Lawmakers brace for health law, potential costs

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana lawmakers are bracing for the implications of the federal health care law but say they have questions about it as they prepare for the critical budget-writing legislative session that begins in January.

Hopes that the law would be repealed were dashed by President Barack Obama's re-election, and states were forced to decide whether to build the exchanges through which residents will buy insurance.

Governor-elect Mike Pence says he isn't interested in a state-run exchange.

Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma has tapped his top health policy expert, state Rep. Tim Brown, to lead the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee because of the health law's impact.

One issue lawmakers will have to weigh is whether to expand Medicaid coverage. Lawmakers say they need more answers to their questions before deciding.