HHS Gives 3 States Approval To Run Their Own Insurance Marketplaces
The move comes as the U.S. waits for a Supreme Court decision that could strike down premium subsidies for customers in states that use the federal online exchange. The approval would allow Arkansas, Delaware and Pennsylvania to shift their operations if that happens.
The Associated Press:
3 States Gets Feds' OK For Health Insurance Marketplaces
The Obama administration gave conditional approval Monday to Arkansas, Delaware and Pennsylvania to expand their roles in the insurance marketplaces created under the 2010 health care law, ahead of a high court decision that could wipe out federal health insurance subsidies for millions. Letters from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, both Democrats, and Arkansas Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson say the approval reflects the expectation that the states' roles in the marketplaces will expand beginning in the 2016 policy year. (Levy and Alonso-Zaldivar, 6/15)
The Associated Press:
Delaware Gets Conditional Approval For State Health Exchange
While receiving approval Monday, officials cautioned that a final decision on moving to a state-run exchange has not been made. Delaware currently is one of seven states that operate exchanges with the help of the federal government, including using the federal web portal to enroll people. (Chase, 6/15)
The Associated Press:
Hospital Group Says Illinois Could Lease Healthcare.gov
A hospital group in cash-strapped Illinois says the state might be able to set up a health insurance exchange at a lower cost by "leasing" the federal government's technology, an option that could appeal to as many as 34 states where subsides could be jeopardized by an unfavorable U.S. Supreme Court decision. In a memo written for Gov. Bruce Rauner and state lawmakers and released to The Associated Press, the Illinois Hospital Association says it anticipates the federal government "will be developing a leasing fee" for states to use HealthCare.gov as the backbone for their own insurance exchanges. It also lists an alternate possibility of renting an exchange system from another state that has its own, such as Connecticut or Kentucky. (Johnson, 5/15)
