GOP Governors Demand More Exchange Flexibility

Twenty-one Republican governors signed a letter sent in February to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking for more flexibility for states as they put togethertheir own health exchanges. “Among the requested changes are granting states authority to choose benefits that meet the needs of their citizens; waiving provisions that discriminate against consumer-driven health plans, such as health savings accounts; and commissioning an independent assessment of how many people will be ‘offloaded’ into the exchanges by employers,” according to the Republican Governors Association.

The letter states that if HHS does not agree to implement the recommendations, it should be prepared to operate the statebased exchanges “under its own auspices.” The full text of the letter can be read at www.rga.org/homepage/gop-govs-ask-hhs-for-changes-to-healthcare-exchanges.