Rebecca Pearce, Executive Director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, speaks about her state’s efforts to create a health care exchange. (Tom Meyer/ Medill)
WASHINGTON – Maryland and Minnesota state officials said Tuesday that their states are making progress in carrying out new health care exchanges. The report from the states came less than a year before most provisions of the new health care law take effect.
Officials involved in the Maryland and Minnesota efforts said they still face challenges but are moving ahead in setting up the exchanges.
In the exchanges, health care providers will compete to provide coverage for families and small businesses. In some cases, the insurance may be subsidized by expanded Medicaid eligibility.
Beginning in 2014, states are required under the law to either set up their own exchange or allow the federal government to create one for the state’s residents
“We view it as very important that we have a state-based exchanges so that people only have to go to one place to get help, as opposed to going to the federal government first, then to state offices,” Minnesota Exchange Director April Todd-Malmlov said.
Todd-Malmlov said as Minnesota prepares to open its exchange in October, her state will begin this spring to inform the public about eligibility for the exchange.
“We were the first state to release an educational video to show the public what that exchange is,” Todd-Malmlov said. “Most states are planning to start their marketing campaigns by the end of the quarter, around March.”
