Fallin To Say No To Federal Grant For Health Insurance Exchange

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Gov. Mary Fallin says she will reject a $54 million federal grant to create a health insurance exchange for uninsured Oklahomans and pay for it instead with state and private money.

Fallin made the announcement Thursday, two weeks after Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman said members of the Senate objected to the grant. Bingman says taking the money would appear to be a step toward complying with the new federal health care law.

Bingman says the Senate will not hear a House-passed bill to create an advisory board to help implement the insurance exchange, which is required by the new law. Fallin says different legislation will be filed to fund the exchange from other sources.

Fallin says she opposes the federal health care law and believes it is unconstitutional.