Sebelius, Fulton County officials tout health care law
By Bill BarrowAssociated Press – published Tuesday, August 13, 2013
ATLANTA — Local and federal officials say they’re working together to help Atlanta-area residents use new insurance exchanges under the 2010 federal health care overhaul, without the help of Georgia Republicans who run state government.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius spoke Tuesday with Fulton County commissioners and medical providers about how to market new exchanges where consumers can shop for individual policies from private insurance firms beginning Oct. 1.
She promised the federally run exchanges will be launched on time. Gov. Nathan Deal, who faces a re-election campaign next year, opted against having the state run the exchanges, leaving the job to Sebelius and her department. He’s also refused to expand the Medicaid insurance program for the poor.
On a two-day visit to Atlanta, Sebelius said she was pleased the exchanges will reach about 900,000 Georgians, but called it a tragedy that Deal’s Medicaid decision will leave about 650,000 more people without an opportunity for new coverage.
In a statement, Deal spokesman Brain Robinson repeated the governor’s argument that Georgia cannot afford additional Medicaid costs. He said Deal wants federal officials to give states the money federal taxpayers now spend on the joint state-federal program. Then states could design their own programs, he said.
via Sebelius, Fulton County officials tout health care law | Online Athens.
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