MNsure Legislative Oversight Panel Elects Leaders

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The new co-chairman of a legislative committee that will oversee the development of Minnesota's new health insurance exchange says the panel has a lot of work ahead of it.

Sen. Tony Lourey, DFL-Kerrick, led the committee as it met for the first time. The other co-chairman elected Monday is Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights. Lourey and Atkins were the lead authors of the bill that authorized Minnesota to run its own exchange under the federal Affordable Care Act.

The House-Senate oversight panel got status updates on budget issues, outreach plans and technology from officials with the online marketplace, known as MNsure, where about 1.3 million Minnesotans are expected to get coverage, including 300,000 who currently don't have health insurance.

Open enrollment begins Oct. 1. Coverage takes effect Jan. 1.

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