ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Rep. John Delaney is formally asking for a specific assessment of the idea of switching to the federal health exchange while Maryland's computer-troubled exchange is being repaired.
Delaney made the request in a letter Monday to Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, the state's health secretary.
Delaney raised the possibility of a switch last month. He writes that Maryland could make the switch in whole or in part or on a temporary basis.
Delaney, a Democrat, says the federal exchange has signed up 2.1 million people for private insurance. That's about 30 percent of the original goal of 7 million. He says Maryland has signed up 18,257, or about 12 percent of the state's goal of 150,000.
On Friday, Gov. Martin O'Malley said he would keep the idea under consideration.