Haslam Blames Feds for Health Insurance Delay

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Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says the lack of information from the White House is to blame for the delay in the state’s decision about running its own health insurance exchange under the new federal health care law. Haslam says President Barack Obama’s administration has refused to answer questions about health insurance raised by Republican governors.

These concerns include whether states would be able to encourage healthy behavior with wellness-based incentives, if family members on different plans will be covered by the same provider, and how the state will avoid being double-charged for seniors when they transition to Medicare.  Tennessee officials also want to know if they could access information in the federal database. States have until Dec. 14 to decide if they or the federal government will run their exchanges.