ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has signed an executive order creating a panel to determine whether to establish a state-based health care exchange under the new federal health care law.
Georgia has joined 25 other states in a lawsuit declaring the law's individual mandate to have insurance — a key component of the legislation — unconstitutional. Deal says he wants Georgia to have time to thoroughly study the issue as the judicial process plays out.
"It is my hope that this committee will construct the appropriate avenues for our state to implement our own exchange, based on delivering free market solutions for increasing the access and affordability of health insurance," Deal said in a statement released Thursday. "The exchange should also focus heavily on improving the economic viability of creating and expanding small business in Georgia."
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Under the federal law, states have until Jan. 1, 2014, to establish their own health care exchange. If they fail to comply, the federal government will establish and manage the exchange. Deal's order says the advisory committee must report its final recommendations by Dec. 15.
Health exchanges are essentially marketplaces where consumers who enroll can comparison-shop for insurance plans. The aim is to bring down prices and get more people insured.
As a congressman, Deal was the first member of the House to declare the federal health care law unconstitutional.
Five lawmakers will serve on the 25-member advisory committee, as well as the state commissioners of insurance, community health and economic development. Other groups represented include health care companies and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
While some critics say the state should not be moving to implement the law at the same time it is suing to overturn it, Deal has adopted a more pragmatic approach, saying the state is still bound by the law as long as the lawsuits are pending.
Still, under pressure from tea party groups, Deal and House Republicans in March scuttled a bill that would have that would have taken the first step toward creating a health exchange in Georgia under the federal law. The advisory panel Deal appointed will instead take the more modest step of studying Georgia's options on an exchange.
The federal law requires most Americans to obtain health insurance, so the exchanges would be the place where many uninsured would turn to find it.
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