As PPACA Deadlines Near, States Dawdle

"These are truly important provisions and the law will make it much easier for people to get a health plan, particularly people who have health problems or who are over. It is critical that states move forward and pass legislation to implement these laws so the citizens in their states can benefit from them. If they don't, this is a federal law so the federal government would enforce the provisions."

In addition, The Commonwealth Fund says state legislatures around the nation will act quickly this year to implement laws dealing with the PPACA and insurance markets. The report cited an earlier study of state action taken to implement the PPACA's 2010 health insurance market reforms found that nearly all states ultimately required or encouraged compliance with those reforms, which included bans on lifetime limits on benefits and dependent coverage for young adults up to age 26.

"It is encouraging that nearly all states took action on the Affordable Care Act's early market reforms in 2010," The Commonwealth Fund President David Blumenthal, MD, said in prepared remarks. "Now, it is critical that states do the same with these reforms, to help ensure that their residents benefit from secure, affordable health insurance coverage."