If upheld, governor will create exchanges by executive order

Earlier this month, Gov. Steve Beshear announced that if the Affordable Care Act is upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, he will issue an executive order to establish a Kentucky health benefit exchange. Designed as a one-stop web portal, among the responsibilities of an exchange are to assist small employers in facilitating the enrollment of their employees in health plans and qualify small businesses for tax credits. The Kentucky Chamber has supported the creation of a state-based exchange because failure to do so will result in Kentuckians being placed in a federally-operated exchange, ceding power and control to Washington bureaucrats. The Chamber continues to hold meetings with the state agencies charged with developing the exchange to ensure the concerns of Kentucky small businesses are heard.