Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell said he will not apply for federal funds to implement a state health insurance exchange because a Florida judge ruled the health reform law unconstitutional.
Alaska to explore insurance exchange without federal funds
Instead, the state Division of Insurance is exploring developing a health insurance exchange without federal dollars, including software applications and data that could be used to create an online clearinghouse on health plan options in Alaska, according to the governor's office.
“The federal government's ‘one size fits all' healthcare mandates may have ended with the Florida court decision, but we will continue working to reshape our healthcare system to fit the unique needs of Alaskans,” Parnell said in a news release.
Parnell also said the state Department of Health and Social Services will collaborate with providers on chronic-care management and primary-care access, and work to improve telemedicine and electronic health records.
Under the federal reform law, states are required to have health insurance exchanges operational by 2014, or the HHS will create them.
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