Feds to State — Let’s run the exchanges together
After blocking Mississippi’s proposal for a state-run health insurance exchange because of divisions among state leaders on the plan, federal officials said Friday that they’re encouraging the state to seek approval for a partnership — an exchange jointly run by the state and federal governments.
“The work your Insurance Department has done thus far to ensure that Mississippi maintains broad authority over its health insurance market makes Mississippi an excellent candidate for a State Partnership Exchange,” Gary
Cohen of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wrote to Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney.
However, Chaney said he doesn’t want to do a partnership because he believes the state would simply be in charge of fulfilling federal mandates without influencing how the exchange is run.
“The feds call the shots and we do all the work,” Chaney told The Associated Press. “I’m not going to do that.”
AP
2/8/13
Magnolia Tribune
