Gov. Jay Nixon has written a letter to Secretary of U-S Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius telling her that a state-based exchange is not an option for Missouri.

Nixon writes that Missouri voters approved Proposition E, which prohibits the establishment fo a state-based health insurance exchange absent a legislative act, and initiative petition or a referendum.

He tells Sebelius that we as a state continue to favor state, rather than federal, control of our insurance market, but that the general assembly ultimately failed to pass such legislation.

Today is the deadline for states to declare their intentions with respect to the operation of a state-based health insurance exchange for 2014 under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

February 15th of 2013 is the deadline for states to apply to operate a state-federal partnership exchange.

View the letter HERE.