The Early Innovators MAC Collaborative consists of states that received grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to design and implement the information technology infrastructure needed to operate health insurance exchanges. These Early Innovator states are leading the charge in establishing insurance exchange infrastructure.  They are expected to rapidly establish insurance exchanges on an accelerated timeframe while sharing what they have learned and creating technology that can be used by other states.  

This learning collaborative provides a forum for Early Innovator states to collaboratively work on critical issues including:

• Examining the potential for reusable infrastructure across states;
• Building in advance of key policy decisions; and
• Reviewing federal data services hub architecture.  

It also serves as an opportunity to disseminate findings to states not participating in the collaborative; additional states may be invited to participate in meetings or calls depending on the topic.  

The Early Innovators MAC Collaborative began in December 2011 and will run through August 2012 or later.

Participating States

• Maryland
• New York
• Oregon
• New England State Consortium (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)

Facilitators and Subject Matter Experts

Lead Facilitators

• Patti Boozang, Managing Director, Manatt Health Solutions
• Joseph D. Ray, Managing Director, Manatt Health Solutions

Lead Subject Matter Experts

• Amanda Cowley, Acting Director State Exchange Division, Health Insurance Exchanges Group, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• Denise Osborn-Harrison, Health Insurance Specialist, Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight
• Jennifer Stolbach, Director of State Technical Assistance, Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight