Health law continues to create state-level 'partisan strife'

Discussions and debate in Louisiana, Kansas and Colorado included buzz words such as "government takeover" and "stalemate," as well as the concept of opting out.

Times-Picayune: As Health Care Law Marks Its First Anniversary, Partisan Strife Persists
A year after President Barack Obama's signed his landmark health care legislation into law, partisans assembled Wednesday along battle lines that have barely budged in the past 365 days. Republicans continued to assail "Obamacare," as Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, did in his statement, as a "radical" and unconstitutional "government takeover" of health care. ... Democrats, meanwhile, chided Republicans for playing politics. ... "The act is still here and it's not going anywhere," said Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans ... [Mayor] Landrieu also said the city's system of 88 primary-care clinics would be in jeopardy if the law is repealed (3/24).

Kansas Health Institute News: Bill Protesting Federal Health Reform Law Likely Headed To 'Stalemate'
Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley predicted today that coming negotiations between the House and Senate over a bill protesting the federal health reform law would likely result in a "stalemate." The Topeka Democrat said he expected disagreements over various provisions added to the bill in the Senate, notwithstanding an additional Senate amendment to House Bill 2182, saying that no Kansan could be compelled to buy health insurance (Cauthon, 3/24).

The Kansas City Star: One Year Later Health Reform Still Uncertain
The law's complexity, combined with its staggered implementation schedule, has clearly bewildered many Americans. … Kansas appears to be ahead of the game. Thanks to a federal grant, the state may be able to hire contractors to design its exchange system a year ahead of schedule. … Kansas is part of an ongoing state-based challenge to the law that has found some success in federal courts (Helling, 3/24).

Solutions, A Colorado Health News Service: Gov. Hickenlooper Hedges On Affordable Care Act
Gov. John Hickenlooper left the door open for Colorado to opt out of the federal Affordable Care Act on Monday as he and bipartisan leaders in the Colorado legislature announced support for a bill to create a competitive online health insurance market. ... SB 11-200 creates the framework for a statewide health insurance exchange. An online marketplace, the exchange is aimed at providing more affordable health insurance options for up to 400,000 previously uninsured Coloradans by 2014 (McCrimmon, 3/22).