Mississippi Could Block Health Insurance Exchanges

http://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2013/02/mississippi-could-block-health-insurance-exchanges/

(Whole article at link above)

Mississippi Could Block Health Insurance Exchanges

"Mississippi currently stands among those states committed to moving forward with a state-based insurance exchange under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

But that could soon change.

The Mississippi legislature will consider a bill that would take the first step in stopping implementation of Obamacare  in the Magnolia State.

Sen. Chris McDaniel (R-Ellisville) introduced SB2775 on Jan. 25. The bill would prohibit creation of a health insurance exchange and retroactively invalidate any moves to create one prior to passage.

No state agency, department or political subdivision thereof shall plan, create, participate in or enable a state-based exchange for health insurance under the federal patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or contract with any private entity to do so. If such an exchange is established by a state agency, department or political subdivision thereof before the effective date of this act, any such action shall be invalid and such exchange must be discontinued.

The bill has three Senate cosponsors.

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney informed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that he would move forward with creating a state-based exchange last November, despite opposition from Gov. Phil Bryant.

“I have, again, been against the expansion of Obamacare throughout the state of Mississippi. I believe a health care exchange is a portal for that,” Bryant told reporters at the time. “I’m worried about the federal government taking over that system, and I worry about expanding a large entitlement program in the state of Mississippi through what was to be a free-market based system in the insurance exchange. So, I’m disappointed.”

Chaney argues that even though he is no fan of the health care law, creating the exchange will give the state control over the system.

“If you default to the federal government, you forever give the keys to the state’s health insurance market to the federal government,” he said.