Louisiana Governor Fuels Republication Debate in Rejection of State Health Insurance Exchange

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has fueled debate among conservative leaders by refusing to set up a state health insurance exchange required by President Obama's healthcare reform law, according to a Pelican Post report.

While some Republican leaders seem primed to follow Gov. Jindal's example, others question the push-back on health insurance exchanges. Governors Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Scott Parnell (R-Alaska), Susana Martinez (R-N.M.) and Rick Perry (R-Texas) have all said they are opposed to setting up HIEs in their states, while Gov. CL "Butch" Otter (R-Idaho) and Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) view the exchange system as a viable tool for lowering insurance cost and expanding choice for patients.

HHS released a set of proposed rules that set the minimum standards for the exchanges earlier this month. Some leaders say the suggested guidelines are flexible enough to allow state leaders to tailor the exchanges to their individual needs; other say they are incomplete and uncertain and prevent states from making an informed decision on participation.

Bruce Greenstein, Louisiana's secretary for the Department of Health and Hospitals, supports Gov. Jindal's decision to reject the system. He said the decision "will be seen by the rest of the market as very forward thinking" in the near future.

Read the Pelican Post report on health insurance exchanges.

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