Last week, HHS announced a new initiative that will provide competitive funding opportunities for states to design and initiate IT infrastructures that will be necessary for the operation of Health Insurance Exchanges. Because these Exchanges will need to be designed to present a large number of individuals and small businesses with affordable health care options by 2014, new and advanced IT systems will be necessary well before then.
Exchanges, as we know, will provide a form of one-stop shopping for individuals and small businesses, with interested parties being able to examine, select, and enroll in one of many available plans offered at competitive, affordable prices. However, while many are focused and debating the policy aspect of this initiative, what gets lost is the IT infrastructure that will need to be constructed in order to make this (or any) end goal possible. The infrastructure will need to be well thought out and be based on several best practice examples (especially in the areas of simplicity and approachablity) in order to allow the Exchanges to operate like other similar consumer industry sites.
To assist with this aspect, states can apply, through HHS, for “Early Innovator Grants.” The grants will provide states with the capital to get a head start on building these necessary infrastructure models. States are to be chosen based on their current efforts toward consumer-friendly IT infrastructure, as well as their leadership in cost-effective solutions.
The first round of winners will be announced before February 15th, 2011, and will be followed by additional award announcements which all states – including those that already received funding – will be eligible to receive.
The first round of winners will be announced before February 15th, 2011, and will be followed by additional award announcements which all states – including those that already received funding – will be eligible to receive.
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Pam Argeris is a thought leader in the Healthcare Industry and possesses extensive, hands-on experience with CMS compliance, and multiple regulatory bodies such as NCQA, JACHO, and DOI. In her role at Merrill Corp., Pam focuses on developing solutions for compliance and quality assurance, delivered in a cost effective manner to improve beneficiary and prospect communications. You can contact Pam at Pamela.Argeris@merrillcorp.com.
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