Obama's win forces Walker's hand on healthcare

Source: cbs

MADISON, Wis. — President Barack Obama's re-election is forcing the hand of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who had stopped all efforts to implement the federal health care reform law in the hopes that Republicans would take over in Washington.

Obama's victory coupled with Democrats' keeping control of the Senate assures that the Affordable Health Care Act will continue to go into effect. Walker's administration and Republican leaders in the state Legislature are now scrambling to figure out their next move.

Wisconsin faces a Nov. 16 deadline to inform the Obama administration whether the state will implement an online health care marketplace, or exchange, or let the federal government do it. Each state's exchange must be operational in 2014 under the health care law.

Walker told reporters Wednesday in Milwaukee that he will be meeting with state officials this week to discuss the next steps. He downplayed the urgency of the situation, saying no matter what the state does, the federal government won't review it for months. Walker has said he doesn't think it would be a problem for the state to get an extension.

"Even after notifying them, we have until next fall to make modifications as we see fit," Walker said. "We haven't made a decision yet."

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57546527/obamas-win-forces-walkers-hand-on-health-care/