Mo. Senate votes down health insurance exchange

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Senate has rejected an attempt to set up a state-run health insurance exchange.

The exchanges are part of the federal health care law approved in 2009. States are required to create exchanges by 2014 so that individuals and small business can compare health insurance plans.

On Monday, Sen. Joe Keaveny tried to add an amendment setting up the exchanges to a life insurance bill being debated by the Senate. The full Senate rejected the amendment in a voice vote.

Keaveny, a St. Louis Democrat, says his amendment is nearly identical to legislation approved last year by the Republican-controlled House. That bill never came to a vote in the Senate.

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Health insurance exchanges bill HB609 (2011)

Online:

Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov