The Department of Health and Human Services today issued a request for comments through Oct. 4 as it develops rules and standards for state and regional health insurance exchanges under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Also, the agency announced that states can apply through Sept. 1 for grants of up to $1 million each to establish the exchanges, which individuals and small businesses will have access to beginning in 2014. Each state can establish its own exchange or partner with other states to operate a regional exchange.