By Martha Heberlein

While the federal government still has a great deal on its plate in terms of implementing health reform (we at CCF are eagerly awaiting every bit of guidance and regulation CMS can throw at us!), many key tasks now move to the states.

Should we set up a new high-risk pool? What should our exchange look like? Who should run it? How do the new insurance reforms interact with our current protections? To help sort through all these complicated and intertwined issues, seven states have set up commissions, advisory councils, or offices of health reform to take a look at their options and help guide implementation.

Connecticut was first out of the box, with the Governor establishing a 15-member board (the Connecticut Health Care Reform Advisory Board) way back in July. Since then, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Washington, and Wisconsin have stepped forward. And, just last week, the Governor of Maine signed an executive order establishing the Health Reform Implementation Steering Committee.

These commissions/offices are comprised of agency heads (like the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Insurance Commissioner) and sometimes include other interested parties (such as representatives of the hospital industry). While none include a consumer or advocate voice on the panel itself, most provide some sort of mechanism for public comment. Take Colorado as an example – where the board can establish task forces that include outside groups, including consumer advocates.

As health reform moves toward implementation, it’s important to keep tabs on what your state is doing. Have they established a commission? Are consumers and advocates represented on these boards? If not, is there a way to expand representation or does the public have another outlet to provide comments?

Depending on the state, these commissions may yield a great deal of power in influencing what reform looks like. It’s important that all voices are heard in the process.

If you want more details on the various commissions and links to the executive orders, check out RWJF’s State Coverage Initiatives’ States Take Different Approaches to Respond to Federal Health Reform.)