‘A MISTAKE’ [Topeka Capital Journal (KS)]
By Tim Carpenter; Tim Carpenter THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL | |
Proquest LLC |
Gov.
The Republican decided to return cash earmarked for an online insurance exchange to the
Kansas Insurance Commissioner
"Don't we think it's right that people in this country have access to health care?" she said.
The wager by Brownback was intended to appease conservative, tea party elements of the
Brownback, a lawyer and former U.S. senator, believed the law to be unconstitutional. He reasoned
Flaws in this approach were evident, however, when the court flipped its cards Thursday to reveal a majority of justices believed most of the Affordable Care Act to be legitimate under the U.S. Constitution.
"I'm somewhat surprised," the governor said.
'A MISTAKE'
House Democratic leader
"He made a mistake," Davis said. "Health insurance exchanges have had bipartisan support. There are plenty of Republicans who have championed exchanges."
Under the federal reform law, states could create an exclusively state-based exchange, form a federal-state partnership exchange or step aside for implementation of a federally facilitated exchange. All would offer a menu of plans from health insurance providers to consumers weighing options. The federal government pledged financial and technical assistance to states setting up exchanges, which would operate on a format consistent with airline reservation shopping sites.
After the
There is a narrow window to collaborate with HHS on a state- federal exchange, she said. Under this alternative scenario, the state would still handle consumer complaints and determine which companies sold coverage on the exchange. The federal government would have jurisdiction over all other elements.
The deadline to submit a partnership request is in mid-November.
BETTING ON ROMNEY
Brownback was unmoved by either Davis' critique or Praeger's call to action.
The governor said he was prepared to gamble on presumed Republican presidential nominee
"There's a global waiver that's been proffered by one of the presidential candidates -- if he's elected," Brownback said. "It's a political issue. I want to see what happens in the fall."
The governor didn't speculate what he would do if Obama won election to a second term.
Praeger said the wait-and-see attitude of the Brownback administration undercut the state's capacity to influence outlines of the exchange.
"What's the harm in preparing for the eventuality that things don't change?" she said. "Kansans are still better off if we try to keep all of our options open."
Praeger said the Brownback administration ditched the
Add-on technology linking the new system, called KEES, to an exchange covering the private insurance market would cost
SWEETEN THE POT
Thirty-four states and the
On Friday, Sebelius said more funding would be made available from HHS for states for work on exchanges. Under the revised format, HHS would make money available for cooperative agreements with states through the end of 2014.
Brownback is skeptical the federal treasury could absorb massive budget increases required to meet proposed extension of subsidized
The reform law pledges federal funding for 100 percent of
For example, if
"The price tag for the expanded
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