States Look to HHS for Help in Developing, Implementing Insurance Exchanges

Several states may partner with HHS to establish and run their health insurance exchanges due to political or timing reasons, which have hindered their ability to get plans ready by Jan. 1, 2014, according to a GovHealthIT report.

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, health insurance exchanges should be established in all 50 states by Jan. 1, 2014. The exchanges can take one of three forms: state-based; state/federal partnership around claims management or consumer assistance or both; and federal facilitated, according to the report.

"We have 14 governors who have sent in letters to the secretary that they are planning to establish an exchange in their state, and we're actively working with those states and others to complete the requirements to be approved to be a state-based exchange," said Amanda Cowley, director of state health exchanges in HHS' Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, according to the report.

Some states may want to operate their own state-based exchange, but the states that need more time to build the infrastructure can partner with HHS. The states partnering with HHS are required to send the department blueprints for their health insurance exchanges by Nov. 16.

According to the report, HHS has also provided 34 states with exchange establishment grants, seven of which are multi-year and aim to cover the full cost of health insurance exchange construction and implementation. Rhode Island, Washington, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, Vermont and the District of Columbia are among the states who received the grants, according to the report.

More Articles on Health Insurance Exchanges:

What Will Health Insurance Exchange Populations Look Like?
HHS Awards New Round of Health Insurance Exchange Grants to 5 States

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