Panel Advances Bill To Delay Wyo. Health Market

A legislative committee has endorsed a proposal to give Wyoming more time to develop a health insurance exchange.

The bill was passed unanimously Wednesday by the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee.

It means that a final decision on the exchange will be pushed back to the state Legislature's 2013 general session.

Wyoming could find itself out of compliance with a federal timeline requiring states to submit their plans for exchanges by Jan. 1, 2013.

Health exchanges are a component of the new federal health reform law and are meant to give consumers a way to shop for the best health coverage.

If Wyoming fails to create an exchange, the federal government will operate the state's program.

Associated Press