Governors to focus on health exchanges' big picture

During the National Governors Association meeting on Saturday, "broad-stroke policy decisions" will be discussed — in terms of what states need to know to set up an exchange in the face of tight budgets. Meanwhile, a new AARP report concludes that consumers will have an easier time in these marketplaces if they don't have too many options.

Politico Pro: Exchange Experts Ready To Make Case To Govs
While Washington health policy experts dug into the nitty-gritty of the exchange regulation released this week, you can expect the National Governors Association's Saturday meeting to be all about the big picture. The NGA's Health and Human Services Committee has set the 90-minute agenda for their session to focus squarely on health exchanges. The discussion will center on the broad-stroke policy decisions that states need to make to set up a health exchange in the midst of cash-strapped budgets, panelists set to speak at the event tell Politico (Kliff, 7/15).

The Hill: AARP: Fewer Plans Will Make Exchanges Easier To Use
A new AARP report on state insurance exchanges says consumers will have an easier time comparing health plans if they're not presented with too many options. AARP analyzed several existing Web portals for insurance to help states figure out the most effective designs for their exchanges' websites. The exchanges are envisioned as one-stop shops for individuals and small businesses to compare and purchase insurance policies (Baker, 7/14).