The items that are going to be discussed include outreach, marketing, and insurance coverage assisters. But even with an aggressive approach to the law, there is still an air of uncertainty that looms over universal health care. Which is why Texas is not doing anything regarding revamping their health care until the ruling is heard in the coming days.

In Texas, they do not have an exchange set up in case of a Supreme Court ruling in favor of the law, which makes people like Anne Dunkleberg, associate director of Center for Public Policy Priority, worried about the possibility of having federally funded exchanges, according to Texas Tribune. In accordance with state Attorney General Greg Abbot, the realization for health care reform is necessary for the state. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has, however, attempted to have certain measures but not Medicaid or state run exchanges.

The balance that is needed may not exist for the state. Some do not want to go as far as California, in essence taking to heart the act’s intention of providing affordable health care. Then you have states like Texas, trying to wait and see what the verdict will read and what steps they now have to take.

As a follow-up to the New Hampshire legislature entitled HB 1297, Governor John Lynch decided to sign the bill preventing state-run exchanges, according to New Hampshire Watchdog. No comment given as to why the bill was signed by the Governor, who is known for being in support of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

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!

Medicaid Managed Care Congress this week!

This week, the 17th Annual Medicaid Managed Care Congress takes place in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference kicked off this morning.

Some of the highlights of the today's events are:

- A packed room of over 50 Medicaid Managed Care executives attended an intensive primer on Medicaid Managed Care including Jim Frizzera, Principal, Health Management Associates; Cindy Adams, Chief Operating Officer, Superior Healthplan; Pamela Coleman, Director of Health Plan Operations, Texas Health and Human Services Commission; and Vernon Smith, PhD, Health Management Associates.

Some of the highlights included:
-More states need to focus on rewarding quality to improve hedis scores with NCQA.

-Holding all things constant Medicaid growth may level off however growth is expected in the aged and disabled populations. However significant expansion is still expected.

-Others joined in an a health literacy workshop lead by list speakers.

If you're attending the 17th Annual Medicaid Managed Care Congress and would like to share your insights about what's being discussed at the event, post your thoughts in the comments or email jpereira@iirusa.com!