Minnesota-Divided GOP has Left Health Exchange Planning to Gov. Dayton

From a drab and windowless office in downtown St. Paul, a group of nine state workers is trying this year to develop a new way for Minnesotans to buy health insurance.

...

The state workers are planning what's called a health exchange, a new marketplace - largely online - for individuals and small employers to purchase insurance coverage beginning late next year.

Last year, Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature couldn't come together to advance a bill that might have created more of a free-market health exchange in Minnesota. That's because some in the party didn't want to pass any legislation that could be construed as aiding the implementation of the federal health care law.

With the new legislative session just beginning, it's unclear whether Republicans will pass a bill on health exchanges this time around, or if planning will simply continue within the Democratic-Farmer-Labor administration of Gov. Mark Dayton.


http://www.twincities.com/ci_19838086
Hat tip: Pioneer Press