ABC News’ Sunlen Miller reports: President Obama endorsed a bipartisan Senate bill that would allow states to opt out of requirements of the health care reform law earlier than previously allowed to design their own plans, as long as they meet certain criteria.
“I think that’s a reasonable proposal,” Obama said in front of the nation’s governors gathered at the White House today, “I support it. It will give you flexibility more quickly, while still guaranteeing the American people reform. If your state can create a plan that covers as many people as affordably and comprehensively as the Affordable Care Act does — without increasing the deficit — you can implement that plan. And we’ll work with you to do it.”
The president said that this is the recognition that states need flexibility to “tailor their approach to their unique needs” – and need to do this sooner than the health care act outlines.
The current law already allows states that are unhappy with the health care bill to submit their own plans –called “state innovation waivers” — but not until 2017.
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