Otter Will Take Obamacare Money

Gov. Butch Otter said Tuesday that he will allow the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and Idaho Department of Insurance to ask the federal government for $30.9 million of grant money to start a health insurance exchange for the state. The exchange will be a marketplace for people and groups to compare and buy health insurance. The style of marketplace has been likened to travel-shopping websites. The governor had banned all use of federal money to implement the 2010 health care reform law. But he left open the possibility of a waiver for programs that already were in place in Idaho or that weren’t directly related to health care. Unless Idaho sets up its own exchange, the state will default to the federal government’s exchange. The deadline for applying for the grant is Sept. 30/ Idaho Statesman . More here.

Question: What do you make of Gov. Butch Otter’s about-face on Obamacare?