Outgoing Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels last week asked the state’s three gubernatorial candidates for their input on steps to implementing the new federal health care law.
“Because the costs and consequences of our decision in these two matters will be borne by the next administration, I do not believe it would be right for me to make these choices,” Daniels said in a letter to John Gregg, Congressman Mike Pence and Rupert Boneham.
“Assuming the deadline for the essential health benefits decision remains Sept. 30, 2012, we are seeking to determine whether there can be an agreement among the candidates about what to include,” Daniels said. He also asked each candidate to weigh in on whether Indiana should set up a state-based exchange.
Indiana’s actuary has estimated that the Medicaid expansion piece of the federal Affordable Care Act will cost $2 billion between 2012 and 2020.
