Tagged: health reform

The new online health insurance marketplace going into effect next year in Kansas as part of the Affordable Care Act will be operated by federal, not state, officials.

That is because Gov. Sam Brownback refused to have any role in implementing what he calls "Obamacare."

Last Friday was the final deadline for states to notify federal officials of their interest in creating a federal-state partnership model for the new health insurance exchange. The deadline came and went with no action by Gov. Brownback.

The Kansas Insurance Department says a Blue Cross plan should set the standard for essential health benefits for all individual and small group health plans sold on the coming exchange in Kansas.

Friday is your last chance to post comments online for federal health officials to consider in their decision on privatization of the Kansas Medicaid program.

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger says the state needs to decide soon what health benefits it would offer under federal health care reform.

During a meeting with health care officials Wednesday, Praeger said if Kansas doesn’t pick its own plan for a health insurance exchange, the federal government will make the decision for the state.

Under the federal Affordable Care Act, states have until September 30th to decide what benefits will be included in a health insurance exchange.