AL won't enforce federal healthcare rules

MONTGOMERY | Gov. Robert Bentley has rejected another provision of the federal health care overhaul pushed by President Barack Obama, saying Alabama insurance regulators won't enforce parts of the law aimed at protecting consumers. Bentley wrote a letter to federal officials last month saying Washington, rather than state regulators in Montgomery, should be responsible for ensuring that insurance policies sold in Alabama comply with the federal law's requirements such as covering people with pre-existing health conditions, the Montgomery Advertiser reported Saturday. Bentley spokeswoman Jennifer Ardis said the governor doesn't believe state insurance officials have the authority to enforce the federal provisions. She said the cost of enforcement is also unclear.