Mississippi insurance commissioner Mike Chaney is in a tight spot.
By law, he is required to implement Democratic President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul. But as a Republican from deeply conservative Mississippi -- one of 26 states that sued Washington over Obama's Affordable Care Act -- Chaney is a target of critics who say he is betraying his party.
Chaney and health officials in as many as 24 Republican-controlled states are working behind the scenes to set up insurance exchanges that provide a market for individuals and small businesses to shop for affordable health coverage. The states face a November 16 deadline to show they can do it, or the federal government steps in and takes on the job itself.
But these officials face significant political opposition from their Republican governors and legislators who want the states to do nothing until the national election on November 6, hoping the party wins enough votes to repeal the law.
Conservatives argue that enacting any part of the ACA would give it legitimacy. They also believe that if the federal government is forced to set up many of the exchanges, the system would likely fail -- making the law easier to repeal if Republican nominee Mitt Romney defeats President Barak Obama in the election.
Insurance officials like Chaney, however, want a better contingency plan in case the Republicans lose, as the 10-day window between the election and the exchange deadline will not give them enough time to prepare an exchange.
"They can't just leave this to the will of the wind," Chaney said in an interview.
"This isn't about politics. It's about following the law," he added. "And I think I'm better equipped to operate an exchange in my state than the federal government."
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/16/us-usa-health-states-exchanges-idUSBRE88F07G20120916
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