States given more time for exchange planning

The Obama administration announced this week that states will be given more time to comply with ACA requirements for setting up state-run insurance exchanges or to plan for regulating plans in a federally run exchange (Source: "States Will Be Given Extra Time to Set Up Health Insurance Exchanges," New York Times, Jan. 15, 2013).

Although the law calls for the secretary of health and human services to have determined whether states were prepared to operate an exchange "on or before Jan. 1, 2013," Sec. Kathleen Sebelius announced this week that she would waive or extend the deadline for states still working to create their own exchange or making plans to regulate insurance sold through a federal exchange.

In November, Gov. John Kasich announced that Ohio will retain its responsibilities to regulate insurance plans in a health insurance exchange and set Medicaid eligibility, but would cede all other administrative responsibilities for the exchanges to the federal government.