October wrap-up for health care and social services

Deltek Analyst Kate Tussey reports.

October saw a flurry of health insurance exchange (HIX) activity among the states. West Virginia’s Offices of the Insurance Commissioner released a request for information (RFI) for HIX information technology on October 21. Responses are due by 2 p.m. EST on November 30. A $9.6 million grant awarded in June has allowed West Virginia to hire an actuary to estimate the number of consumers utilizing the exchange, and at what rates. A 10-member board will be appointed to operate the exchange and set its policies. The board will include state officials as well as stakeholders such as medical providers, insurers and consumers. Another grant is helping the state review its computer-related resources, as online services would play a major role in the exchange’s operations. The Department of Vermont Health Access released a request for proposals (RFP) for health benefits exchange planning and implementation on October 27. Proposals are due by November 30 at 3:30 p.m. EST.

Not to be confused with HIX, two states caught up with their health information exchange (HIE) procurements in October. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, in association with the New Hampshire Health Information Organization (NHHIO), released an RFP for an HIE partner technical services vendor on October 21.

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