Tavenner outlines specifics on health exchanges, other health law issues

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services chief Marilyn Tavenner discussed health exchanges, among other things, with Georgia Health News. Other news outlets detailed the exchange developments in Minnesota and Colorado.

Georgia Health News: Answers About Expansion And Exchanges, From The Head Of CMS
Tavenner came to Atlanta on Wednesday and spoke to a conference sponsored by the Georgia Chamber. She also met with GHN for an exclusive interview, ... Q: Will the exchanges provide a competitive market for insurance? A: Here's my honest opinion about that. Today, Atlanta is a classic example – Atlanta will remain competitive. We will have good premiums, and we will have the additional protections of the Affordable Care Act – no pre-existing conditions [that can bar coverage], no lifetime limits. It will have a better product at a competitive price. There are some marketplaces that are not competitive. In my opinion, this project may take two, three, four years to change a non-competitive market into a competitive market (Miller, 6/19).

MinnPost: Minnesota Health Exchange, As Expected, Encounters A Few 'Hiccups'
State lawmakers and officials have already run into "hiccups" this summer implementing MNsure, the health insurance exchange crafted by the Legislature this year. While such bumps in the road have been numerous -; and even expected -; since the exchange's tumultuous beginnings, those working on the ambitious project say they are excited to move forward with the biggest health insurance reform in Minnesota in decades (Nord, 6/25).

PBS NewsHour: Colorado Struggles To Educate, Enroll Residents In New Health Insurance Exchange
Colorado is in the midst of preparing to roll out a new way for residents to get health coverage using an insurance exchange. ... The new insurance marketplace, called Connect for Health Colorado, starts enrolling individuals and small businesses on Oct. 1. ... State internal polling found only 10 percent of Coloradans know about the new marketplace. National surveys mirror similar findings. So health officials all across the country are scrambling for private and federal grants to help get people educated and enrolled (Bowser, 6/25).