State officials stake out positions on implementing health law

Virginia's Republican attorney general, the first to file suit against the health law, takes a hardline position against expanding Medicaid, while Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, a Republican, signals his state will pass on setting up a state-based health exchange. In Kentucky,  Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, issues an executive order to authorize such an exchange.

The Washington Post: Cuccinelli: Va. Should Opt Out Of Medicaid
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli wants Virginia to opt out of the new federal health law's Medicaid expansion (Kumar, 7/17).

Reuters: Alaska Governor Says State Won't Set Up Health-Insurance Exchange
Alaska will not set up a program allowing residents to buy health insurance across state lines as envisioned under the Obama administration's new healthcare law, leaving that task to the U.S. government, Governor Sean Parnell announced Tuesday. It is too expensive for the state to set up an insurance-exchange program, as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, said Parnell, a Republican who has been a critic of the Obama administration's new healthcare law (Rosen, 7/17).

The Associated Press/CBS News: Ky. Governor Creates Health Insurance Exchange
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has issued an executive order creating a statewide health insurance exchange, following up on his promise to do so once the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal health care overhaul. The exchange will allow people to comparison shop online for insurance. Beshear said that he has been contacted by people wanting Kentucky to create its own exchange (7/17).

And in Florida -

Politico Pro: Fla. 'Marketplace' Could Be Basis For Exchange
Florida, a contender for the fiercest anti-"Obamacare" state in the country, is on course to have an exchange up and running well before the states friendliest to the national health care law. You read that right. Florida's own exchange -; which has its roots in a 2008 state law -; is scheduled to begin enrollment this fall, according to Rose Naff, who leads the state's exchange, known as Florida Health Choices (Millman, 7/17).