Feds set state health insurance exchange app date
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) set a deadline for states to choose how to operate their health insurance exchange. States seeking to operate a state-based exchange or electing to participate in a state partnership exchange must submit a complete exchange blueprint by Nov. 16.
A blueprint is made up of two components: a declaration letter and exchange application.
Coverage through the exchange will begin in every state on Jan. 1, 2014, according to a guidance report on federally-facilitated exchanges (FFEs) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Recognizing that not all states may elect to establish a state-based exchange by this statutory deadline, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act directs the HHS Secretary to establish and operate an FFE in any state that does not elect to do so or won’t possess an operable exchange for the 2014 coverage year.
IT is going to be a big buzzword in board meetings regarding the insurance exchanges. IT will help steer coordination across a FFE, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). For example, each FFE will use data from certain state-based data sources used by state Medicaid and CHIP agencies to support assessments or determinations of eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP and to support eligibility determinations for advance payments of the premium tax credit. FFEs will also need to “talk to” state-based data for verification purposes.
Currently, HHS is working with state Medicaid and CHIP agencies in areas to reduce administrative burden and further streamline the process for consumers.
A draft blueprint from the federal government is available online.
A blueprint is made up of two components: a declaration letter and exchange application.
Coverage through the exchange will begin in every state on Jan. 1, 2014, according to a guidance report on federally-facilitated exchanges (FFEs) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Recognizing that not all states may elect to establish a state-based exchange by this statutory deadline, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act directs the HHS Secretary to establish and operate an FFE in any state that does not elect to do so or won’t possess an operable exchange for the 2014 coverage year.
IT is going to be a big buzzword in board meetings regarding the insurance exchanges. IT will help steer coordination across a FFE, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). For example, each FFE will use data from certain state-based data sources used by state Medicaid and CHIP agencies to support assessments or determinations of eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP and to support eligibility determinations for advance payments of the premium tax credit. FFEs will also need to “talk to” state-based data for verification purposes.
Currently, HHS is working with state Medicaid and CHIP agencies in areas to reduce administrative burden and further streamline the process for consumers.
A draft blueprint from the federal government is available online.