Obama Administration Takes New Steps to Support Innovation, Empower States

Building on President Obama's commitment to ensure states have the power and flexibility to innovate and implement the health care solutions that work best for them, the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Treasury today proposed new rules outlining the steps states may pursue in order to receive a State Innovation Waiver under the Affordable Care Act.

The Affordable Care Act gives states the flexibility to receive a State Innovation Waiver so they may pursue their own innovative strategies to ensure their residents have access to high quality, affordable health insurance. Under the law, State Innovation Waivers are available in 2017. President Obama supports bipartisan legislation that would make waivers available to states beginning in 2014.

“Innovation Waivers empower states to take the lead on implementing the Affordable Care Act,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “Today's announcement demonstrates the flexibility available to states as they continue to move forward on fixing our broken health insurance marketplace.”