Issue Briefs | Jul 12, 2012

Managing State-Level ACA Implementation Through Interagency Collaboration

Shelly Ten Napel, MSW, MPP, Kyla Hoskins, MPH, Enrique MartinezVidal, MPP and Heather Howard, J.D

“Managing State-Level ACA Implementation Through Interagency Collaboration” was developed by Shelly Ten Napel and the State Network team to describe the early lessons learned from state officials and technical experts related to the leadership and coordination strategies needed to successfully implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA) at the state level. The brief:

– Discusses the value of leadership and a clear vision;
– Outlines specific interagency collaboration strategies being used by states, from low-tech solutions, such as regular meetings and clear delineation of roles and responsibilities, to higher-tech tools including document-sharing and project management software;
– Provides concrete examples of work plans and formal memorandums of understanding (MOUs); and
– Explores issues raised by:

– the need to procure and develop new information technology (IT) systems;
– the imperative to consult with various stakeholders; and,
– the unique challenges related to Health Benefit Exchanges (Exchanges), which may or may not be a formal part of state government.

The brief is designed to provide practical insights and tools for states. For states in which planning is already well underway, it provides suggestions on ways to get beyond existing challenges and barriers. It can be used to check current task lists to ensure that all important topics are being contemplated. For states in which planning is just getting started, it can serve as a comprehensive primer. You will find the following tools:

– Model high-level Exchange timeline
– Milestones for ACA implementation
– Exchange work plan template
– Division of Insurance work plan template
– Division of Insurance self-audit timeline
– Medicaid work plan template
– Checklist of areas where Exchanges will need MOUs with Medicaid programs and Divisions of Insurance

 


Expert Perspectives

January 20, 2021

Ensuring Equity: State Strategies for Monitoring COVID-19 Vaccination Rates by Race and Other Priority Populations

The rollout of vaccines designed to end the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has begun in earnest across the United States. Currently, each state is responsible for determining how to allocate, distribute, track, and report its vaccine allotment from the federal government, although the federal government is expected to take on a larger role under a new Biden administration. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color have been disproportionately impacted by both higher risks of infection and poorer health outcomes, and many are concerned that an inequitable or inefficient distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine may further widen health inequities among these populations. One way to help ensure the equitable administration of COVID-19 vaccine is to track vaccine administration disaggregated for key subpopulations, such as gender, race and ethnicity, and geography (e.g., urban vs. rural). This expert perspective reviews the data states are currently publicly reporting related to vaccine administration and provides an interactive map that explores the extent to which all 50 states are reporting vaccine administration data breakdowns by age, gender, race, ethnicity, provider type, and level of geography. The expert perspective also discusses what current data sources states are using to provide this information and provides an overview of options states can consider to collect information about the administration of COVID-19 vaccine in populations via survey data.

January 19, 2021

2022 Notice of Benefit & Payment Parameters: Implications for States

On November 25, 2020, the U.S. Departments of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Treasury released the proposed 2022 “Notice of Benefit & Payment Parameters” (NBPP), the annual rule governing core provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the operation of the marketplaces, standards for insurers, and the risk adjustment program. This expert perspective focuses on several provisions that have implications for state oversight of insurance markets and the state-based marketplaces. Comments on the proposed rule are due by December 30, 2020.