MARQUETTE, MI – (Great Lakes Radio News) – Michigan is one step closer to having the authority to use a $30.6 million federal grant for its health exchange under the Affordable Care Act.
The House Appropriations Committee this morning voted 24-3 in favor of a supplemental appropriations bill for federal funds to help implement a state-federal partnership health exchange.
While some Republicans have argued that the state shouldn’t take the money and should do everything it can to reject or slow down the measure, many GOP members of the Appropriations Committee said the legislation was simply the right way to go.
Representative Anthony Forlini of Harrison Township argued that moving forward with a partnership exchange would give the state some control over the new website that will offer individuals health insurance plans. Under the bill, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs must ensure that all parties performing consumer assistance involved with the exchange are properly trained and that there is state oversight over the parties involved.
According to the House Fiscal Agency, the new health exchanges take effect January 1, 2014.
Enrollment begins October 1.
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