Ohio officials grapple with Obama health care overhaul

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio officials are grappling with how to approach the federal health care law now that the presidential election is behind them.

State health officials said Thursday they are preparing to notify Washington if they'll be setting up a new health insurance market, called an exchange. States face a Nov. 16 deadline to submit their plans.

Greg Moody, director of the governor's office of Health Transformation, says Ohio is leaning toward a federally-facilitated exchange, with the state keeping its authority to oversee health plans.

The state must also decide whether to expand Medicaid, which serves the poor and disabled. About 2.2 million Ohioans are enrolled in the nearly $19 billion program.

Moody says officials will take up that decision in the state's two-year budget, expected to be released in February.