Obama Embraces Earlier State Flexibility On Health Care Reform

President Barack Obama continues to fight over the health care reform as seen in a speech made recently in Washington.  During this speech, he discussed to a group of governors how Obama is willing to give earlier state flexibility on the health care reform.  Obama also came to a conclusion he would allow states to apply for innovation waivers three years earlier than scheduled.  This waiver will make states exempt from numerous requirements in the law with few circumstances.  Senior administation officials also discussed the criteria that must be met for states to be eligible for this waiver, which include:

• "Provide coverage plans at least as comprehensive as would have been available under health insurance exchanges in the bill."
• "Provide coverage as affordable as would have been available under the bill."
• "Provide coverage for as many people as would have been covered under the bill."
• "Budget neutrality"

Although Obama's conclusion is least likely to affect individual mandates, it offers states a chance to use alternatives to opposed provisions. 

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/28/obama.health.care/index.html