The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Iowa $1 million to help the state establish a health insurance exchange. The exchanges, required in each state by the Affordable Care Act signed into law in March, are designed to provide competitive marketplaces in which consumers can shop for medical insurance coverage and apply for health insurance tax credits when the health reform goes fully into effect in January 2014. The funding will be used to develop a comprehensive implementation plan for Iowa; establish an inter-agency working group to ensure collaboration between state agencies responsible for administering the exchange; and to develop partnerships with community organizations to gain public input in the planning process.