With a February 15th deadline looming, a group of lawmakers met today to discuss the direction of the state’s health insurance exchange. But the committee meeting produced more questions than answers.
The state needs to decide, and soon, if it will partner with the Federal government to run a new insurance exchange. For his part, Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny told a legislative oversight committee that he supports the partnership option.
Sevigny: “This is, in my view, what is going to best preserve states’ rights. And not abdicate that over to the Feds.”
The state could decide to do nothing, and let the Federal government regulate and manage the new insurance marketplace on its own.
But there’s indecision over who gets to make the final call. Republican lawmakers argue that the legislature should have final authority.
The Insurance Department thinks the verdict rests with Governor Hassan.
The oversight committee will meet again next week to further debate the issue.
Either way, the health exchange goes live in New Hampshire in October of this year.
