California was the first state in the nation to enact legislation creating a health benefit exchange under federal health care reform, The Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Western Center was proud to have supported and contributed to this enabling legislation, which can be found here: Chapter 655, Statutes of 2010 (Perez) and Chapter 659, Statutes of 2010 (Alquist). 

Now, California is moving swiftly to enact ACA.  One of the actions needed to implement this new federal law is to erect a new Health Insurance Exchange eligiblity, enrollment and retention system. Below is a link to a letter sent by Western Center to Exchange Board, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Directors of key Departments identifying important consumer issues we hope they will prioritize when drafting contract documents and selecting the private vendor that will design and host the eligibility, enrollment and retention system. This letter highlights points we have been making at Exchange Board Meetings since April 2011.  For materials and podcasts from these meetings, click here.