Ohio won't meet this week's deadline for establishing minimum benefits state residents will be entitled to under Obamacare when the law goes into full effect in 2014.
In a letter to federal regulators, Republican Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, an opponent of the law, cited a lack of guidance provided to the state by the Obama administration as the reason for Ohio's failure to provide its list of "essential health benefits," according to the
Columbus Dispatch.
Ohio, however, is not alone in missing the deadline. Indiana and West Virginia failed to meet it as well.
The
Charleston Daily Mail noted that like Taylor, Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin of West Virginia seemed confused about the lack of guidance provided by the administration.
“We take very seriously the potential implications of the essential health benefit decision for West Virginia," Tomblin said a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "While we continue to analyze the essential health benefit benchmark options, we are constrained by the lack of answers to several questions we have posed related to the process.”
Under Obamacare, state officials are supposed to provide details of what kind of insurance plans companies would be required to offer to meet state minimum requirements for affordable and comprehensive healthcare coverage. The states are required to set those minimum standards on prescription drugs, preventive care and eight other categories of benefits.
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