•  The Iowa Department of Public Health received a federal Exchange Planning grant of $1 million in September 2010.

• In November 2011, the Department received a federal Level One Establishment grant of $7.7 million to secure additional staff, identify and begin to establish systems and program capacity, build information technology infrastructure, and initiate a business and operational plan. Iowa received a second Level One Establishment grant for $26.6 million in August 2012, which it plans to use for further development of a new eligibility system. This will include redesigning the current database to focus more on the individual; integrating exchange eligibility determination, and eligibility for other types of financial assistance, into the existing Medicaid and CHIP eligibility system; and increasing automation of the administrative functions associated with expanding to new populations through online enrollment.

• Since the state has not determined an benchmark EHB plan it will default to the largest small-group plan, Wellmark (Blue Cross Blue Shield)- Alliance Select PPO.

• Pursuing the partnership option means that Iowa may choose to be responsible for customer assistance, plan management, or both. It can also choose to determine eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP programs or default to federally selected standards.

• Prior to the decision to create a partnership exchange, Iowa established a Health Benefit Exchange Interagency Working Group which held public comment periods of consumers, providers, and other stakeholders and reported on their findings in June 2011.

• The state is now responsible for submitted a blueprint of their partnership plan to the federal government by February 15, 2013.

For More Information:

• http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hcr_committees/health_benefit_exchange.asp