Nebraska and Ohio are both considering measures that would set up health insurance exchanges in their states. Both measures are expected to face stiff opposition from Republican lawmakers that oppose federal health care reform. However, both Governor Heineman and Governor Kasich are expected to at least consider the measures to avoid, ‘federal takeover’ as implementation [...]
Continuing resolutions are a key part of the federal budget process. They allow for the government to continue to meet its obligations on a temporary basis when congress fails to pass a full budget measure. However, when the federal government relies solely on temporary budget measures as it has for quite awhile, programs without automatic [...]
An announcement earlier this month that the federal government will not establish a national health benefits standard to go along with requirements in the new health care reform law is already impacting some state insurance exchanges. Oregon exchange director Howard “Rocky” King, called the decision “a grenade.” The Obama administration is giving states broad latitude [...]
Pennsylvania is taking a more aggressive role in the price its residents will pay for their health care coverage. Governor Tom Corbett will be signing a bill that gives state regulators the authority to deny rate increases on health insurance for small business policies if they are deemed to be excessive.
Virginia is stalling out on its health insurance exchange plans. Governor Bob McDonnell’s administration has indicated that it will not push lawmakers to create a state-run health insurance exchange during the 2012 session. Despite that, some legislators are working on a placeholder measure that would ensure that the state maintains control of its exchange.
11 insurers in New York have been ordered to refund overcharges on their insurance premiums. State officials ordered insurers to refund $114.5 million in overpaid premiums to almost 600,000 New Yorkers. According to the order, insurers failed to spend the minimum amount of each premium dollar on providing health care to policy holders.
Six clinics in Montana will be the subject of a new, federal coordinated care pilot. The clinics are located in Helena, Missoula, Bozeman, Livingston, Great Falls and Libby and will get extra money for every Medicare patient they see. The money will go to create coordinated care programs for these patients.
California plans to start cutting Medi-Cal payments. The state sought federal permission to reduce the amount of money it gives out to cover health care for the state’s low income residents. Under the terms of the plan the state will make a 10% cut in the amount of reimbursements it pays out, a move which [...]
Rhode Island is applying for a second round of funding to further work on the state Health Benefit Exchange. The application asks for $74.5 million in additional funds for the exchange. Rhode Island is one of several states working to comply with new requirements outlined in federal health care reform legislation. The state expects that [...]
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is asking the federal government for money to build her state’s health insurance exchange while simultaneously challenging the law. Arizona was one of the first states to get involved with the challenge to federal health care reform legislation, a fight which continues, the state is also seeking an exemption from health [...]
