On Health Exchanges, Walker Faces Pressure On All Sides

Governor Walker is facing pressure from all sides on Obamacare. Friday (11/16) is the deadline when states have to decide whether to have a state-run health exchange —or leave it up to the federal government.

Some opponents of the Affordable Care Act want Gov. Walker to ignore Friday’s deadline. That’s when states declare their intent to create an online marketplace to buy health insurance, called an “exchange.” Republican Sen. Frank Lasee of De Pere says the governor should wait and see before acting on health reform, even though it’s the law of the land, “We have no penalty for waiting, so that’s the most prudent course of action and that’s what I’ve asked the governor to do.”

Supporters of a state run exchange say Wisconsin will have more control if it oversees an exchange instead of the federal government. Groups taking that position include a trade group of Wisconsin insurers, the state’s hospital association and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce.