When it comes to federal money to help states set up health care exchanges under the Affordable Care Act, you might expect that California would rank first and New York second
But here’s a surprise: Tiny Vermont ranks No. 3.
An Associated Press analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows Vermont has been granted more than $158 million so far to help set up the new regulated health care marketplace that’s scheduled to be up and running in October.
About $35 million of that is Vermont’s share of money going to the University of Massachusetts Medical School for work it is doing helping five New England states set up their exchanges.
Vermont officials say they’ve been aggressive about applying for available federal money.