Governor says he won't support insurance exchange
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback says he won't support an application from Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger to establish a state-federal health insurance marketplace.
The decision announced Thursday illustrates the divide over the federal health care law between the conservative Republican Brownback and moderate Republican Praeger.
States have until Nov. 16 to inform the federal government if they plan to create their own health insurance exchanges, partner with the federal government or leave the exchange to the federal agencies to run.
Praeger, who is an elected commissioner, had been working on a grant application to seek a state-federal partnership to manage the exchange in Kansas. Brownback had to sign a letter of support before the application could be filed with federal officials. The governor's decision means that Kansas will have a federally-run health insurance exchange.
The governor issued a statement saying that Kansans have rejected the state's participation in Obamacare, and he said the implementation of the exchange could cost state taxpayers millions of dollars.
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