States wrestle with health exchange choices
Oklahoma has opted not to proceed with a state-based exchange or with the Medicaid expansion, while Republican governors from Tennessee, Utah and Iowa continue to press the Department of Health and Human Services for more guidance.
Politico: Next Up For Obamacare: Launching The Exchanges In 2014
Now that the elections saved the health care law from the threat of
repeal, the Obama administration and its backers are turning their
attention toward getting the law right — before the next elections come
around in 2014 (Haberkorn, 11/20).
Politico: HHS Looks To Step Up Role In Health Exchanges
The last thing the Obama administration wanted to do was come into a
bunch of states and start running health insurance exchanges. But when
the new insurance marketplaces open for business late next year, it's
clear that the Department of Health and Human Services will have a much
bigger job than it wanted (Millman, 11/20).
The Associated Press: State-Run Health Care Exchange Nixed
Oklahoma will not establish a state-run health insurance exchange under
the federal health care law or expand its Medicaid eligibility to
provide coverage to thousands of low-income, uninsured citizens, Gov.
Mary Fallin announced Monday. The Republican governor's move puts
Oklahoma's insurance exchange, required under the health care reform
law, in the hands of the federal government (Murphy, 11/19).
Tulsa World (Oklahoma): Fallin Rejects Health-Care Exchange
The decision means Oklahoma will not do anything to accommodate the
federal health-care law known as "Obamacare." It also means the state
will skip an opportunity to help some 693,000 uninsured Oklahomans, 18.7
percent of the state population, get coverage through the federal
government (Greene, 11/20).
Politico Pro: Utah Asks HHS About ACA Exchanges
Almost three years after President Barack Obama's health care law
passed, Utah still doesn't know how its small-business exchange fits
into the picture. On Monday, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert sent HHS Secretary
Kathleen Sebelius a list of 10 "critical questions" about federal
exchanges — and he says he needs answers before making any decision
about the future of Utah's exchange. Herbert asked Sebelius a variety of
questions about a federal exchange's regulatory powers, costs and
consumer relations. He asked what a federal exchange would cost the
state, taxpayers and the private sector, and how the federal exchange
would handle existing state laws. Herbert also wanted know how Utah's
existing systems would "link" to the federal exchange (Millman, 11/19).
The Associated Press: Haslam Blames Feds For Delay In Health Care Choice
Republican Gov. Bill Haslam (of Tennessee) said Monday that a lack of
information from the White House is delaying a decision about whether
the state should run its own health insurance exchange under the new
federal health care law. Haslam told reporters that President Barack
Obama's administration has refused to address a series of questions
about the health insurance marketplaces raised by Republican governors,
including whether states would be able to create wellness-based
incentives to encourage healthy behavior (Schelzig, 11/19).
Kaiser Health News: Capsules: States Detail Questions About Their Exchange Options
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said Friday that he will build a health
exchange in his state – as soon as the Obama administration can explain
exactly what that means. The Republican governor submitted 50 questions
to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about how the
state-built online insurance markets are supposed to be set up. …
Branstad and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, also a Republican, are more
public than some other state leaders in their criticism of the health
law, but they are not the only ones demanding answers on how the
exchanges must be set up. A National Association of Insurance
Commissioners committee is compiling a working document of state queries
about exchange regulations, which had 40 questions as of Monday
afternoon (Rao, 11/19).
The Hill: Bipartisan Bill Would Widen Exemption From Health Insurance Mandate
New legislation would allow people an exemption from the healthcare
mandate by filing an affidavit with the IRS. Those seeking the exemption
would be required to tell the IRS that they don't have insurance
because of their religious beliefs. If those seeking the exemption later
used healthcare services under the law, they would lose their
eligibility for the exemption from buying insurance and would have to
pay a penalty. The bill, H.R. 6597, has drawn the support of more than
two dozen Democrats, including Reps. Carolyn Maloney (N.Y.) and Barney
Frank (Mass.). It is also supported by more conservative Republicans,
including libertarian Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) (Kasperowicz, 11/19).
Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent news service. It is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health-care-policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.