Fire, Aim, Ready: Will States Make the Right Investment in HIX IT?

Health insurance exchanges (HIX) are gaining national interest and are the hot topic in today’s healthcare landscape. Federal law requires each state to have a health insurance exchange plan in place by January 1, 2013 and a functioning HIX in place by January 1, 2014 that enables individuals and small businesses to buy health coverage. The federal government will create an exchange for states that don't comply.

As a result, states are about to invest billions of dollars in IT technologies and services required to meet the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Exchange mandates. Many states will be upgrading their eligibility and enrollment system using significant federal financial participation.

Despite the fact that not all federal technical or process requirements have been nailed down – and many of the implementation guidelines have yet to be defined – states are issuing Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs). They realize they cannot afford to hold off on their Health Insurance Exchange planning, design and implementation if they indeed wish to meet the ACA deadlines...