Hawai‘i Health Connector Submits Blueprint Application

Hawai‘i leading the nation in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act

News Release from Hawaii Health Connector November 14, 2012

The Hawai‘i Health Connector today announced it has submitted its “blueprint” application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) two weeks ahead of the original November 16, 2012, deadline, which has now been extended a month by the Obama administration.

As part of the regulations implementing the federal Affordable Care Act, HHS is required to complete their approval or conditional approval of state-based exchanges no later than January 1, 2013, for operation in 2014.

“Hawai‘i was the first state to declare intent to have a state-based health insurance exchange, and now we are continuing to be a leader by submitting our blueprint ahead of schedule,” said Governor Neil Abercrombie. “We are working proactively as a team to ensure that all Hawai'i residents will have access to high-quality health care and insurance coverage in a seamless, efficient, and fair system.”

“This marks another significant milestone in the establishment of the health insurance exchange in Hawaii. Across the nation, states are racing to meet this deadline. We are all working under very strict timelines. For Hawaii to have successfully completed this blueprint ahead of schedule reflects a high degree of collaboration at all levels,” stated Coral Andrews, executive director of the Hawai‘i Health Connector.

Additional information about the blueprint application process can be found at

http://cciio.cms.gov/

For more information regarding the Hawai‘i Health Connector, please visit www.HawaiiHealthConnector.com .

About the Hawai‘i Health Connector

The Hawai‘i Health Connector is the online health insurance exchange for Hawai‘i. The Connector was established as a non-profit organization in 2011 by the Hawaii State Legislature through Act 205, in order to comply with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010. The Connector’s aim is an online marketplace that is of Hawai‘i-for-Hawai‘i, one that takes into account the State’s unique culture and works with the Prepaid Health Care Act, an employer mandate for health insurance coverage in effect since 1974. For more information, visit www.hawaiihealthconnector.com.

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