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Pennsylvania Applies For State-Run Health Insurance Exchange

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has made good on his promise to file an application with the federal government to create a state-run health insurance exchange. A Wolf spokesman says it's only in the event of a Supreme Court ruling that would affect subsidies, but Republicans are skeptical.

The Wolf administration says the application to set up a state-run exchange is only intended to protect Pennsylvania residents in the event of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could wipe out health insurance subsidies in states that don't have their own exchanges. But Steve Miskin, spokesman for House Republican leaders, isn't convinced.

"The question is, exactly what's their motive?" Miskin says. "Is it their goal to just create a state exchange regardless?"

Jeff Sheridan is a spokesman for the governor.

"This is a contingency plan in the event that the Supreme Court rules that these people are not eligible for these subsidies," he says. "And that's the only thing that we're planning for at this point."

Sheridan says the administration wants to work with the legislature if it becomes an issue.

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