HHS Releases State Exchange Blueprint

As part of the process of implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a guidance document for stakeholders.  The document, titled "Blueprint for Approval of Affordable State-based and State Partnership Insurance Exchanges," includes the application document that states will use to seek certification for their exchanges.

States have until November to file this application with HHS to receive certification of their exchange by January, 2013.  PPACA requires state exchanges to begin operation in January of 2014 or the federal government will step in to run an exchange in those states lacking a certified exchange. 

To date, 13 states have committed to operating an exchange and 35 states have received more than $800 million in grants to help establish exchanges.

Review the Blueprint.