States And The Health Law: Wyoming Exchange, N.H. Compact Legislation, Texas Lawsuit
The Associated Press/Houston Chronicle: Wyoming Legislation Addresses Health Care Exchange
A Wyoming Senate committee has voted to advance a bill that would give lawmakers until 2013 to decide whether the state should create its own health care exchange. … A committee of state lawmakers, health-care representatives and members of the public has been trying to determine if it would be cost-effective for Wyoming to form its own exchange and how one would be managed (2/15).
The Associated Press/Boston Globe: N.H. House Gives Preliminary OK To Health Care Compact
An effort intended to free (New Hampshire) from the mandates of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul received preliminary approval in the New Hampshire House Wednesday. The bill would create an interstate compact that would place all health care programs under the member states' control, including federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid, while enabling the states to continue receiving federal funding. The House voted 253-92 in favor of the bill (Brnger, 2/15).
Related, earlier KHN story: Some States Seeking Health Care Compact (Gugliotta, 9/18)
The Texas Tribune: Interactive: Texas vs. the Federal Government
In the fight for states’ rights, no other state comes to mind before Texas. Gov. Rick Perry has pitted the state's interests against those of the federal government on a variety of issues — including health care reform and environmental standards — arguing that the 10th Amendment grants state governments more autonomy than many of the laws passed by the federal government allow. Texas has 16 lawsuits currently pending against the federal government (Aaronson, Chang, Hasson and Wiseman, 2/15).
Kaiser Health News: Really, America, Most Mass. Residents Like Health Reform
In the latest WBUR poll, 62 percent support the law and 33 percent oppose it. Steve Koczela is president of the Mass, Inc. polling group, which conducted the poll. "Even with all the attention the Massachusetts law has gotten nationally," said Koczela, "it really hasn’t driven down support among voters here in Massachusetts" (Bebinger, 2/15).