League Of Women Voters Of Illinois-Health Insurance Exchange-Exchanges

Health Insurance Exchange Update: Thursday, June 7

In today's health insurance exchange news, we see that many of the struggles that come with creating the exchanges are what should be covered and how the states are going to create the right platform for their exchanges.
In Illinois, a few organizations are banding together to encourage Governor Pat Quinn to give executive orders to begin the creation of the health insurance exchange. The organizations include Illinois State AFL-CIO, League of Women Voters of Illinois and Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce and others according to the Journal Star. These organizations believe that the only way for the state to get its own exchange is to start the process now so they won't be forced to use the federal exchange in 2014.
Washington University in Saint Louis believes that pricing in counties for the exchanges where there is no competition could be inflated.  They believe that policy makers need to monitor the counties where few insurances are competing to ensure the best price for their residents, the reason the health insurance exchanges were created.
What is required to be covered in the healthcare insurance exchanges is still up in the air. Health and Human Services has tasked three insurance companies with reporting data including covered benefits, treatment limitations, a list of covered drugs, along with information on whether each drug is subject to prior authorization and/or step therapy and plan enrollment data for their highest-enrollment plans in addition to bench mark plans and administrative data.  Information Week also notes that the HHS has also named National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and URAC as accreditors to make sure the exchanges meet government standards.
This November, the Health Insurance Exchange Congress will be held November 13-14, 2012 in Chicago, IL.  Here, state officials and health plans with the only opportunity to come together to discuss PPACA and strategize on how to make this a successful opportunity for all.  As a reader of this blog, when you register to join us and mention code XP1710BLOG, you'll receive 15% off the standard rate! read more..