HHS offers states new funds to build health insurance exchanges

States now have 10 additional opportunities to apply for funding to create insurance exchange networks, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday.

The money is meant to help states continue the initiatives set forth in the Accountable Care Act (ACA). Insurance Exchange system projects can be state-based exchanges, state partnership exchanges, or state-federal exchanges. States can apply for exchange establishment cooperative agreements through 2014, according to a press statement.

HHS has published a guide sheet outlining the insurance exchange project activities that are valid for funding.

HHS also will hold regional forums to discuss exchange-building project tasks that still need to be addressed and to address questions on implementation.

The new project funds will join the $850 million in grant funding for projects already underway within 34 states and the District of Columbia.