Feds Move the "Deadline" for States To Decide on Health Exchanges

Still trying to hand the mess, and expense, down the line

With one day left before states were required to notify Washington if they wanted to form their own health insurance "exchanges," the insurance marketplaces authorized by the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius granted a one month extension yesterday. She said states will also have to submit detailed exchange "blueprints" at that time.

Since postponement of the deadline came at the last minute, this week was marked by a flurry of announcements from governors about how they intended to run their exchanges. The deadline for states to commit to partnering with the federal government is still set for February 15, 2013, according to a letter from Sebelius to the Republican Governors Association.