The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Wednesday awarded Colorado another $17.9 million to firmly establish the insurance exchange at the heart of national health reform.
The second round of insurance exchange grants will allow the state board to hire more staff and contract with all-important tech and benefits vendors to shape the online guts of the plan.
Under the national health reform act signed in 2010, individuals and small businesses are to start buying health plans through the exchanges in late 2013 to take effect Jan. 1, 2014. Federal subsidies depending on income level could extend insurance to millions more Americans.
“We’re delighted to receive the grant and look forward to working with key stakeholders to make sure the exchange is something that makes a lot of sense for Colorado,” said Patty Fontneau, chief executive of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange.
Most people will access the exchange through a web site. Those without computer access or who want personal help will have a phone bank and other outlets.
The exchange will not be connected to the long-troubled Colorado Benefits Management System, which handles food assistance and Medicaid.
Similar efforts in dozens of states are moving forward under the cloud of a U.S. Supreme Court review of the basic questions of health reform. Arguments are scheduled for late March.
“We’re very confident the Supreme Court will uphold the provisions of the Affordable Care Act,” said HHS deputy Steve Larsen, in announcing the grants.
The Colorado board will decide in coming months issues including what constitutes a “small group,” whether it should be more than 50 employees or more than 100. They also must decide whether to put those small groups in the same “risk pool” as individuals, which could benefit some but raise potential prices for others.
Michael Booth: 303-954-1686 or mbooth@denverpost.com
