Categorized | Health

Hawaii Health Connector signs key contracts

MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawaii Health Connector has announced the award recipients for two separate contracts — one to construct the online marketplace for the state-based health insurance exchange and a second contract for public relations services.

“This is an exciting next step in the establishment of the health insurance exchange in Hawaii,” said Coral Andrews, Hawaii Health Connector’s executive director.

“Our new partners will not only help us to build a system that will make health insurance more transparent and available in Hawaii, they will also help us to get the word out about the key benefits of the system to Hawaii residents and businesses,” she said.

Through the signing of Act 205, Gov. Neil Abercrombie designated the Connector to be the state’s health insurance exchange pursuant to the Affordable Care Act. Key to this function is the development of information technology (IT) systems needed to carry out the ACA’s goals of improving the accessibility of health insurance to individuals and qualifying small businesses.

The $53 million, four-year contract to construct and maintain the online marketplace and associated financial and plan management systems was awarded to CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc. (CGI) of Fairfax, Virg. Founded in 1976, CGI Group Inc. is the sixth largest independent information technology and business process services firm in the world.

With approximately 72,000 professionals located in offices and global delivery centers in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific, CGI offers a comprehensive portfolio of services including high-end business and IT consulting, systems integration, application development and maintenance, infrastructure management as well as more than 100 proprietary solutions.

The contract for communication services was awarded to Honolulu-based Milici Valenti Ng Pack, Inc. (MVNP).

MVNP will be responsible for market research, communication strategy and public relations to raise awareness about the Connector. The $1.2 million contract will run through August 2013, with the option to extend for an additional year.

“The Connector’s goal is to link Hawaii’s people, particularly individuals and small businesses, with access to affordable health care coverage,” Connector director of communications Rose Hughes said.

“To do that, the Connector requires a sophisticated system that lays out the health benefits, choices and costs available, and is easy to understand and navigate,” Hughes said. “When completed, the Connector will serve as a one-stop resource that allows consumers and small businesses to shop and compare health insurance plans, as well as determine eligibility for financial assistance.”

Hawaii has chosen to develop a state-based health insurance exchange rather than a federally facilitated or federal partnership exchange.

The Connector’s online marketplace will go live on Oct. 1, 2013 to offer qualified health plans, which will be effective Jan. 1, 2014.

The Connector’s aim is to build an exchange that is of Hawaii for Hawaii, and that takes into account the state’s unique culture and preserves the Prepaid Health Care Act.

Find out more:
www.HawaiiHealthConnector.com

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