By Kevin Walsh, vice president, Healthcare Eligibility and Insurance Exchange Services, ACS, A Xerox Company

The Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) system is designed to act as a marketplace that gives consumers access to a variety of plans from different providers. In order to reach this goal, however, every state must make sense of regulations and deadlines, and consider options that will meet both the needs of their citizens and the law. The list of regulations governing HIXs includes:

States must have their plans ready by 2013 so the HIX can begin operation on Jan. 1, 2014. If states do not have their own plans, the federal government will set one up for them.

Health and Human Services has allocated $241 million for development to "innovator states" so far.

Only individuals without coverage, individuals for whom the coverage is unaffordable or inadequate, or small employers can participate in the exchange. Large employers can join the exchange in 2017.

The exchanges are expected to cover as many as 29 million people by 2019, including 5 million with employment-based coverage.

The dates and figures sometimes sound a bit like numeric soup to me, and I consult on healthcare insurance processes for a living. To help states make sense of it all, and to design a solution that is best suited for their citizens, ACS, A Xerox Company created a strategic partnership with Choice Administrators and Benefitfocus.

What does each company bring to the table?
ACS, A Xerox Company provides business process and technology solutions to help states operating an exchange handle massive amounts of information quickly, efficiently, and securely on behalf of millions of people.

CHOICE Administrators is the nation's leader in developing and administering HIXs, with experience supporting integrated and proven exchange models since 1996.

Benefitfocus provides employers, insurance carriers and consumers a single Web-based platform for shopping, enrolling, managing and exchanging benefit information with more than 13 million consumers and 300,000 employers currently utilizing this platform

We recommend that states consider adopting the appropriate elements from a seven-step strategy to implement a HIX. It certainly isn't a one-size-fits all strategy – some states may find that the seven steps are a good fit; others may find they may only need five of the steps. That's where the team comes in – we'll help guide states through the process and tailor a strategy that works best.

We've put together a great partnership to help states develop a HIX that meets the requirements mandated by The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and help them deliver on the intentions behind the act – creating a marketplace where people can compare benefits and prices and choose the plan that is best for them and their family.

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