Blog

Global health's impact on state economy

The Washington Global Health Alliance (WGHA) is out with a new “Landscape Study” on the economic impact of Washington-based global health alliances. From the executive summary: “Washington’s global health sector accounts for a growing portion of the state’s total economic activity. Global health organizations in Washington state directly accounted for $5.8 billion in output in 2013, […]

InFocus: Colorado tax limit court case, health exchange funding, Puget Sound manufacturing jobs

Operating budget increases funding for Washington Exchange by $77 million

As enacted by the Legislature, the 2015-17 operating budget increases total budgeted funds for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (HBE) to $110.0 million for the biennium. This is an increase of $77.0 million over 2013-15, and an increase of $30.0 million over the maintenance level (the cost of continuing current services). The Seattle Times reports, […]

Ominous health spending chart

The chart below comes from a post (New Evidence Health Spending Is Growing Faster Again) by Kaiser Family Foundation president Drew Altman on the Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire blog. Altman observes, Like Californians waiting for the record drought to lift, health cost watchers like me have been waiting for health spending to begin to […]

Can Washington's Exchange use federal grants going forward?

According to the Seattle Times, the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (HBE) may have more financial troubles than we already knew about: Financial challenges are threatening the survival of Washington’s Healthplanfinder insurance exchange. First, the marketplace is facing a state budget proposal that would provide roughly two-thirds of the money that exchange officials say they need. […]

With special enrollment period over, Exchange still shy of goal

Open enrollment for health insurance coverage through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (HBE) ended Feb. 15, but the Exchange held a special enrollment period from Feb. 17 through April 17 — for “Washingtonians who recently became aware of the tax penalty for not having health insurance or were unable to complete their applications due to […]

In Focus this week: The Exchange and the budget, March employment report, and an income tax for education?

The Health Benefit Exchange and the 2015-17 budget

Both the House and Senate 2015-17 operating budget proposals would provide additional funding for the Health Benefit Exchange (HBE). As I’ve written, the HBE budget depends partially on its enrollment numbers, which were not as high as the HBE had hoped. Along with the 2 percent tax on premiums, other sources of income are a […]

In Focus this week: Exchange enrollment, wage inequality, and tipping

Final enrollment numbers from the Exchange, and national enrollment issues

I’ve noted that the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (HBE) did not meet its enrollment goals for the open enrollment period that ended in February. Yesterday the HBE released final enrollment numbers through March 9. Some highlights and comments: A total of 158,302 either newly enrolled or renewed their coverage in qualified (private) health plans (QHP). […]