Health Benefit Exchange Board Report Submitted to Governor and Lawmakers

The Board of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange submitted to Governor O’Malley and the General Assembly a series of policy recommendations to support the successful operation of the Exchange in 2014 and beyond. Maryland’s Health Benefit Exchange will provide a marketplace for individuals and small businesses to purchase high quality, affordable health coverage. Because of subsidies through the Affordable Care Act, the Exchange will make health insurance accessible to hundreds of thousands of Marylanders.

The report, required by the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Act, which passed in 2011 and authorized creation of the Exchange, includes a broad range of recommendations, including: how the Exchange should contract with insurance plans; how the exchange should offer insurance to small businesses and their employees; how the Navigator program should work; how to set rules to assure a broad pool of risk; how to finance the exchange; and how to educate and inform the public about new opportunities for health insurance.

The Board worked with a broad range of experts and stakeholders to develop the report, including four advisory committees. The advisory committees included stakeholders from the health insurance industry, health care providers and associations; community members, advocates, and community-based organizations; academia; business owners; unions; local government officials; and consultants. In total, 66 Marylanders served on these committees. In addition, consultants were hired to conduct analyses and develop options for topics identified by the authorizing legislation.

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