Health Care Reform Review Committee Meets For First Time - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Health Care Reform Review Committee Meets For First Time

Just under a month ago, the U.S. Supreme court deemed President Obama's Affordable Care Act constitutional.

The North Dakota legislative Health Care Reform Review Committe in North Dakota met for the first time since that decision.

Obama's Health Care Reform plan is a first for the country, and North Dakota lawmakers are unsure of how the new health care system will effect North Dakotan's and what if anything should be the state's role.

(Rep. George Keiser/ Chairman of Review Committee) "We convene our committee and review what the supreme court what the meaning is from the supreme court decision and what implication it has for ND what options are left for us and the special session the Legislature decided not to do a state based exchange."

Governor Jack Dalrymple has strongly supported the legislatures decision.

"As we all know the state house of Representatives voted 64-3 to defeat efforts to establish a state based affordable care act mandated exchange since that time the governor is not persuaded to alter the course adopted by the house action."

If North Dakota would change it's mind on which health care plans to go with decide to establish a state exchange -- lawmakers have less than a month to act to take advantage of federal funds that are available.

(George Keiser)"It looks like it will be a federally facilitated exchange for the state."

Thirty four states are like North Dakota -- being undecided on which approach to take.

Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney says that he will repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act if he wins the Election in November.