New Mexico is switching gears on its plan for a health insurance exchange and initially will partner with the federal government for computer services needed for an online marketplace for uninsured individuals.
Exchange board chairman J.R Damron said Monday that New Mexico will focus on having a state-run insurance exchange ready for small businesses this fall and will use a federally operated exchange to offer insurance coverage to individuals for the next year.
He said a "hybrid" approach to the exchange was necessary because the state didn't have enough time to implement its own computer system to serve individuals by a looming federal deadline.
Federal law called for state-based exchanges to be ready to enroll the uninsured in October and be fully operating by January.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.