Oral

State-based health insurance exchanges are a key component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the place where more than 20+ million individuals and workers of small employers will be able to obtain affordable health coverage through Health Insurance Exchanges as of January, 2014. Exchanges are marketplaces that will help individuals and small businesses shop for coverage based on price, benefits, and quality. As of February, 2013, 17 states and the District of Columbia have declared that they will create their own state-based exchanges, 7 other states have opted to establish a state-federal partnership exchange, and 26 others have declined to operate a state exchange, and will either default to a federally-run exchange or pursue a partnership exchange. States have significant flexibility to design many features of exchanges, including: - Governance structure, including the selection of Exchange board members - the design of Essential Benefits packages - the selection of health insurance plans that will be offered on the exchanges - standards for plan provider networks, including how essential community providers will be included - consumer assistance programs - outreach and education to consumers, including the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate services - funding of Navigator programs - coordination with state Medicaid programs to minimize disruption as individuals shift between eligibility for Medicaid and exchange plans. These decisions will have an important impact on safety net providers, community-based organizations, state and local public health departments, and the people they serve. This session will discuss major responsibilities of exchanges and the ways in which public health professionals can engage with the development and operation of Exchanges in the states, regardless of whether the Exchanges are run at the State or Federal level.

Session Objectives: Identify how the decisions made by the State Health Insurance Exchange can impact safety net providers, community-based organizations, state and local public health departments, and the people they serve. List the ways public health professionals can participate in affecting the quality, and outcomes, of the Health Insurance Exchange.