A federal appeals court in Atlanta contradicted another federal court, ruling that the controversial requirement that people either buy health insurance or face a fine, a key piece of the federal health reform law, is unconstitutional.

Health exchange regulations set by the health reform law and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) this month leave many questions unanswered that must be addressed before state implementation, according to a consulting firm.

The trustees for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange want to hire three more professionals to assist in creating the state’s health insurance exchange, mandated under the federal health reform law.

Two bills, passed by the Maryland General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley, change the insurance landscape in Maryland.

Pennsylvania’s insurance commissioner, Joel Ario, is taking a position in the Obama Administration, where he will direct the creation of health exchanges.

California’s health insurance exchanges would provide the best coverage if the state “harnesses existing enrollment channels and commercial marketplace infrastructure in a bold new public-private partnership,” according to a new white paper addressing one of the key components of health reform.

Brian Carroll, who played a key role in creating the Massachusetts Health Connector, a health exchange, is scheduled to discuss the process and pitfalls of that exchange at a meeting of the North chapter of the New Jersey Association of Health Underwriters.