Miss. health insurance exchange proposal in limbo
Mississippi’s proposed health insurance exchange is in limbo because of a dispute between the governor and the insurance commissioner.
Gov. Phil Bryant and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney are Republicans. They disagree about which one of them has authority to create a plan and submit it for federal approval.
An exchange is an online marketplace where people can buy private health insurance.
Under the health care law President Barack Obama signed in 2010, exchanges are to be set up and run by individual states or by the federal government.
Chaney submitted an exchange proposal to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in mid-November.
Bryant objects to the federal health law. He has sent letters to the department saying only the governor can act on behalf of the state.
AP
1/3/12
