New deadline issued for states to decide role in new health care - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

States across the nation now have another month to make a big decision on what role they'll play in carrying out the new health care law.

December 14 is the new deadline for states to decide if they'll build the new insurance exchanges or let Washington do it for them. States can also opt for a partnership with the feds to run their exchanges, and they have until February to decide on that option.

Ohio is leaning toward a partnership, despite GOP officials' continued misgivings about the law.

Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, who heads the state's insurance department, said this week that Ohio's goal would be to let the federal government run the exchange while keeping state authority to regulate the health insurance market, oversee health plans, and maintain decisions around Medicaid eligibility.

Most states are still expected to announce their choices by Friday, but a check by The Associated Press found that 16 states are still mulling over their decisions.

That includes Florida, where Gov. Rick Scott long opposed the law and now says he wants to work with the Obama administration. New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania are also in the undeclared column.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)