On Friday Governor Branstad announced Iowa will pursue a State-Federal Partnership Exchange model.  The partnership model gives states the ability to partner with the Federal government to assist it in establishing and operating the statewide health insurance exchange required by the Affordable Care Act.  Iowa will continue to regulate insurance plans and retain control over the Medicaid and HAWK-I programs while the Federal government will provide the exchange “framework”, including web portals and interfaces.   More information regarding Iowa’s exchange will likely become available in the first several months of 2013 when HHS will begin reviewing and approving state submitted partnership blueprints.