Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) issued a memo addressing many of the questions and concerns that were raised by states during the comment process regarding the implementation of health insurance exchanges.

1. States will not be required to give up control of Medicaid eligibility determination to the federal government; and
2. States can defer to the federal government to implement functions of the Exchange that are required under law, but do not fit within the traditional or proper role of the state government, such as enforcing federal tax code provisions.

Click here to read the full memo.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America".

CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the U.S. federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program.