Mo. lawmakers back bill blocking health exchanges

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri lawmakers have passed legislation that will ask voters to block state government from implementing part of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

House members gave the measure final approval 108-38 on Friday. It already cleared the Senate, and will go on the statewide ballot in November.

The measure would bar Missouri from taking steps to set up a health insurance exchange without approval from voters or the Legislature. It would also prohibit state departments from taking any federal money to prepare for an online insurance marketplace.

The federal law gives states until 2014 to either set up their own insurance exchanges or have one run by the federal government.


Health insurance bill is SB464

Online:

Senate: http://www.senate.mo.gov