NEW HAMPSHIRE: The legislature convened

NEW HAMPSHIRE: The legislature convened on January 5, 2011, and is scheduled to adjourn on June 30, 2011. Governor John Lynch will continue as the state Executive; however, Republicans have gained control of both chambers in the legislature. In addition to the state's budget deficit, implementation of federal health care reform will continue to be a priority for the governor and the legislature. Given the Republican majority and anticipated revenue shortfalls, there will be limited, if any, activity on health insurance issues. The legislature will, however, be paying close attention to federal health reform implementation issues and activities. In addition, there have been discussions about eliminating certain state mandates if they are not included in the essential benefits required under the PPACA. In 2010, the state enacted legislation granting certain powers to the commissioner with respect to implementation of PPACA.  This legislation also created a legislative oversight committee, to which the Department of Insurance (DOI) must report monthly. This month the DOI submitted a request for a waiver of the 80 percent minimum loss ratio (MLR) requirement for individual health insurance market policies until 2014.
NEW YORK: In a new report, the United Hospital Fund (UHF) looks at how New York might set up health insurance exchanges. One option is to let HHS run the state's exchange, While that could save money, it would also mean ceding key operational and regulatory issues to the feds. It might also jeopardize existing consumer protections in Medicaid that are unique to New York. If the state sets up its own exchange, it must decide whether to join a multi-state exchange, a statewide entity, or small local ones. UHF noted that New York might consider following the leads of Massachusetts and California by creating an independent public authority to run an exchange. Former Governor David Paterson created a 35-member Exchange Committee that met only twice and did not make any recommendations. Governor Andrew Cuomo has not indicated his plans for establishing an insurance exchange in New York.