States And Exchanges: Mich. Senate Rejects Plan To Partner With Feds
Mar 22, 2013 - Kaiser Health News
The Michigan action means that running the health insurance marketplace in
that state will fall to the federal government. In Idaho, the Senate approved a
proposal to create a state-based health exchange.
The
Associated Press: Mich. Senate Rejects Partnering On Health Exchange
The
U.S. government will fully run a health insurance market in Michigan after
Republican senators on Thursday decided against Gov. Rick Snyder's call to
partner with federal officials on consumer assistance and oversight of health
plans offered in the exchange. It was the last day to act before lawmakers take
a two-week break. Because the GOP-led Senate refused to spend a $31 million
federal grant for the partnership exchange – a key component of the contentious
2010 federal health care law – the state will have to spend about $8 million of
its own money to link computer systems to the federal exchange, Snyder spokesman
Kurt Weiss said (Eggert, 3/21).
Detroit Free Press: Senate Inaction Means Michigan Gives All
Control Of Health Exchange To Feds
Senate Republicans, wary of anything to
do with the Affordable Care Act, couldn't reach a consensus on the best way to
form the exchange, which will allow Michigan residents to research and
ultimately buy health insurance mandated under the ACA. Gov. Rick Snyder said
the measure had to be decided before the Legislature goes on a two-week spring
break this week in order to get the work done to create the exchange. He favors
the state/federal partnership as a way for the state to still have some control
over the exchange (Gray, 3/21).
The
Associated Press: Idaho State Senate Approves State-Based Health Insurance
Exchange
The Idaho state Senate approved a proposed state-based health
insurance exchange on Thursday after a debate in which it was alternately bashed
as federal tyranny and praised as protecting Idaho's sovereignty. Unlike two
dozen Republican governors in other states, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter backs such
an exchange run by a state-created, nonprofit corporation. He argues it will be
cheaper and more responsive to Idaho residents and better for insurers based in
Idaho (3/21).
In addition, while the U.S. Senate debated the Democrats' budget plan, some
Republicans offered amendments to force President Barack Obama and Vice
President Joe Biden to purchase their health insurance through the new
exchanges.
The
Hill: Senate GOP Proposals Would Force Obama Into Health Law Exchanges
Republican amendments to the Senate's budget proposal would require President
Obama and Vice President Biden to get their medical care through the new
exchanges created by Obama's signature healthcare law. Sens. Susan Collins
(R-Maine) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) both offered amendments to move the
president and vice president into the healthcare law's exchanges (Baker,
3/21).
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