Cuomo Prepares State for Health Care Reform

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has decided in favor of the 2010 health reform law, New York governor Andrew Cuomo says the state will move ahead with establishing a health insurance exchange program for those who are uninsured.

The exchange is a marketplace where individuals and small businesses can purchase insurance coverage from a pool of providers starting in January of 2014.

The state also expects to receive an additional $1 billion increase in Medicaid support from Washington by then. Cuomo says New York is a state that will participate in the expanded Medicaid program proposed by the new healthcare law.

The Supreme Court upheld the expanded Medicaid provision for states as long as the Federal government does not pull Medicaid funding if a state decided not to participate in the increased eligibility program.