States advance in developing health insurance exchanges

Various states are developing strategies to build and operate their exchanges.

California Healthline: How Can California Exchange Minimize 'Churning'?
Veterans of the Medi-Cal system in California — providers, counselors, state officials and beneficiaries — have said for years that one of the keys to making the Medicaid program work is continuity of care. ... The Affordable Care Act's two primary weapons aimed at reducing the number of uninsured — expanded Medicaid eligibility and subsidies for buying private coverage through state health insurance exchanges — could produce considerable churning if they're not carefully implemented. ... We asked stakeholders and experts: What strategies should state officials employ in the building and operation of the exchange to minimize churning and promote quality and continuity of care? (3/21).

Stateline: Health Exchange Head Start Reaps Dollars
The purpose of the 'early innovators" program is to guide other states in developing the backbone information systems that will drive state-level health insurance exchanges. The improved technology is supposed to assist them in getting an exchange ready for federal approval in 2013. Some of those that are only beginning to get their IT operations ready are going to have a tough time meeting the deadline (Vestal, 3/22).

Politico Pro: Health Exchange Rebels
If HHS had its way, all 50 states would take control of their own health exchanges. To do that, the law requires that states prove they've made significant strides toward implementation by January 2013. … Most states under Republican governors now are at least considering their options for exchanges. But here are five states — even one with a Democratic governor — that may buck that trend (Kliff, 3/22).