The Missouri House has given initial approval to legislation creating state health insurance exchanges as part of the federal health care overhaul passed last year.
The bill is sponsored by Republican Chris Molendorp, of Belton, who says the exchanges will help people save on health insurance by letting them compare prices for different services.
Monday's House action came as Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said he believes part of the federal law violates the U.S. Constitution by requiring people to buy health insurance or pay a fine.
Molendorp doesn't think Koster's opinion will doom his proposal. He says even if a court strikes down the individual mandate, people in the state's "high risk" insurance pools would still be able to buy insurance on the exchanges.
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Health care exchanges bill is HB609
Online:
Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov