Implementation news: Health clinics prepare for jump in demand; States face 'rough job' in building health exchanges

Across the health care delivery system, providers are preparing for the increased demand for services that the health law will create. Health clinics will likely play an important role.  

Marketplace:  Health Clinics Brace For 'Pent-Up Demand'
Republicans in the House of Representatives voted again last week to repeal President Obama's health care law. But since President Obama has no intention of signing the repeal, health care providers still have to operate under the assumption that the Affordable Care Act will go into full effect. In Northern Arizona, that's playing out at community health centers, which are anticipating a jump in demand (Morales, 7/16).

Meanwhile, some states press forward in efforts to develop health exchanges --

CQ Healthbeat:  On Exchanges:  It's A Rough Job Ahead To Build Them, But Some States Likely To Get It Done
What are the key developments to watch for as state and federal officials scramble in the coming weeks and months to create the new insurance marketplaces required under the health care law?  The most obvious one will arrive in November, when the outcome of the elections could lead to the repeal of the health law if Republicans add control of the White House and Senate to that of the House.  But federal officials, along with many of their counterparts in state government, won't be cooling their heels until then waiting for the ballots to be cast. After all, they've only got 14 months from now to get exchanges ready before when the open enrollment period begins on Oct. 1, 2013, and the first customers can start signing up for health coverage that will begin in 2014 (Reichard, 7/13).