healthinsurance.org news digest » State News

Idaho governor at odds with voters over health insurance exchange

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:41:07 +0000

Healthcare Finance News – An AARP survey shows that Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter is now at odds with most Idaho voters ages 30-64, who want the state – not the federal government – to develop and administer a health insurance exchange with a strong state consumer voice.

Battle over how health insurance is sold in Minnesota begins

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:57:37 +0000

StarTribune – Two DFL legislators on Monday fired the first salvo in the partisan war to shape how upwards of 1 million Minnesotans buy health insurance by 2014.

Plans for state-run health exchange in Ark. ended

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:40:28 +0000

CBS News – Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford says he’ll stop working toward state control of an Arkansas state health insurance exchange. Exchange plans had been opposed by Republicans in the Arkansas legislature.

Democrats Blast LePage Over Health Care Funds

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:20:53 +0000

MPBN – Governor Paul LePage is catching flack from Maine Democrats for accepting federal funds to plan a state health insurance exchange while at the same time pursuing a lawsuit in attempt to block the federal health reform law.

Fight likely after Idaho gets $20M from feds

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:19:39 +0000

Bloomberg Businessweek – The state has received a $20.4 million planning grant to set up a federally required health insurance exchange, but the Legislature has yet to decide whether to keep the funds.

Governor sends health insurance exchange report to General Assembly

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:00:59 +0000

Richmond Times-Dispatch – It’s clear that Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell opposes last year’s federal health reform law. What remains unclear is whether he supports creation of a state-run health insurance exchange.

Health Insurance Exchange Study Commission Presents Report to Governor Bentley

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:59:53 +0000

State of Alabama – Alabama’s Health Insurance Exchange Study Commission has submitted a report and recommendations for the state exchange, including a name for the exchange, and a recommendation that the exchange use a “free-market facilitator model.”

Branstad accepts $7 million grant to prepare for health reforms he opposes

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:58:24 +0000

DesMoinesRegister.com – Gov. Terry Branstad is opposed to a federal overhaul of health care, but he has agreed to take $7 million in federal grants to prepare for the possibility of an Iowa state health insurance exchange.

State setting up health insurance exchange

admin — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:26:14 +0000

The Morning Call – Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration says it’s moving ahead with plans to establish a state-run health insurance exchange. At least 2 million residents are expected to use it.

State cautiously considers health insurance exchange

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:00:46 +0000

Wyoming Tribune Eagle – The state is moving toward establishment of a state-run health insurance exchange and is expected to seek federal funding in December to continue its study of the feasibility of establishing a state-run exchange.

Committee still undecided on health care exchange

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:24:13 +0000

Tulsa World – An informal poll of a state committee examining state health insurance exchange options has found that a majority favor a state exchange of some sort.

Passage of health insurance exchange bill this year looks unlikely

admin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:13:53 +0000

Crain’s Detroit Business – On Nov. 10, the Michigan Senate passed legislation that would create a statewide health insurance exchange, but that may be as far as the legislation moves in 2011.

Tennessee pushes ahead with mandated health-insurance exchange

admin — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 07:00:07 +0000

The Commercial Appeal – Despite court challenges to the federal health reform law, the state of Tennessee will continue to prepare for a state health insurance exchange.

SC’s top health official recommends state forgo state-run health insurance exchange

admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:58:33 +0000

Spartanburg Herald-Journal – The state’s top health official has recommended that South Carolina not pursue a state-run health insurance exchange.

Study: CT employers cool to health exchange

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:07:01 +0000

Hartford Business Journal – Only 3 percent of Connecticut companies say they’ll drop their employer sponsored health benefits once Connecticut’s state health insurance exchange becomes operational in 2014.

State health care committee remains undecided on exchange

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:42:04 +0000

Tulsa World – The panel charged with studying the Affordable Care Act adjourned Tuesday without making a decision about Oklahoma’s own state health insurance exchange.

South Carolina’s waiting game on health insurance exchange

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:21:46 +0000

Kaiser Health News – South Carolina’s top health official will recommend that the state allow the federal government to build the state’s health insurance exchange. His recommendation will go to Gov. Nikki Haley this week.

North Dakota set to open first state health care exchange, Minnesota moving forward

admin — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:54:08 +0000

North Dakota is on its way to becoming the first state in the country to have an operating health insurance exchange, which is required under the Affordable Care Act.

New York’s Health Care Exchange At A Crossroads

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:38:04 +0000

insurancenewsnet.com – State agencies in New York are moving steadily forward with planning to get a state health insurance exchange operational by 2014.

Minnesota GOP Wrestles With Health Exchange Questions

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:12:51 +0000

gantdaily.com – Minnesota Republicans are in a tough spot.

On one hand, they don’t want to do anything to show support for the federal health care overhaul that they call “Obamacare.” On the other hand, the concept of an exchange — an online marketplace where consumers will be able to comparison shop for health insurance — is an idea they’ve embraced in the past. Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposed one for Minnesota long before Congress passed the federal health care law in March 2010.

Key week for Illinois health insurance exchange bill

admin — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:53:50 +0000

Lake County News-Sun – Disagreements about how to operate a state health insurance exchange in Illinois threaten efforts to get the exchange up and running in time for a federal deadline.

Advisory Committee Will Provide Consumer Perspective for Exchange

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:21:20 +0000

The Lund Report – Oregon’s Individual and Employer Consumer Advisory Committee hopes Oregonians will see it’s not a typical government program and end up believing, “it works.”

Health insurance exchange bill moves forward

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:06:09 +0000

Crain’s Chicago Business – A member of the Illinois legislature has introduced a bill that would establish a statewide health insurance exchange.

Dayton’s health care panels will tackle costs, insurance exchange

admin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:23:42 +0000

Politics In Minnesota – Gov. Mark Dayton has issued an executive order to develop Minnesota’s state health insurance exchange – a move likely to draw the ire of Republicans at the Capitol.

Bismarck Tribune editorial: Opt for state plan, but hold out

admin — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 07:00:26 +0000

The Bismarck Tribune – The editorial board says the state would be better off operating its own state health insurance exchange, since the state will be required to pay for the exchanges after 2015.

States all over the map in setting up health insurance exchanges; Kentucky officials say they await more federal guidance

Editor — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:03:57 +0000

Kentucky Health News – To date, Kentucky has not taken any action to set up its state health insurance exchange with one state official explaining, “We’re still awaiting federal guidance.”

Insurance exchange could ease health care cost for small businesses

admin — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:13:53 +0000

Atlanta Journal-Constitution – Relief for small businesses could be on the way through an insurance exchange intended to save money for employers and give employees improved health plan options.

Arizona urged to create health insurance exchange

Editor — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:22:08 +0000

Arizona Daily Star – Arizona is one of 35 states that haven’t passed legislation to create a state health insurance exchange, and social service advocacy groups are turning up the heat.

Kansas moves forward with health exchange

Editor — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:06:43 +0000

KHi News Service – A Kansas work group that has been meeting regularly since January discussed today major details of how a state-run health insurance exchange would be governed and operate, despite predictions that the federal government will end up running the exchange.

Advocates protest insurance exchange board

admin — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 02:27:27 +0000

Connecticut Post – Twenty-five people protested on October 20 that three of the members of the Insurance Exchange Board have a conflict of interest because they are employed by an insurer or health care provider.