Presenters: John McInerney , The Commonwealth Institute Jill Hanken , Virginia Poverty Law Center
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Transcript of Presenters: John McInerney , The Commonwealth Institute Jill Hanken , Virginia Poverty Law Center
Implementing the ACA in Virginia: Where things standAdvocate/Stakeholder WebinarMarch 29, 2012Sponsored by The Commonwealth Institute, The Virginia Poverty Law Center, and Virginia OrganizingPresenters:John McInerney, The Commonwealth InstituteJill Hanken, Virginia Poverty Law Center
Topics
U.S. Supreme Court – ACA argumentsExchange Basics/Implementation of the ACA in Virginia to DateWhat’s Next?
U.S. Supreme Court• 3 Days - 6 Hours of Oral
Argument!• Decision Expected by End of
JuneMarch 26 • Anti-
Injunction Act• Can ACA Tax
Penalties be challenged now?
March 27
• Minimum Coverage Provision
• Is the Individual Mandate Constitutional?
March 28Severability
• If a part of the ACA is unconstitutional, can the rest of the law still stand?
Medicaid Expansion• Is the required
expansion an unlawful abuse of the spending clause provisions of the Constitution?
What is an Exchange?
A new health insurance marketplace.
What is an Exchange?
Like …
only for health insurance.
How it works.
Individuals and small businesses can access and purchase affordable private health insurance.
Premium affordability tax credits available
Significant Medicaid Expansion
Over 500,000 additional Virginians covered through Exchange & Medicaid in Virginia
Basic requirements.Develop Exchange for individuals and small employers
Choose whether to run Exchange, and decide on governance
Certify plans & determine benefit package
Provide consumer assistance
Develop IT infrastructure and enrollment systems (or defer role to the federal government)
Seamlessly coordinate Exchange w/Medicaid & FAMIS
Run Web site with comprehensive plan info on price and quality
Implementation
2010
August • 24 member Virginia Health Reform Initiative Advisory Council named
• Members from business, insurance industry, academia, and providers
• No consumer rep
Fall• Series of meetings on six areas of
health reform:• capacity, Medicaid
expansion, insurance reform, purchaser perspectives, information technology & delivery system reform
December
• Report issued by VHRI to Governor McDonnell
Implementation
2011
$1 million planning grant from HHS
Legislation authorized VHRI to begin Exchange design
VHRI meetings spring/summer 2011
Final VHRI report publicly released in November
• Age 26 provision• No pre-existing for kids• No lifetime limits• New appeals procedures• Rescission prevention
Implementation
2012
Governor opposed to immediate action
Several bills filed, none successful
Time to create state-run Exchange growing short
Behind but not alone.41 states have introduced Exchange authorizing legislation
Map created by TCI, using data compiled by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)
Behind but not alone.Yet, only12 states and D.C. have enacted Exchange authorizing legislation
Map created by TCI, using data compiled by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)
Behind but not alone.22 states, including Virginia, have pending/tabled legislation
Map created by TCI, using data compiled by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)
What’s next.
VHRI
Essential Benefits Plans: Report Issued• Comments Due to VHRI on
April 4, 2012
Exchange Development• More meetings expected on
Exchange Planning
What’s next.
DSS Gatewa
y Project
Online customer portal for• Online applications• Customer accounts• Self-service capabilities
• Reporting changes• Renewing benefits• Checking eligibility for
other benefits
Will serve as platform for the Exchange
Testing underway
State Legislation
SB 496 (Sen. Watkins)• Only “survivor” of 2012 session• Substitute adopted on 2/13 carried over to 2013• Off session meetings are expected• Special Session after Supreme Court ruling?
State Legislation
Exchange Structure• We want independent Quasi – Governmental entity
(VHRI recommendation)• Full focus on Exchange• No real or perceived conflict with other functions• Role and input for all stakeholders
SB 496 puts Exchange in a new division of State Corporation Commission (SCC)
State Legislation
Governance• We want strong consumer representation and no
voting member with conflict of interest on governing Board
• SB 496 creates Advisory Committee• 7 members appointed by SCC• Includes “consumer representative”, “consumer
advocate”, “representative of qualified health plan”
• Recommendations require majority votes • Ultimate authority rests with Division Director and
SCC Commissioners
State Legislation
Public Access to Meetings and Information• We want public rulemaking, open meetings, freedom
of information, comprehensive website• SB 496 was amended to include all of above
Funding the Exchange• We want all insurers (in and out of Exchange) to help
pay for operations• SB 496 was amended to do this
State Legislation
Market Rules and Adverse Selection• We want protections to avoid adverse selection• We want provisions to address market instability
(VHRI recommendation)• SB 496 requires same premiums inside and outside of
the Exchange, but does not include other protections
State Legislation
Navigator Program• We want community based organizations and non-
profits to participate as Navigators without licensure• We want Navigators to assist with Medicaid/FAMIS
outreach and enrollment too• SB 496 was amended to eliminate licensure, mention
CBOs, & include education/enrollment for Medicaid/FAMIS
State Legislation
Coordination with Medicaid & FAMIS• We want Exchange to streamline access to all
programs• SB 496 amendments clarify relationships and require
Exchange to enroll eligible people in other programs
Services• SB 496 prohibits abortion coverage in Exchange plans
or optional riders except for rape, incest, life of mother
Q&A/Resources
Virginia Health Reform Initiativewww.hhr.virginia.gov/initiatives/healthreform
www.healthcare.gov
The Commonwealth Institutewww.thecommonwealthinstitute.org/health/
Thank you for attending!