States busy implementing local, federal health reforms

Vermont may for the short term allow small businesses to offer low-premium, "bronze" insurance plans. In other news, a N.J. legislative committee approved a bill to establish a state health insurance exchange, and a California plan to move 875,000 children to Medicaid raises concerns.

CBS/Associated Press: Vt. Would Allow 'Bronze Plan' To Encourage Health
Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and legislative leaders said Monday they wanted to make it possible for more of the state's small businesses to offer lower premium health insurance plans sometimes known as "bronze plans" until the state can implement its single payer health care system. Speaking Monday in Montpelier, Shumlin and leaders from the House and Senate, all Democrats, said they would also allow businesses with more than 50 employees to remain outside the federally-mandated health care exchange until 2016 (2/6).

MSNBC: Assembly Panel Moves Forward With Key Component Of Health Care Reform
[New Jersey] lawmakers took a step toward implementing a major component of President Barack Obama's health care reform law Monday as an Assembly panel moved legislation to establish a New Jersey health insurance exchange. The Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee, which is chaired by Burlington County Assemblyman Herb Conaway, D-7th of Delanco, voted 8-2 with one abstention to approve the measure, which would establish the exchange, described as a user-friendly, one-stop online marketplace where individuals and small businesses can buy approved health insurance plans (Levinsky, 2/6).

California Healthline: New Report Offers Healthy Families Alternatives
The state wants to shift 875,000 children in the Healthy Families program into Medi-Cal over a nine-month period, beginning in October. The state estimates the move will save $156 million over the next two fiscal years. But according to a soon-to-be-released study, that plan could limit access to care for California's children, and the state might be better served to move more slowly (Gorn, 2/6).