HHS Awards New Round of Exchange Grants - Aug. 28, 2012

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced on Aug. 23 the following recipients of grants to support the establishment of affordable health insurance exchanges: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Nevada, New York and Vermont. California, Hawaii, Iowa and New York were awarded a level one exchange establishment grant, which provides 1 year of support to states in the early stages of exchange establishment. Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada and Vermont are further along in their exchange establishment and were awarded a level two grant, which offers multiple-year funding. Including these awardees, 34 states, the District of Columbia and four territories have been awarded grants to support their exchange establishment. Provisions in the Affordable Care Act require states to establish affordable health insurance exchanges by 2014 to provide consumers and small businesses access to quality, private health insurance options that best fit their needs. “We continue to support states as they move forward building an Exchange that works for them,” Sebelius said. “Thanks to the health care law, Americans will have more health insurance choices and the ability to compare insurance plans.”

In additional health exchange news, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a series of regional stakeholder conference calls to provide updates on exchange implementation and discuss expanding insurance coverage options. More information and registration information can be found in the CMS notice.