Nebraska today accepted a 1 million dollar grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement the ObamaCare state exchange.

The full details of the grant can be found here:

Nebraska 

Administrator: Nebraska Department of Insurance

Amount Awarded: $1,000,000

• Develop a list of the stakeholders within the State who will provide input regarding the State’s decision about whether to operate the Exchange, on what basis to operate an Exchange, and planning and implementation of the Exchange.
• Develop a description of how an Exchange would build on and integrate with existing State and Federal programs such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
• Assess potential current and future staff levels, contracting capabilities and needs, and information technology for operation of an Exchange.
• Conduct an initial assessment of information technology systems and the need for modifications or new systems to facilitate eligibility and enrollment and other Exchange functions.

On September 30th, the state of Montana accepted a 1 million dollar grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  The grant will be used to implement the ObamaCare state exchange.

The full details of the grant are below:

Montana

Administrator: Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Securities

Amount Awarded: $1,000,000

• Conduct several public processes with Stakeholders Involvement Council including interagency work group for program integrations, information technology staff and public comment opportunities.
• Conduct a demographic scan of current population to ascertain information including insurance and socioeconomic status.
• Assess resources and capabilities such as available staff, contracting, updated software.
• Determine necessary legislation to be implemented when appropriate.

On September 30th, Missouri accepted a 1 million dollar grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement the state exchanges that are required under ObamaCare.

The full details of the grant are below:

Missouri

Administrator: Missouri Department of Insurance

Amount Awarded: $1,000,000

• Provide a planning and development infrastructure to support launching an insurance Exchange.
• Determine the organizational structure of any such Exchange.
• Explore the establishment of a regional Exchange with neighboring States.
• Compile cost estimates for providing coverage to potential populations and gather health status for such populations

On September 30th, Mississippi accepted a 1 million dollar grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement ObamaCare.

The grant money will be used - among other things - to determine if more laws and regulations in the state are needed to fully implement ObamaCare.

The details of how this money will be spent are below:

Mississippi

Administrator: Mississippi Insurance Department

Amount Awarded: $1,000,000.00              

• Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the health insurance market in Mississippi, including research to determine the number of uninsured in the State, those potentially eligible for the Exchange, those eligible for Medicaid, or those with employer coverage but not currently enrolled.
• Utilize the Mississippi Health Insurance Exchange Study Committee as key stakeholders for involvement in the planning for the design and implementation of an Exchange. Additional stakeholders will be identified and asked to participate in the Committee.
• Determine how the Exchange can work with existing State and Federal programs in order to coordinate eligibility and enrollment with Medicaid, CHIP and other programs.
• Determine governance, implementation, and operation requirements in order to decide whether to create an Exchange at the State, regional, or federal level.
• Identify funding requirements and determine resources to operate the Exchange, including fees that will be required, subsidies and tax credits that could be applied, and an accounting system for financial management and reporting.
• Assess the current technical infrastructure available and determine the required resources needed to develop a web portal and/or call center to meet the increased need for consumer education and participation.
• Determine the need for additional legislation and/or State regulations.

On September 30, Michigan accepted $999,772 from the Department of Health and Human Services in the form of a grant to implement ObamaCare.  The grant funds will be used to establish a state exchange, one of the major requirements of ObamaCare.

The full details of the grant can be found below:

Michigan

Administrator: Department of Community Health

Amount Awarded: $999,772

• Conduct the appropriate research to determine those who are potentially eligible for the Exchange and to determine how the Exchange will impact Medicaid, other public programs, and other State health plans.
• Determine how best to establish the American Health Benefits Exchange and Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP Exchange) in Michigan, considering the needs of and options available to individuals and small groups.
• Implement a plan for stakeholder involvement to determine how Michigan will implement the Exchange.
• Develop an initial plan for integration of applicable State and Federal programs and current State projects.
• Develop a plan for a governance model and structure.
• Develop an initial plan for how the Exchange will manage reporting, accounting, and auditing functions while maintaining transparency.
• Review technical components and interoperability of technology embedded in existing State systems and plan for the introduction of possible new systems necessary to properly run an Exchange.
• Review and determine the necessary State statutory and regulatory changes needed to establish the Exchange options.

On September 30, Massachusetts accepted a 1 million dollar grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement ObamaCare.

The grant will be used to establish a state exchange - one of the major requirements of ObamaCare.

The full details of the grant are below:

Massachusetts

Administrator: Division of Insurance    

Amount Awarded: $1,000,000       

• Identify current Health Connector programs, policies, and practices in need of modification given new national requirements for Exchanges.
• Identify a strategic and operational plan and implementation timeline.
• Conduct research to anticipate changes in sources of insurance coverage before and after 2014, and the size and characteristics of the population served by the State Exchange.
• Engage stakeholders in the discussion of Exchange-related issues
• Collaborate with MassHealth to identify and recommend changes to the existing information technology and operational infrastructure needed to comply with new requirements for Exchange eligibility determinations in 2014.
• Review current cash flow structure and identify changes that may be necessary under national reform.
• Review current products offered through the Connector and how they align with specifications for plan design under national reform.
• Examine statutory and regulatory actions to identify potential needed changes, such as minimum essential coverage requirements, definitions of affordability and exemptions from the individual mandate.

On September 30, Maryland accepted $999,227 in the form of a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to help implement ObamaCare.

The grant funds will be used by the state of Maryland to establish a state exchange program - one of the major burdens ObamaCare places on the states.

The specifics of the grant are below:

Maryland

Administrator: Department of Health & Mental Hygiene          

Amount Awarded: $999,227        

• Utilize the previously established Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council to outline issues pertaining to: engaging the public, gathering and analyzing public comment, conducting focused research, and developing options for consideration by the Coordinating Council.
• Create an information infrastructure plan that assesses existing information systems, identifies gaps and needs, and proposes strategies to achieve seamless eligibility and enrollment in health coverage.
• Develop an outreach and communications strategy for 2011-2014, including market research to guide the design of the Exchange
• Fund Maryland-specific studies of public and private health insurance coverage and health care expenditures to determine whether to merge the individual and small group markets and whether to provide additional protection against adverse selection, development of governance options for the successful operation of the Exchange, and development of operational plans and a sustainable business model for the Exchange.
• Assess current public sector technological capabilities, current private sector technological capabilities and technology solutions that may be available from the federal government.
• Determine whether the existing public or private sector capacity could be adapted for online public access to facilitate eligibility determination, choice of coverage, application, enrollment, the specific options for connecting an eligibility determination system with other components of the Exchange, and develop an RFP for eligibility system expansion or acquisition.

On September 30, Maine accepted a grant for 1 million dollars from the Department of Health and Human Services to implement ObamaCare.

The grant funds will be used to establish a state exchange to govern the health insurance industry.

The details of how Maine will spend this grant are below:

Maine

Administrator:  Governor’s Office of Health Policy & Finance  

Amount Awarded: $1,000,000     

• Continue and complement the current efforts of the Health Reform Steering Committee, comprised of key State officials, and the Advisory Council on Health Systems Development (ACHSD) to provide oversight and stakeholder input on issues related to implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
• Support the development of a detailed implementation plan for the Exchange.
• Create a stakeholder process to answer policy and implementation questions in the areas of program integration, business operations, and technical infrastructure.
• Evaluate and model various options for Maine’s Exchange and develop implementation plan.

On September 30, Louisiana accepted 998,416 in the form of a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement ObamaCare.

The grant funds will be used to set up a state exchange, one of the key provisions of ObamaCare.

The details of the grant are below:

Louisiana

Administrator: Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

Amount Awarded: $998,416        

• Assess governance options for the Exchange.
• Research the legal structure that will be put in place based upon the type of Exchange selected by the State.
• Analyze all rules and regulations issued by HHS relative to the Exchange and their impact on Louisiana.
• Draft any legislation and or regulations relative to the Exchange.
• Circulate drafts of legislation to stakeholders and interested parties for comments prior to the pre-filing date.
• Hold educational seminars and provide to leadership, members and staff of the  Louisiana Legislature resources for understanding federal requirements for an Exchange and Louisiana policy makers’ role in the decision making and implementation process to ensure the State’s compliance.

On September 30, Kentucky accepted a 1 million dollar grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement one of the key requirements of ObamaCare - the state exchange program.

The details of how Kentucky will spend this money to implement ObamaCare are below:

Kentucky

Administrator: Cabinet for Health and Family Service  

Amount Awarded: $1,000,000

• Create an interagency working group.
• Conduct background research and analysis on the uninsured and insured populations in Kentucky.
• Survey health insurance carriers to determine current plan designs and premium levels in the market place.
• Perform economic and actuarial modeling to project trends of newly insured’s and the impact of merging the individual and small group markets.
• Visit other States with existing Exchanges to obtain detailed information on the benefits and limitations of each Exchange.