State HIX Early Deadlines Extended

States that plan to operate their own "state-based exchanges" for health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act were supposed to tell that to the federal government Friday. 

The deadline, however, has been extended by a month.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, in a letter Thursday to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, announced that HHS has pushed until Dec. 14 what would have been the deadline for state-based exchanges to submit both the letter of declaration stating their intent and a "blueprint" detailing how they would work.

States that want to pursue a "partnership exchange" that relies on the federal government still have until Feb. 15, 2013 to submit a declaration letter and blueprint.