State Coverage Initiatives has released its annual signature report, State of the States. This year’s edition, “Laying the Foundation for Health Reform,” is a valuable guide for state policymakers because it highlights the efforts of states that have made early achievements in implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) as well as the accomplishments of innovative states that have sought to control costs and improve the quality of health care for their residents.  It outlines the significant, wide-ranging efforts undertaken by states in 2010 in spite of major budget challenges and rising demand for public health care programs. These include:

• Responding to the ACA by establishing committees and task forces to study its impact and develop strategic plans for responding to its provisions;
• Implementing state-based pre-existing condition insurance plans;
• Working with insurance plans and the public to implement insurance reforms included in the ACA;
• Improving their rate review process and considering the impact of the medical loss ratio requirements;
• Collecting data and planning early for state-based health insurance exchanges;
• Working to cut costs and improve outreach and enrollment efforts in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan; and
• Undertaking efforts to improve the health care delivery system and promote public health.

Please visit www.statecoverage.org/stateofthestates2011 to download the report.

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