The Money has to come from somewhere
Bart Slyp
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proudly announced earlier this month that it had awarded more than $1 billion to states for planning and establishing the health insurance exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In particular, 34 states have received more than $850 million in exchange establishment grants, as they work toward a November deadline for submitting their exchange plans to HHS.
But what happens to that money if the Supreme Court declares the federal health-care reform law unconstitutional this month?
Does the funding simply disappear? If so, what about money states have invested into developing exchanges while expecting reimbursement from Washington? Or will the funding continue if some states decide to push forward with the exchange concept without the ACA?
