An Illinois Democrat who has led work on implementing a key part of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul now says the state won't be ready to run its own insurance exchange by a Nov. 16 deadline.
Rep. Frank Mautino says Illinois must consider a new option - a state-federal partnership - to get its online insurance marketplace ready for its first year if the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the law this week.
That would put Obama's home state among a majority of states limping unsteadily toward implementing the law. The court is scheduled to rule on the reforms Thursday and they could be overturned or dismantled.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Pat Quinn says Illinois is prepared for the high court's decision and is making progress toward implementing the law.
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