Ten more states have been awarded a total of $229 million by
the federal government for the development of websites where Americans
will be able to shop for health insurance plans.
These “health insurance exchanges” are one component of the Affordable
Care Act, the health-care reform law that will make health insurance
compulsory for most Americans.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Wednesday,
Feb. 22, that Arkansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota,
Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Tennessee had received
its latest round of funding.
So far, the federal government has disbursed $610 million to 33 states
and the District of Columbia to spur development of the online insurance
exchanges. More funding opportunities are forthcoming, officials said.
HealthCare.gov has posted a state-by-state list of funding amounts and
what each state plans to do with its funding. See the list
here.
“While states are moving at different rates in the planning and
establishment process, the vast majority of states have already taken
the crucial early steps in building these new marketplaces,” the
HealthCare.gov page says.
Last month, the White House released a
progress report
that found that 28 states and the District of Columbia are “on their
way” to standing up a health insurance exchange. The deadline to have
these websites up and running is January 2014.
Although the Obama administration is claiming progress, statistics
updated Feb. 7 by statehealthfacts.org present a less optimistic
outlook: 14 states have established an exchange, four have plans to
establish, 22 are studying options, nine have no significant activity,
and two have decided not to create an exchange.
Along with Wednesday’s announcement of additional funding, the HHS also
said that rules have been finalized for states that wish to request an
“innovation waiver” in order pursue alternative approaches to various
parts of the health-care reform law. More information about that waiver
process is
here.
Source: Government Technology
http://www.govtech.com/health/10-More-States-Get-Funding-for-Health-Insurance-Exchanges.html#HealthandHumanServicesWorkingGroup