FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jenni Bowring-McDonough
Media Relations Coordinator

ST. PAUL, Minn.-MNsure was awarded a federal grant adjustment of $34 million by The Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO), a division of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The new funding, awarded on December 22, 2014, will accelerate the IT development of MNsure.org, as well as enhance consumer assistance during this extended period of the IT project build.

"This is wonderful news for the people of Minnesota, especially those in search of quality, affordable health care. This additional funding will accelerate improvements to the MNsure system and will help us make important enhancements well ahead of the current schedule," said CEO Scott Leitz. "The people of Minnesota have been and will remain our focus. While the MNsure system has made great progress in the past year, there remains important work to be done."

Projects slated for acceleration made possible by this grant adjustment include consumer website and usability improvements, streamlining the MinnesotaCare premium invoicing process, creating a navigator/broker portal and supporting critical "back office" functions such as data transmission to insurance carriers and federal partners.

MNsure's total federal investment is now $189,363,527, making it the fourth-most-affordable state-based marketplace in the country. MNsure is also the only state-based marketplace that determines eligibility for qualified health plans, Medicaid and a state basic health plan, making the technology needs of MNsure unique to any other state or federal marketplace.

CCIIO is authorized to adjust an existing grant by up to 25 percent, as necessary, for completion of the original project as it has done for 10 of the other 14 state-based marketplaces. MNsure's grant adjustment is a 22 percent increase in funding.

"This additional funding will allow us to complete the MNsure system project in a much shorter timeline, and still remain one of the most affordable state-based marketplaces in the country," said Board Chair Brian Beutner. "Thousands of Minnesotans have been able to obtain quality, affordable health coverage through MNsure. We're hopeful these accelerated projects will allow thousands more to do the same."

As of Tuesday, MNsure has enrolled 83,865 Minnesotans into comprehensive, affordable health coverage since November 15. 41,704 have enrolled into commercial coverage, including 8,701 passive renewals. 12,225 have enrolled into MinnesotaCare and 29,936 have enrolled into Medical Assistance. These enrollment numbers continue to be preliminary and will be updated in the coming week.

Open enrollment for 2015 coverage began November 15, 2014, and ends February 15, 2015. Minnesotans eligible for Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare can enroll year-round. As of May 2014, 95 percent of Minnesotans have health coverage-the highest percentage in state history.