While many of us have been actively monitoring the status of state Exchange legislation, state efforts to bring other state laws in line with the ACA have gone relatively unnoticed. We took a look at the resources posted to the State Refor(u)m milestone, “Enact legislation necessary to bring the state into compliance with federal law,” and found that many states have already passed commercial health insurance reforms. read more

HHS recently awarded the first batch of Exchange establishment grants to Indiana, Rhode Island and Washington. The grant funds, larger than the initial forty-nine planning grants, and ranging from five million to twenty-two million dollars per state so far, are targeted to help states build Exchanges. The grant application requires states to address eleven core areas identified by HHS in which states are expected to carry out activities. read more

As states confront budget pressures and prepare for Medicaid expansions in 2014, Medicaid managed care is again a hot topic.  Last week, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) convened to discuss this issue. As of 2009, more than 71 percent of Medicaid beneficiaries nationwide were enrolled in managed care. read more

Did you get your tax return postmarked by midnight on April 18?  Up to 4 million small businesses in the U.S. were eligible for a new health insurance tax credit this year, as part of the ACA. The credit, which took effect in 2010, tries to encourage small businesses to start or continue offering health insurance to low- and moderate-wage workers. read more

Will Medicaid play a starring role in the state health insurance Exchanges? Or will it be a supporting actor or even an “extra”? These questions seem to be coming up a lot lately. read more