Press Releases: 2011

AmeriHealth Mercy Executive Says States Vary on Readiness for Exchanges Required under Health Care Reform Law

November 15, 2011
BALTIMORE, MD – Andrew N. Berenato, Director of the Office of Exchanges for the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies, said recently that the 50 states are in varying stages of readiness for implementing health insurance exchanges required under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which will soon be reviewed for constitutionality by the U.S. Supreme Court.

While participating in a panel discussion last week during a Health Insurance Exchange Congress conference, Berenato said state readiness varies from exchanges already in existence to states where legislation is pending to the governor of some states vetoing or deciding not to establish exchanges.

Under the ACA, states would be required to establish the exchanges and have them operational by 2014 when, by some estimates, 24 million Americans would be newly eligible for coverage under the law. The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments on the law in March.

The panel, "Room for Debate: Understanding the Political Undertone of Exchanges and the ACA," also addressed how the 2012 presidential election could affect the future of exchange implementation. Berenato's presentation included an examination of different states and their progress in establishing exchanges. He also reinforced AmeriHealth Mercy's mission of caring for the underserved and working with the federal and state governments to find solutions that reduce costs in our health care system.

About AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies
The AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies is one of the nation's leaders in health care solutions for the underserved. AmeriHealth operates in 11 states and serves more than 4 million Medicaid, Medicare and SCHIP members through its Medicaid managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management services, behavioral health services, and other administrative services. Headquartered in Philadelphia, AmeriHealth Mercy is a mission-driven company with more than 25 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations.