RICHMOND, Va. (AP) --
Gov. Bob McDonnell has sent the Obama administration a letter saying that while Virginia will use a federally run health care exchange, the state intends to retain regulatory authority over insurance providers within the exchange.
With the Thursday letter, the Republican governor restates his December position not to commit Virginia to its own state-run exchange but let Virginians buy health insurance through an exchange the feds fund and run.
But it also attempts to carve out an accommodation with Washington unique among states by which Virginia would still license or certify plans available to Virginians through the exchange.
Under the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, states have the option of establishing their own exchange, partnering with the feds, or leaving it to the federal government in their states.
