Gov. Scott Walker confirmed Friday that Wisconsin will defer implementation of a healthcare exchange to the federal government, a decision he had to make as a first step toward establishing the Affordable Healthcare Act in the state.
Walker said in a letter he made the decision because of lingering doubts the federal government would allow the state-run exchange to operate without outside control as well as out of concern for taxpayers’ best interests.
“While the…options differ in who initially builds and operates the exchange, all…options are identical in that they are governed and controlled by federal policy,” Walker said in a Friday letter to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius. “Unfortunately, operating a state exchange would not provide the flexibility to meet our state’s unique needs or to protect our state’s taxpayers.”
State interest groups and legislators from around the state, including Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, have criticized Walker’s decision, saying he gave into political interests more than those of state citizens.
“Ceding our local control on healthcare exchanges not only puts Wisconsin on the extreme fringe—it puts politics above health care for Wisconsin citizens,” Barca said.
