At least 14 other states have joined Oklahoma in delaying legislative consideration of health insurance exchanges until after the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.
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The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities tracks progress of states toward the federal exchange mandate.
Along with Oklahoma, Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin reportedly have decided to put off any moves on the issue until after the Supreme Court rules, the center's latest report shows.
Only 11 states have established authority for a state exchange, according to the center's tally. Seven other states have legislation pending on the issue.
While legislation isn't the only way for an exchange to be established - Rhode Island did so by a governor's order, and Mississippi is working on an exchange set up by that state's insurance commissioner - it is the most common way.
Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, said he wasn't aware of the number of states waiting on the Supreme Court, but he said the high number certainly bolsters Oklahoma's choice.
State GOP leaders hope either the Supreme Court or the upcoming national elections will make the issue moot, but if neither of those things happen, Stanislawski thinks it will be time for the Legislature to act.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=336&articleid=20120319_16_A1_CUTLIN221
Hat Tip: Tulsa World
Gov. Mary Fallin says she doesn't want a federal health-insurance exchange imposed on the state.
"The governor wants to avoid, at all costs, a federal Obama-care exchange being forced on the state of Oklahoma," Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz said in an email Friday.
...Last year, the Oklahoma Republican Party split on whether and how to deal with those mandates.
Under pressure from tea party Republicans, three GOP bills to establish exchanges foundered, and Fallin had to tell federal officials to keep a $54 million grant to build an exchange after previously saying the state would accept the money.
After studying the controversy for months, a legislative task force has proposed repurposing the state's Insure Oklahoma program as an exchange.
The proposal would connect eligible Oklahomans to Medicaid and act as a place for businesses to buy insurance for workers, but it would not offer insurance to individuals. So Oklahomans who earn too much to get Medicaid but don't get insurance through their jobs would not have access to the federal subsidies.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=336&articleid=20120304_11_A8_GovMar449188&r=3096
Hat Tip: Tulsa World
States are lagging in the creation of health insurance exchanges, the supermarkets where millions of consumers are supposed to buy subsidized private coverage under President Obama’s health care overhaul.
Many states are waiting for a Supreme Court decision or even the November election results, to see whether central elements of the new law might be overturned or repealed. But that will be too late to start work. By Jan. 1, 2013, the Obama administration will decide whether each state is ready to run its own exchange or whether the federal government should do the job instead.
Republican governors and state legislators across the country are split. Some want to set up rudimentary exchanges with limited features — as a defensive tactical maneuver — rather than cede control to Washington. More-conservative Republicans do not want to do anything at all.
After a great deal of bickering and bargaining, the insurance exchanges emerged as a centerpiece of the 2010 health care law, crucial to achieving Mr. Obama’s promise of affordable coverage for all Americans.
The issue was a major topic of discussion over the weekend at the winter meeting of the National Governors Association here, and it is expected to come up Monday when governors meet with Mr. Obama at the White House.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/health/policy/a-wait-and-see-approach-for-states-on-insurance-exchanges.html?_r=1
Hat tip: The New York Times
A legislative committee recommended Wednesday that Oklahoma create its own health insurance exchange so the federal government doesn't establish one for it instead.
Rep. Glen Mulready, R-Tulsa, said the exchange is a proactive choice, though he said he is hopeful the federal health care law will be overturned through litigation or the election of a different president.
Mulready told The Associated Press he does not believe in the federal government's ability to impose an exchange cost effectively, and a state-based plan would give Oklahoma more control to decide the role of agents and brokers, as well as inviting more carriers and competition.
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The recommendation was included in a report by the Joint Committee on Federal Health Care Law. Republicans outnumber Democrats on the panel.
Oklahoma was to receive $54 million in federal funds to set up an exchange, but after resistance last year from tea party groups opposing the health care law, Gov. Mary Fallin rejected the money.
Sen. Sean Burrage, a Democrat on the committee, said in a statement that Fallin should have taken the money, and that establishing an exchange in 10 months is a "huge undertaking."
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57383252/committee-calls-for-okla-insurance-exchange/
Hat tip: CBS News
Oklahoma is one of 15 states that has made the least progress toward establishing a health insurance exchange but also one whose people could most benefit from one, a study by the Urban Institute shows.
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But opposition to the health care law has led some states - including Oklahoma - to do little toward creating an exchange.
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Three attempts to legislate a basis for an Oklahoma exchange failed last year under pressure from conservative Republicans. Gov. Mary Fallin accepted but later rejected a $54 million federal grant to build an exchange. A legislative task force studying the state's next move has yet to release its recommendations.
The resistance by some of those states, including Oklahoma, is ironic, the study points out, because those states have a great deal to benefit from the health care law in terms of reducing the number of uninsured people and reducing the amount of uncompensated care absorbed by government agencies and medical providers.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20120128_16_A1_Olhmso941488
Hat tip: Tulsa World
