Maryland- House & Senate Approve Health Exchange Bill

A new health insurance marketplace for Maryland residents and businesses and individuals received initial approval from both the Maryland House and Senate on Monday.

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In a statement, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown described the legislation as “one of the most critical components of our efforts to reduce costs, expand access and improve the quality of care for Maryland families.”

Both the Senate and House approved exchange bills (SB 238/HB 443); once each bill crosses over and is approved by the opposite chamber, the legislation can be sent to Gov. Martin O’Malley for the final OK.

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2012/03/27/maryland-house-senate-approve-health.html

Hat Tip: Washington Business Journal

Maryland- Senate Committee Approves Health Exchange Bill

A new state health insurance exchange for Maryland residents is one step closer to being final after the Senate Finance Committee approved an exchange bill Wednesday evening.

The House Health and Government Operations Committee approved plans March 20 for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange March 20. The measure is expected to reach the Senate and House floors in the coming days.


http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2012/03/21/maryland-senate-committee-approves.html
Hat Tip: Baltimore Business Journal

National- Many States Take a Wait-and-See Approach on New Insurance Exchanges

States are lagging in the creation of health insurance exchanges, the supermarkets where millions of consumers are supposed to buy subsidized private coverage under President Obama’s health care overhaul.

Many states are waiting for a Supreme Court decision or even the November election results, to see whether central elements of the new law might be overturned or repealed. But that will be too late to start work. By Jan. 1, 2013, the Obama administration will decide whether each state is ready to run its own exchange or whether the federal government should do the job instead.

Republican governors and state legislators across the country are split. Some want to set up rudimentary exchanges with limited features — as a defensive tactical maneuver — rather than cede control to Washington. More-conservative Republicans do not want to do anything at all.

After a great deal of bickering and bargaining, the insurance exchanges emerged as a centerpiece of the 2010 health care law, crucial to achieving Mr. Obama’s promise of affordable coverage for all Americans.

The issue was a major topic of discussion over the weekend at the winter meeting of the National Governors Association here, and it is expected to come up Monday when governors meet with Mr. Obama at the White House.


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/health/policy/a-wait-and-see-approach-for-states-on-insurance-exchanges.html?_r=1
Hat tip: The New York Times

Kaiser Health News: Officials Debate Whether, How To Set Up Health Exchanges

Lawmakers in Maryland, Nebraska and Kansas consider bills to advance or block the marketplaces. California officials wrestle with the nitty gritty of implementation.

Post contains links to articles on each state.


http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2012/February/22/state-implementation.aspx
Hat tip: Kaiser Health News

Opinion- Maryland: Health Exchanges Will Benefit Maryland Families

It's no wonder Maryland families are so hard pressed to find good, affordable health insurance — premiums have outpaced earnings, and the field of insurance options is confusing. Even if a family is fortunate enough to have coverage, it's hard to know if what you're paying for is going to be there for you when you need it. That's why our Health Care for All Coalition is so excited about Gov.Martin O'Malley's health care bill (SB 238). By setting up a competitive insurance marketplace for private health insurance, also known as an exchange, this bill will give Marylanders more choice, more control and more peace of mind about their health care.

In Maryland, the average premium for family coverage in an HMO went up 42 percent in just six years, from $9,573 in 2004 to $13,613 in 2010. At the same time, the median family income declined 2 percent (adjusted for inflation). As a result of this disparity, 14.5 percent of non-elderly Marylanders, or 720,000 people, are uninsured. Given the recent economic turmoil, this would have been even worse but for the expansion of health care coverage in recent years to more than 300,000 Marylanders, funded in large part by a lifesaving increase in the state tobacco tax.

Fortunately, the federal health care law known as the Affordable Care Act has created a tremendous opportunity for states to make health care more affordable by creating exchanges that are better marketplaces for private health insurance. The O'Malley administration's bill takes advantage of this opportunity and leads the country in implementing a stronger, redesigned health care system.


http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-health-exchange-20120215,0,731307.story
Hat tip: Baltimore Sun

Maryland- Health Exchange Council: Brokers Should Market Small-Group Plans

A group tasked with implementing federal health reform in Maryland is recommending that insurance agents and brokers continue to sell small-group health insurance when health exchanges begin operating in the state.

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The recommendations, contained in a reported required by the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Act, which passed in 2011 and authorized creation of the state’s health exchange, include policy recommendations, including how the exchange should contract with insurance plans; how the exchange should offer insurance to small businesses and their employees; how the navigator program should work; how to set rules to assure a broad pool of risk; how to finance the exchange; and how to educate and inform the public about new opportunities for health insurance.


http://ifawebnews.com/2012/01/06/md-health-exchange-council-brokers-should-market-small-group-plans/
Hat tip: Insurance and Financial Advisor