Report: Conn. stops implementing new healthcare regulations

State officials in Connecticut have quit implementing new regulations under President Obama's healthcare law to focus on setting up a new insurance exchange, according to the Associated Press.

The AP reported that Connecticut officials have stopped implementing new regulations as they struggle to get their exchange — the centerpiece of the healthcare law — up and running on time.

Connecticut has been a leader in state-based implementation of the healthcare law — a contrast to GOP-led states that have dragged their feet or altogether refused to work with the federal government on a law they don't support.

But building the exchange is simply too big a task to balance with other regulations, state officials said.

"We have to draw the line in the sand at some point," the CEO of the exchange told the AP. "Not because we're trying to be contentious or confrontational or difficult," he said. "We're going to have a challenging enough time providing the quality of service that our residents deserve in Connecticut with the deadline that we have. If they keep adding new regulations, I'm sorry. We have to suddenly say, 'enough is enough.'"

The Obama administration delayed some key regulations until after the election, and states complained about the lack of guidance from the Health and Human Services Department on key provisions of the exchanges — such as new rules spelling out the benefits that every exchange plan will have to offer.

Exchanges are supposed to begin enrolling people in October for coverage that begins Jan. 1. Connecticut is among the small group of states building their own exchanges. Most states have left the task up to HHS.

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