Common use of Challenges Clause in Contracts

Challenges. The primary challenges AHCD has identified in successful, timely implementation of the SPM are ongoing:  Arkansas’s Legislative process for obtaining approval to spend grant funds once awarded, create and fill staff positions, and secure consulting contracts requires much attention to technical detail as well as an awareness and understanding of political situations as they evolve. As noted earlier, we did not receive legislative approval to spend the Level One B funds (awarded September 27, 2012) until December 21, 2012. Level One C funding, received April 7, 2013, was approved for spending May 28, 2013. We are hopeful that the continuous openness we’ve shown to our legislators throughout our planning process coupled with the able support of the AID Commissioner and the Governor’s office will lead to approval of our requests in a more timely manner. Also, the Legislature’s approval of the premium assistance Medicaid Expansion model may facilitate future appropriations of grants received for Marketplace operations. We must continue to be aware that many in the Legislature oppose any aspect of the ACA.  Preparing for open enrollment: Plans are expected to be certified by HHS in early September to be sold on the FFM in Arkansas, IPAs must be trained, hired, and licensed as must all categories of assisters, and the Outreach and Education campaign funding for the open enrollment period must receive legislative approval to continue.  A lack of information and misinformation about the ACA is widespread, not only in Arkansas, but nationwide. A major focus of our Outreach and Education campaign is a concerted, organized effort to provide concise, accurate information to all Arkansans.  It takes time and valuable resources to bring new staff and/or consultants on board. We have redesigned and expanded our new employee orientation. To minimize the learning curve for consultants, we plan to keep many of the same ones in place to continue the valuable work they are doing.  Arkansas is involved in multiple health system improvement efforts which all place demands on the same staff, agency, and other leaders at a time of limited resources. Interagency coordination and collaboration are intentional and funding through this cooperative agreement will assist in advancing the important work of Arkansas’s SPM implementation.  As a state with the third-lowest per capita income, we projected a high percentage of churning between insurance affordability programs and have contracted with Manatt Health Solutions to help design and implement an effective state-specific strategy to decrease churning and promote continuity of care. Xxxxxx’x help was critical in promoting the premium assistance Medicaid Expansion model. However, we still await final approval from HHS for the Private Option. Then, the challenge will be to make it function smoothly and effectively. Many pieces must come together. But with proper planning, expertise, and hard work, we’re confident of success.  There remain unanswered questions from HHS. We continue to ask for guidance and, when appropriate, suggest solutions for CCIIO/CMS to consider as issues arise. We appreciate the thoughtful assistance from CCIIO at a time when the federal government is trying to coordinate with all 50 states to get the Marketplace projects in place.

Challenges. The primary challenges AHCD HBEPD has identified in successful, timely implementation of the SPM FFE Partnership are ongoingongoing challenges:  Arkansas’s Legislative process for obtaining approval to spend grant funds once awarded, create and fill staff positions, and secure consulting contracts requires much is part tedious attention to technical detail as well as an awareness and understanding of political situations as they evolvepart political. As noted earlierWith our recent experience, we did not receive legislative approval HBEPD is better prepared to spend meet the Level One B funds (awarded September 27detailed, 2012) until December 21, 2012. Level One C funding, received April 7, 2013, was approved for spending May 28, 2013time-sensitive requirements. We are hopeful that the continuous openness we’ve shown to our legislators throughout our planning process coupled with the able support of the AID Commissioner and the Governor’s office will lead to approval of our requests in a more timely mannerthe first time they are presented to Legislative committees. Also, the Legislature’s approval of the premium assistance Medicaid Expansion model may facilitate future appropriations of grants received for Marketplace operations Misinformation is being perpetuated by those opposed to ACA throughout Arkansas. We must continue Beginning with our recent Town Meetings and continuing with our soon to be aware that many in the Legislature oppose any aspect of the ACA.  Preparing for open enrollment: Plans are expected to be certified by HHS in early September to be sold on the FFM in Arkansasimplemented outreach and awareness efforts, IPAs must be trained, hired, and licensed as must all categories of assisters, and the Outreach and Education campaign funding for the open enrollment period must receive legislative approval to continue.  A lack of information and misinformation about the ACA HBEPD is widespread, not only in Arkansas, but nationwide. A major focus of our Outreach and Education campaign is making a concerted, organized effort to provide concise, accurate information to all Arkansans.  It takes time and valuable resources to bring new staff and/or consultants on board. We have redesigned and expanded Learning from our past experience, we are revamping our new employee orientationorientation to deploy when new staff is hired. To minimize the learning curve for consultants, we plan to keep many of the same ones in place to continue the valuable work they are doing.  Arkansas is involved in multiple health system improvement efforts which all place demands on the same staff, agency, and other leaders at a time of limited resources. Interagency coordination and collaboration are intentional and funding through this cooperative agreement will assist in advancing the important work of Arkansas’s SPM FFE Partnership implementation.  As There are a state with the third-lowest per capita income, couple of challenges we projected a high percentage of churning between insurance affordability programs and have contracted with Manatt Health Solutions identified that are beyond our control to help design and implement an effective state-specific strategy to decrease churning and promote continuity of care. Xxxxxx’x help was critical in promoting the premium assistance Medicaid Expansion model. However, we still await final approval from HHS for the Private Option. Then, the challenge will be to make it function smoothly and effectively. Many pieces must come together. But with proper planning, expertise, and hard work, we’re confident of success. influence at this point:  There remain many unanswered questions and unissued guidelines from HHSCCIIO/CMS regarding the implementation of the FFE Partnership Model. We will continue to ask for guidance and, when appropriate, suggest solutions for CCIIO/CMS to consider consider. Of particular concern the lack of information about long-term FFE Partnership fees and financing, the expectations for the federally managed Navigator Program as related to the state-managed IPA Program, and specific points of plan management such as processes and requirements for FFE approval of any state requested QHP criteria beyond federal minimum requirements.  In light of the recent Supreme Court decision, Arkansas has not decided what it plans to do about Medicaid expansion. This raises many questions about what will be available for this at-risk population between 17% and 100% of FPL if Arkansas does not expand its program. There are also questions about churning between the IAP programs and we plan to address churning and related issues arise. We appreciate the thoughtful assistance from CCIIO at a time when the federal government is trying to coordinate with all 50 states to get the Marketplace projects in placethrough this Level One Funding.

Challenges. The primary challenges AHCD HBEPD has identified in successful, timely implementation of the SPM FFE Partnership are ongoingongoing challenges:  • Arkansas’s Legislative process for obtaining approval to spend grant funds once awarded, create and fill staff positions, and secure consulting contracts requires much is part tedious attention to technical detail as well as an awareness and understanding of political situations as they evolvepart political. As noted earlierWith our recent experience, we did not receive legislative approval HBEPD is better prepared to spend meet the Level One B funds (awarded September 27detailed, 2012) until December 21, 2012. Level One C funding, received April 7, 2013, was approved for spending May 28, 2013time-sensitive requirements. We are hopeful that the continuous openness we’ve shown to our legislators throughout our planning process coupled with the able support of the AID Commissioner and the Governor’s office will lead to approval of our requests in a more timely mannerthe first time they are presented to Legislative committees. Also, the Legislature’s approval of the premium assistance Medicaid Expansion model may facilitate future appropriations of grants received for Marketplace operations• Misinformation is being perpetuated by those opposed to ACA throughout Arkansas. We must continue Beginning with our recent Town Meetings and continuing with our soon to be aware that many in the Legislature oppose any aspect of the ACA.  Preparing for open enrollment: Plans are expected to be certified by HHS in early September to be sold on the FFM in Arkansasimplemented outreach and awareness efforts, IPAs must be trained, hired, and licensed as must all categories of assisters, and the Outreach and Education campaign funding for the open enrollment period must receive legislative approval to continue.  A lack of information and misinformation about the ACA HBEPD is widespread, not only in Arkansas, but nationwide. A major focus of our Outreach and Education campaign is making a concerted, organized effort to provide concise, accurate information to all Arkansans.  • It takes time and valuable resources to bring new staff and/or consultants on board. We have redesigned and expanded Learning from our past experience, we are revamping our new employee orientationorientation to deploy when new staff is hired. To minimize the learning curve for consultants, we plan to keep many of the same ones in place to continue the valuable work they are doing.  • Arkansas is involved in multiple health system improvement efforts which all place demands on the same staff, agency, and other leaders at a time of limited resources. Interagency coordination and collaboration are intentional and funding through this cooperative agreement will assist in advancing the important work of Arkansas’s SPM FFE Partnership implementation.  As There are a state with the third-lowest per capita income, couple of challenges we projected a high percentage of churning between insurance affordability programs and have contracted with Manatt Health Solutions identified that are beyond our control to help design and implement an effective state-specific strategy to decrease churning and promote continuity of care. Xxxxxx’x help was critical in promoting the premium assistance Medicaid Expansion model. However, we still await final approval from HHS for the Private Option. Then, the challenge will be to make it function smoothly and effectively. Many pieces must come together. But with proper planning, expertise, and hard work, we’re confident of success.  influence at this point: • There remain many unanswered questions and unissued guidelines from HHSCCIIO/CMS regarding the implementation of the FFE Partnership Model. We will continue to ask for guidance and, when appropriate, suggest solutions for CCIIO/CMS to consider consider. Of particular concern the lack of information about long-term FFE Partnership fees and financing, the expectations for the federally managed Navigator Program as related to the state-managed IPA Program, and specific points of plan management such as processes and requirements for FFE approval of any state requested QHP criteria beyond federal minimum requirements. • In light of the recent Supreme Court decision, Arkansas has not decided what it plans to do about Medicaid expansion. This raises many questions about what will be available for this at-risk population between 17% and 100% of FPL if Arkansas does not expand its program. There are also questions about churning between the IAP programs and we plan to address churning and related issues arise. We appreciate the thoughtful assistance from CCIIO at a time when the federal government is trying to coordinate with all 50 states to get the Marketplace projects in placethrough this Level One Funding.

Challenges. The primary challenges AHCD HBEPD has identified in successful, timely implementation of the SPM State Partnership Exchange are ongoingongoing challenges:  • Arkansas’s Legislative process for obtaining approval to spend grant funds once awarded, create and fill staff positions, and secure consulting contracts requires much is part tedious attention to technical detail as well as an awareness and understanding of political situations as they evolvepart political. As noted earlier, we did not receive legislative Legislative approval to spend the Level One B funds (awarded September 27, 2012) until December 21, 2012. Level One C funding, received April 7, 2013, was approved for spending May 28, 2013. We are hopeful that the continuous openness we’ve shown to our legislators throughout our planning process coupled with the able support of the AID Commissioner and the Governor’s office will lead to approval of our requests in a more timely manner. AlsoHowever, the Legislature’s approval of Arkansas General Assembly that just took office is controlled in both xxxxxxxx by the premium assistance Medicaid Expansion model may facilitate future appropriations of grants received for Marketplace operations. We must continue to be aware that many in the Legislature oppose any aspect of the ACA.  Preparing for open enrollment: Plans are expected to be certified by HHS in early September to be sold on the FFM in Arkansas, IPAs must be trained, hired, and licensed as must all categories of assisters, and the Outreach and Education campaign funding Republican Party for the open enrollment period must receive legislative approval first time since Reconstruction which could actually increase this challenge going forward as many of those legislators are not supporters of ACA or the Health Insurance Marketplace. • Misinformation is being perpetuated throughout Arkansas by those opposed to continue.  A lack of information and misinformation about the ACA is widespread, not only in Arkansas, but nationwideACA. A major focus of Phase 1 of our Outreach and Education campaign is a concerted, organized effort to provide concise, accurate information to all Arkansans.  • It takes time and valuable resources to bring new staff and/or consultants on board. We have redesigned and expanded our new employee orientationorientation to deploy when new staff is hired. To minimize the learning curve for consultants, we plan to keep many of the same ones in place to continue the valuable work they are doing.  • Arkansas is involved in multiple health system improvement efforts which all place demands on the same staff, agency, and other leaders at a time of limited resources. Interagency coordination and collaboration are intentional and funding through this cooperative agreement will assist in advancing the important work of Arkansas’s SPM State Partnership Exchange implementation.  • As a state with the third-third lowest per capita income, we projected expect a high percentage of churning between insurance affordability programs and have contracted with Manatt Health Solutions to help design and implement an effective state-specific strategy to decrease churning and promote continuity of care. Xxxxxx’x help was critical in promoting the premium assistance Medicaid Expansion model. However, we still await final approval from HHS for the Private Option. Then, the challenge will be to make it function smoothly and effectively. Many pieces must come together. But with proper planning, expertise, and hard work, we’re confident of success.  • There remain many unanswered questions and unissued guidelines from HHSCCIIO/CMS necessary for effective coordination and monitoring between the federal Navigator and state IPA programs. We will continue to ask for guidance and, when appropriate, suggest solutions for CCIIO/CMS to consider as issues ariseconsider. We appreciate the thoughtful assistance from CCIIO at a time when the federal government is trying • Arkansas still has not decided what it plans to coordinate with all 50 states to get the Marketplace projects in placedo about Medicaid expansion. This raises many questions about what will be available for this at-risk population between 17% and 100% of FPL if Arkansas does not expand its program.