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HBX EXECUTIVE BOARD OFF TO FAST START
The HBX Executive Board has moved quickly in the past month to begin their work to develop and implement the District’s Health Benefit Exchange (HBX). At their second meeting, the Executive Board chose Dr. Mohammad Akhter to be Chair and at the third meeting selected Dr. Henry Aaron as Vice Chair and Khalid Pitts as Secretary/Treasurer.
The Executive Board has proposed establishing four Standing Committees and four Working Committees to address the wide range of issues and activities facing the Exchange Authority. The Standing Committees are 1) Operations and Administration, 2) Personnel and Compensation, 3) Finance and Audit, and 4) Public Policy. The four Working Committees are 1) Operations, 2) Insurance Market, 3) IT and Eligibility, and 4) Marketing and Consumer Outreach. The Committees will allow the Executive Board to focus on key areas of Exchange establishment.
The Executive Board will appoint an Advisory Board to provide advice on key HBX issues in the near future.
At the August 21 Executive Board meeting, Board members were briefed by the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) staff on the Market Structure Recommendations proposed by the HRIC Insurance Subcommittee. DISB Commissioner William White (an ex-officio member of the HBX Executive Board) spoke on the need for a timely Board decision on the Market Recommendations. The Board also heard public testimony from nineteen individuals who expressed their views on the recommendations. The Board is expected to issue its final vote on the proposed recommendations in the upcoming weeks.
The next meeting of the HBX Executive Board will be on Wednesday, September 5 from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. Regular meetings will be held bi-weekly on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:00 PM.
Check the health reform website calendar for details about future HBX meetings. SEARCH BEGINS FOR HBX EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The HBX Executive Board has begun its search for an Executive Director for the District of Columbia Health Benefit Exchange. The Executive Director will be responsible for managing, administering, developing and carrying out the goals and objectives of the Exchange. This important position will report to the HBX Executive Board.
The position requires a minimum of five years of executive-level experience in the field of health insurance or health care administration and residency in the District within 180 days of the date of hire.
The position description, which details the position duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and instructions for applying, is posted on the DC Human Resources website. Interested qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. ESSENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN PROPOSED
The HRIC Insurance Subcommittee recently unveiled the "Essential Health Benefits Bulletin," a document with the proposed recommendation for the benchmark insurance plan to be offered in the District's Health Benefit Exchange. The bulletin is available on the health reform website or click on this quick link.
The public comment period ends on Friday, September 28. If you have any questions or wish to submit comments, please send an email to healthreform@dc.gov. DISTRICT APPLIES FOR LEVEL 2 EXCHANGE FUNDING
The District completed and submitted a comprehensive application for a Level 2 Exchange Establishment Grant to the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) on August 15. The Level 2 Grant requires states to demonstrate progress in establishing an Exchange by having: the legislative authority to establish and operate an Exchange, a governance structure, and a plan for long-term operating costs.
The Level 2 Grant application addresses a number of areas: legal authority and governance; consumer and stakeholder engagement; eligibility and enrollment; plan management; risk adjustment and reinsurance; SHOP; organization and human resources; finance and accounting; technology; privacy and security; oversight, monitoring and reporting; and contracting, outsourcing and agreements.
The Level 2 Grant award is anticipated by October 1, 2012. The grant performance period will extend from date of award through December 31, 2014.
The District received a nearly $1.0 million Exchange Planning Grant in 2010 and an $8.2 million Level 1 Exchange Establishment Grant in 2011.
MAYOR’S ONE CITY ACTION PLAN ANNOUNCED
Over the summer, Mayor Gray announced his “One City Action Plan,” a comprehensive strategy that describes in specific steps how his One City vision will be achieved. As the mayor often speaks about, One City is the recognition that all District residents, no matter their differences and regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or ward, are bound together by a shared desire to make the city even better for the people who live here.
The One City Action Plan is an effort to make the District a more prosperous, equitable and sustainable city, where all residents have an opportunity to provide for themselves and their families, where every neighborhood is safe, where every student goes to a good school, where every tax dollar is spent wisely on a government that works and where citizens’ voices really count. The plan emphasizes the need to harness the tremendous change the District is experiencing to remake and reinvent our city for the next generation.
Organized by goals, strategies and actions, the plan provides District residents and business leaders alike with a concrete roadmap to understand and measure progress and hold city officials accountable in the areas that matter most to them. The three overarching goals are:
1) Grow and Diversify the District Economy,
2) Educate and Prepare the Workforce for the New Economy, and
3) Improve the Quality of Life for All.
For each of these goals, the plan contains key indicators by which to measure whether the goal is being achieved. Additionally, the plan provides an action checklist so that residents can track progress along the way.
Under Goal 3 are several key strategies which address health:
- Ensure residents have access to quality health care
- Ensure residents with disabilities have access to services
- Ensure residents have access to healthy foods and quality recreation.
SPOTLIGHT: HRIC COMMUNICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
The Health Reform Implementation Committee (HRIC) Communications Subcommittee was established in September 2011 to advise on and provide communications support to health reform efforts in the District. Chaired by the Department of Health Care Finance, the subcommittee includes communications professionals from HRIC agencies and subject matter experts engaged in implementing health reform initiatives in the District.
The Communications Subcommittee has advised on communications for stakeholder forums and on the development of the health reform strategic communications plan, speakers bureau, and “For Your Benefit” newsletter. In addition, the subcommittee has invited experts to meetings to share their experiences and insights on educating stakeholders and District residents on health reform. Guest speakers have included Acacia Salatti, Deputy Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Reverend Dr. Fred Smith, Associate Professor of Urban Ministry and Associate Director of the Practice of Ministry and Mission at Wesley Theological Seminary.
The HRIC Communications Subcommittee normally meets the first Wednesday of every month at 2:00 PM. This month, however, the subcommittee will meet on September 12. The meetings are open to the public. Check the newsletter calendar or the health reform website for up-to-date meeting information. NAVIGATOR PROGRAM ANALYSIS PRESENTS OPTIONS
The Affordable Care Act requires each Health Benefit Exchange to establish a Navigator Program to provide education, outreach and enrollment assistance to potential Exchange participants. The Department of Health Care Finance engaged an outside consultant to provide an analysis of options and recommendations for the District’s Navigator Program based on stakeholder input, literature reviews, and ideas from other states.
Stakeholder input was obtained through an online survey and focus groups. There were 134 respondents to the survey, evenly divided between individuals and representatives of organizations. A total of 54 individuals participated in six focus groups conducted with advocates, diverse consumers (including Spanish speaking and African immigrant consumers), small businesses and producers.
The Navigator Analysis discusses options and recommendations for the District, focusing on the roles of Navigators; the participation of insurance producers; Navigator training, licensing, certification, oversight and regulation; funding for the Navigator Program and Navigator compensation; and sustainability.
The HRIC Operations Subcommittee is reviewing the report and plans to discuss the findings at its September meeting. Once approved, the subcommittee will submit recommendations for the Navigator Program to the HBX Executive Board for the final decisions. The HRIC Operations Subcommittee meets the third Thursday of every month at 2:30 PM. The meetings are open to the public. Check the calendar on the health reform website for up-to-date meeting information.
JOIN THE DISTRICT’S HEALTH REFORM TEAM
The District of Columbia’s Health and Human Services agencies are still seeking candidates to work on health care reform and the District’s new health care and human services eligibility and enrollment solution.
If you are interested in the following positions in the Department of Health Care Finance, please visit the DC Jobs website for more information.
• Medicaid Program Manager (Job ID: 20032)
• Medicaid Policy Project Manager (Job ID 20033)
• Ombudsman Consumer Assistance Project Manager (Job ID 20034)
• Exchange Information and Privacy Officer (Job ID: 20028)
If you are interested in the following position in the Department of Human Services, please send your cover letter and resume to ois.admin@dc.gov.
• Management Analyst
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HEALTH REFORM?
If you don’t see your question, send it to healthreform@dc.gov. We will try to address it in future newsletters. CALENDAR
Wednesday, September 5, 5:30 PM
Health Benefit Exchange (HBX) Executive Board Meeting
John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 412
Thursday, September 6, 10:00 AM
HRIC Medicaid Expansion and Eligibility Subcommittee Meeting
Department of Human Services, 64 New York Avenue NE, 5th Floor Conference Room
Tuesday, September 11, 11:00 AM
HRIC Insurance Subcommittee Meeting
Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, 810 First Street NE, 7th Floor
Wednesday, September 12, 2:00 PM
HRIC Communications Subcommittee Meeting
John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 306
Thursday, September 13, 2:00 PM
HRIC Health Delivery System Subcommittee Meeting
Department of Health, 899 North Capitol Street NE, Room 535
Monday, September 17, 3:00 PM
HRIC Insurance Subcommittee Plan HBX Market Working Group Meeting
Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, 810 First Street NE, 7th Floor
Wednesday, September 19, 5:30 PM
Health Benefit Exchange (HBX) Executive Board Meeting
Location TBA
Thursday, September 20, 2:30 PM
HRIC Exchange Operations Subcommittee Meeting
Department of Health Care Finance, 899 North Capitol Street NE, Room 6130
October 1, 3:00 PM
HRIC Insurance Subcommittee Plan HBX Market Working Group Meeting
Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, 810 First Street NE, 7th Floor
October 3, 2:00 PM
HRIC Communications Subcommittee Meeting
John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 306
Wednesday, October 3, 5:30 PM
Health Benefit Exchange (HBX) Executive Board Meeting
Location TBA
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