[Webinar] Stocking the Shelves: Exchanges Work to Certify Health Plans

Wednesday, May 29th | 2:30 - 4:00 PM EDT

"Open enrollment is only months away, and health insurance exchanges are working to "stock their shelves" with health plans so that individuals and small businesses seeking coverage have options to choose from. This State Refor(u)m webinar will explore the key elements--benefit design, consumer protections, actuarial value, network adequacy, marketing requirements, accreditation, rates, and more--of certifying health plans for the exchange. 

Three states, each with a separate approach, will share their strategies:
1.    a state-based exchange that is actively negotiating with plans;
2.    a state-based exchange that is focusing on integrating the exchange into its larger vision for  quality improvement; and
3.    a federally facilitated exchange state that is actively working with the federal government to certify plans."  Register here.  [Source: NASHP]

New Report: Potential Roles for Safety Net Providers in Supporting Continuity Across Medicaid and Health Insurance Exchanges

"One challenge states face in implementing the Affordable Care Act is smoothing transitions for individuals who may churn between Medicaid and health insurance exchanges. Many people who will become eligible for coverage already interact with safety net providers. This report, and a related NASHP webinar explore potential roles safety net providers could play in bridging gaps in coverage and care between Medicaid and exchanges..."  Click here to download the report.  [Source: NASHP]

Building on a Solid Foundation for the Navigator Program

"The insurance exchanges under development in many states may be brand new, but the navigator programs that will help Americans choose plans in the exchange need not be built from scratch, writes NASHP’s Rachel Dolan in a new blog post on statereforum.org." Read entire blog entry.  [Source: StateRefor(u)m]

Webinar: Potential Roles for Safety Net Providers in Supporting Continuity across Medicaid and Health Insurance Exchanges

One challenge states face in implementing the Affordable Care Act is in providing continuity of coverage and services to individuals who may churn between Medicaid and health insurance exchanges. This webinar on August 28, 4:00-5:00 pm (EDT) will discuss potential roles safety net providers could play in smoothing those transitions, as well as the findings of a forthcoming NASHP report, Potential Roles for Safety Net Providers in Supporting Continuity across Medicaid and Health Insurance Exchanges.  Click here to register.

Implementing Insurance Exchanges: Three Pioneering States

California, Colorado, and Maryland were among the first states to enact legislation establishing the health insurance exchanges called for in the Affordable Care Act. In a new Commonwealth Fund issue brief, Mark Hall and Katharine Swartz examine the divergent paths taken by these pioneering states. 

New Report: Building a Consumer-Oriented Health Insurance Exchange

As states develop insurance exchanges, their decisions have profound implications for consumers. This new report covers three main areas where consumers intersect with the exchange:

1. Consumer participation in exchange governance, such as directly serving on governing boards;
2. Consumer input into policy and implementation decisions, and the various avenues states are using to gather this input, such as workgroups and town hall meeting participation; and
3. Early planning for the consumer-serving functions of the exchange, such as navigator programs and the web portal.

Download the report and other additional NASHP publications about Health Insurance Exchanges.

Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Board Accepting Applications

Applications are now being accepted for appointments to the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Board and are due May 23. With the passage of SB11-200, Colorado now begins work on establishing a health insurance exchange for individuals and small businesses. Click here for more information.

Colorado Health Institute Webinars!

March 25 - Publicly Funded Insurance Programs
June 8 - The Private Market: the Foundation of Health Insurance
June 22 - A Profile of your Community's Health
July 13 - The State Health Insurance Exchange

Each webinar will be held from noon-1pm. Click here to register.