Affordable Care Act will help Colorado plan for state-based health insurance exchanges
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today awarded nearly $1 million to Colorado to help plan for the establishment of health insurance exchanges. A key part of the Affordable Care Act, health insurance exchanges will be a new, competitive, consumer-centered private health insurance marketplace. The exchanges will put greater control and greater choice in the hands of individuals and small businesses.
“Health insurance exchanges are a first step in transparency and lower costs,” Gov. Bill Ritter said. “These exchanges will allow consumers and small businesses to have the same purchasing power as big employers, and get a fairer deal when it comes to their health care. Although state exchanges are not required to be operational until 2014, this planning grant begins the path forward. Exchanges will take what is now a very complicated and confusing process and turn it into a simple, easy-to-navigate experience that benefits consumers, not insurance companies.”
The state-based exchanges will make purchasing health insurance easier by providing eligible consumers and businesses with one-stop-shopping where they can compare and purchase health insurance coverage.
This grant of nearly $1 million will give Colorado the resources to conduct the research and planning needed to build a better health insurance marketplace and determine how their exchanges will be operated and governed, including:
· Assessing current information technology systems and infrastructure and determining new requirements.
· Developing partnerships with community organizations to gain public input into the exchange planning process.
· Hiring key staff and determining ongoing staffing needs.
· Planning the coordination of eligibility and enrollment systems across Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the exchanges.
· Developing performance metrics, milestones and ongoing evaluation.
In April, the Governor created a Health Reform Implementation Board and a director of Health Reform Implementation. The board and director are convening exchange forums in partnership with two state level health advocacy organizations, The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative and the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved. The goal of these forums is to identify what is important to Colorado businesses and consumers in creating these exchanges.
