Tennessee bill to ban federal health care law delayed

Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog

NASHVILLE - Legislation that would ban new health insurance exchanges established under President Barack Obama's signature law has been delayed after a fiscal analysis projected the measure would cost the state more than $6 billion.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Mae Beavers of Mt. Juliet was delayed until next week in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on Tuesday.

Beavers says she plans to talk with state officials to find out why the cost is so high.

The proposal seeks to prohibit any cooperation by the state or its agencies in implementing or administering the federal law.

So far, more than 36,000 Tennesseans have signed up for coverage under the exchanges.

In 2011, Beavers proposed and the General Assembly passed a bill that would allow Tennesseans to opt out of the federal health care law.

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