Deal with reality: Obamacare stays
For GOP leaders in Missouri and Kansas, the time for wishful thinking is past.
Mitt Romney will not have the chance to repeal “Obamacare,” as he promised in his campaign. So states must make important decisions about their participation in the Affordable Care Act. And quickly.
Governors face a Nov. 16 deadline to inform the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services about their level of involvement in state-based insurance exchanges.
Because of their own missteps, it is too late for Kansas and Missouri to create their own exchanges and have them operational by January 2014, as called for in the health care law. Their choice now is to partner with federal officials or accept an exchange designed by Washington.
The best course is to enter into a partnership. State officials could have a say in what would be required of health insurers, and continue assisting and educating consumers, among other things. The insurance departments in Missouri and Kansas are fulfilling those roles now, and there is no reason to turn the tasks over to the federal government.
Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger supports a partnership exchange and has requested a meeting with Gov. Sam Brownback. Kansas has already done some of the groundwork and would be in good shape to enter into a partnership if the governor overcomes his Obamacare paranoia.
In Missouri, the situation is trickier. Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed Proposition E, which prohibits the governor or any state agency from “establishing or operating state-based health insurance exchanges unless authorized by a vote of the people or by the legislature.”
It is unclear how that language affects Gov. Jay Nixon’s ability to enter into a partnership with the federal government, or even if employees in the insurance department can lay the groundwork for one. Nixon, who won re-election on Tuesday, needs to convene his legal team to figure that out quickly.
Missouri is far behind the curve on preparing for an insurance exchange. It desperately needs to modernize its Medicaid technology systems, for starters. Nixon and key lawmakers must acknowledge reality and get to work on a plan to present to the legislature in January that would enable the state to have a say over its own insurance exchange.
Mark Hastert
6 months, 2 weeks agoI never understood the logic in the Missouri initiative. Why would a competitive on-line market place be an issue? Doesn’t that sound like the free market solution? Only if a Republican proposes it I guess.
The Missouri and Kansas legislatures are a great argument for federalism.
George Hunsucker
Northland
6 months, 2 weeks agoThe people have spoken but Nixon will probably ignore them….
Let the federal govt. do it….
Sam Woods
6 months, 2 weeks agoOh no. Run screaming. The states will have to set up health care exchanges so their citizens have some knowledge of what plan will work for them. Darn that Obama.
Mark Robertson
6 months, 2 weeks agoObamacare should continue to be fought tooth and nail. It can’t go forward. This country won’t survive if it does. The states should reject it, as they have a right to do. If the feds try to enforce it, the citizenry should take to the streets. I realize then that our reelected(by moochers and dumb women) tyrant in chief might then send out the tanks. Thank you. Mark Robertson Independence
Mark Hastert
6 months, 2 weeks ago“I realize then that our reelected(by moochers and dumb women)”
…I am assuming you’re a single man (or about to be) LOL. The President won the popular vote, he won the electoral college. The Tea Party has been rejected. Obamacare has been found constitutional. Old white men are dying off and so it the Republican Party. Face reality and adapt.
Mark Robertson
6 months, 2 weeks agoActually, 3 million less voted for the Republican candidate compared to 2008. Those 3 million were likely the conservative base who supported McCain because of the outstanding Sarah Palin. It was actually the Tea Party that rejected Romney. No, I will not “adapt” to tyranny. I will continue to fight it. And actually the mandate was not found constitutional. The spineless John Roberts pathetically says it can be a tax. The fact that something is constitutional is not permament. See Dred Scott. Obamacare should be relegated to the ash heap of history. Thank you Mark Robertson Independence
Mark Hastert
6 months, 2 weeks ago” 3 million less voted for the Republican candidate compared to 2008.”
I see you’re parroting Carl Rove from yesterday. Carl’s having a very hard time with this after embarrassing himself on national TV and being smacked down by Fox. Fox, no less! The reason you’re all taking it so hard is that you won’t get out of the echo chamber and hear anything you don’t like. Sam Wang, Nate Silver, Votamatic all predicted a Romney loss but like poor Carl none of you listened. Morning after remorse is very entertaining.
You can attribute the fewer votes to three things. The Tea Party, The Tea Party, The Tea Party. Oh, make that four, attrition, old white men dying off.